Welcome to Wakefield Historical Society
Wakefield Historical Society aims to promote knowledge of the past and preservation of local heritage in Wakefield and beyond.
We do this through:
- Organising a programme of winter lectures and summer excursions
- Arranging talks and conferences with other organisations for wider audiences
- Offering a free enquiry service to the public for questions relating to Wakefield’s history
- Promoting our activities through the website, Facebook, Twitter and Bluesky
- Circulating a regular e-newsletter to keep members up to date with current events and trends
- Providing support for members to carry out original research
- Carrying out themed research projects from time to time
- Printing a Society Journal from time to time containing original research by members
- Running a publishing group, Wakefield Historical Publications (established in 1977) to print works of original research on the history of Yorkshire
As a charity, we welcome donations to support the work of our Society: Donate
If you have any queries, please contact us: info@wakefieldhistoricalsociety.org.uk
You can follow our Blog for the latest news and information
Our next event
Wednesday 9th September: The Yorkshireman who mapped Elizabeth’s realm. Talk by Dr. David Fletcher about Christopher Saxton, the locally-born mapmaker during the reign of Elizabeth 1.
New on the Website
A report of the meeting on 13 May: ‘180 years of Eastmoor, its people and their houses’ by Dr Joanne Harrison has been added to Reports on Lectures
Added to the blog:
Open Afternoon at Kirkthorpe Church, 18th July
Audio recordings about paintings of Ossett dignitaries now online.
New post on the Matthew Tomlinson Journals blog.
Tomlinson writes of the violence at the hustings on Wood Street in Wakefield during the 1837 West Riding Election.
Riot at the Hustings: the 1837 West Riding Election
Richard Duke of York Funeral - The road to Fotheringhay
Richard, Duke of York, was killed at the Battle of Wakefield in 1460 but later exhumed by his son, Edward IV. The body was taken with great ceremony from Pontefract to Fotheringhay, resting each night at Doncaster, Blyth, Tuxford le Clay, Newark, Grantham, Stamford and finally being reburied at Fotheringhay. A huge funeral feast for 15,000 people followed.
The Wakefield Waterfront Project
Wakefield Waterfront has a long and fascinating history. The Aire and Calder Navigation, and the Calder and Hebble Navigation once provided a transport link that was vital to Wakefield’s prosperity. The Waterfront was a hub of industry, lined with mills and warehouses, maltings and other businesses. The aim of our project is to research this history with the help of the local community.
Wood Street: Heart of Wakefield
Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and managed by Wakefield Council, with Wakefield Historical Society, Wakefield Civic Society and Leeds Beckett University as partners, this project will explore the rich heritage of Wood Street and the institutions and businesses which have existed over the years.
Wood Street – The Heart of Wakefield produced by One to One Development Trust and add a link to our website on our name https://onetoonedevelopment.org/