Talk by Volunteers at Pontefract, free talk, Saturday 17th June, 2-3 pm Established as motte and bailey castles following the Norman Conquest, the history of Pontefract and Sandal Castles is in many ways the history…
Events at West Yorkshire History Centre on 21st May 2-5pm, and at Normanton Library on 24th May 4-7pm. There is an introductory talk; then an explanation by the Archives Service of how to read the…
In 2013 Wakefield Historical Society embarked on a major project to discover the history of Wakefield Waterfront. We learnt about the importance of the Calder and Hebble Navigation to the development of the Waterfront and…
It will be 50 years on 21st March since the Lofthouse Pit Disaster when seven men died following an inrush of water from old workings. The rescuers worked for 6 days, but only one man…
Pontefract Castle, Pontefract, WF8 1QH Sat 18th March 2023 With the Yorkist defeat at Wakefield and the death of the heir to the throne Richard Dule of York, the House of Lancaster was now wholly…
On 21st February, WHS members Lesley Taylor and Shirley Levon enjoyed speaking to a large, friendly and responsive audience at Halifax Antiquarian Society about John Smeaton and the Calder Navigation. Many of the Halifax ‘gentlemen’…
Miners’ struggles and safety in the workplace, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Lofthouse Pit Disaster. 25th March, 1pm, at the Red Shed, Wakefield Labour Club, Vicarage Street, Wakefield WF1 1QX. Fifty years ago,…
The Gissing Centre was open for the January 25th Artwalk with a preview of the Westgate booklets which have been researched, written and produced by Wakefield Historical Society Research Group as part of their contribution to…
One hundred years ago, 1922 saw the passing through Parliament of the ‘Law of Property Act’ which brought to an end the last meaningful function of manorial courts through the abolition of the form of…
“From Morley Boy to Westminster Knight”, talk by Sir Rodney Brooke Wednesday 7 December, 7.30pm West Yorkshire History Centre, Kirkgate. Non-members welcome, but please email us as space is limited: info@WakefieldHistoricalSociety.org.uk Secrets of the hunt…