Previous Events

Tegwen Roberts provided an excellent overview of recent community-led heritage work across Wakefield district. She explained that ‘Our Heritage, Our Stories’ was funded for a period of two years by a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant. It encouraged community groups with a shared love of heritage to work together, sharing their expertise.

In Castleford, although little remains above ground, Roman heritage had been investigated using geophysics and an interactive game developed to enable viewers to imagine what it may have been like.

New conservation areas are being planned: in Castleford where it would be centred on Bank Street and Wesley Street, and in Felkirk/Hodroyd where the conservation area would encompass part of a quite rural area, as well as Hodroyd Hall and other historic buildings.

Tegwen referred to the Civic Art Project which our own Society has been involved in, the project to look at South Asian heritage which involved a number of young people, and the support to seek a grant for the preservation of the Thornes Bowling Club pavilion, a good example from the 1930s.

After many years of austerity the heritage of the Wakefield district has been defended by local groups and societies, and the Heritage Framework supports these initiatives. We hope this will continue after the two years for which there has been funding.

‘Roman Castleford Uncovered’ can be accessed from: https://museumsandcastles.wakefield.gov.uk/discover/collections/archaeology/roman-castleford/uncovered/

Information about the proposed Conservation areas can be found on Wakefield Council’s website: https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/about-the-council/consultation-and-engagement/wakefield-council-consultations/planning-policy-consultations/2025-conservation-area-review-public-consultation

‘Anthony Hewitson, proprietor of the Wakefield and West Riding Herald’
Talk on 8 October for Wakefield Historical Society.

Dr Andrew Hobbs with Richard Knowles, Vice President of Wakefield Historical Society

Dr Andrew Hobbs’ lecture on Wednesday evening on Anthony Hewitson (1836-1912) was an eye-opener to the life of a Wakefield newspaper proprietor in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Hewitson, of Preston, Lancashire, took over the Wakefield and West Riding Herald which was based at Pemberton House, 122 Westgate in 1894. He worked in partnership with a local man Charles William Carr, eventually, with some reluctance, buying the paper outright. Unable to sell it on, he put his sons to work, before eventually selling it in 1910. Hewitson left behind detailed diaries including four volumes covering his time in Wakefield. The diaries describe the rivalry between Wakefield’s other newspapers of the time, Hewitson’s dislike of Wakefield, and his colourful family.

Dr Hobbs’ well-researched talk was a fascinating insight into Wakefield newspapers in this period and was thoroughly appreciated by the audience.

Dr. Andrew Hobbs is a historian of journalism who specialises in 19th century provincial newspapers and 20th century county magazines.

Volume one of The Hewitson Diaries (1865-1887) was published in 2022 and can be read freely online at: https://www.openbookpublishers.com/books/10.11647/obp.

Excursion to Bishop Auckland – Report courtesy of Wakefield Civic Society
3rd September 2025

It was a rather drizzly and chilly morning when our coach pulled out of Wakefield on Wednesday, 3rd September for our final coach excursion of the summer.

On this occasion, our destination was Bishop Auckland, a place we last visited ten years ago in September 2015. Much has changed in the interval!

Since we were last there, The Auckland Project, a charity-led regeneration initiative inspired by former stockbroker and philanthropist Jonathan Ruffer, has seen millions of pounds of investment in the town, drawing together and adding to the town’s visitor attractions.

Ruffer, a devotee of Spanish Art, decided to buy the palace and and other properties in the town when a series of works by Francisco de Zurbarán (twelve of the thirteen paintings making up the series Jacob and his Twelve Sons), which had been in the palace since 1756, were put up for sale and threatened with removal from Bishop Auckland. This move led to the creation of the project.

The former Bishops Palace, originally home to the Prince Bishops of Durham, is now rebranded as Auckland Palace, but remains the star attraction and this is where we began our visit with tea and coffee served in the Palace library.

From here, we explored independently, although most headed straight for the Faith Museum, which tells a story of British history over 6,000 years ‘viewed through the lens of faith’.

This new, purpose-built museum is partly a conversion of the Grade I listed palace and partly a new extension, designed by Níall McLaughlin Architects. It leads visitors through the exhibition rooms and then back into the palace where rooms are available to view along with the palace chapel. Conveniently the tour of the buildings also brings the visitor back to the café where many had their lunch before visiting the grounds or moving into the town centre to continue their exploration.

After the palace, the most important visitor attractions are the new Visitor Centre with viewing tower – a most dramatic insertion into the town centre, the Mining Art Museum, featuring artwork created by miners from across the country but with a strong local focus, and the Spanish Art Gallery where Jonathan Ruffer’s art collection is displayed. This is described as the first UK gallery dedicated to the art, history and culture of the Spanish Golden Age. However, not all is quite what it seems when you reach the top floor – the innovative exhibits here are actually copies of original works that have been digitally recorded and reproduced to create a unique perspective of Spanish art of the period. (Read more on this fascinating project here.)

As our visit drew to its close, now warmed by some late sunshine, members looked for that last cup of tea at one of the cafés in the market place before reboarding our coach for the journey home.

Many thanks to the volunteers who have made the summer programme of visits and excursions so remarkable.

Excursion to Cromford Mills and Buxton Opera House, Tuesday 19th August 2025
Report courtesy of Wakefield Civic Society

22 members of Wakefield Civic and Historical Society enjoyed a full day excursion to Cromford Mills and Buxton Opera House last week.

We started at Cromford Mills where we were met by some of the volunteers and then had tea and biscuits before starting a guided tour of the main features of the site – a former cotton mill erected in 1771 by Richard Arkwright, later, from 1786, Sir Richard Arkwright. The mill and the later mill building added to the site were powered by water extracted from the nearby lead mines (- the mining company needed to lower the water level in the mines to get at the lead, so it was pumped out and then sold to Arkwright).

It was at Cromford that Arkwright’s invention in 1769 of the cotton-spinning machine, the water frame, revolutionised the cotton industry, transforming it from a small cottage industry to one of large-scale factory production.

Arkwright became known as the ‘Father of the Factory System’ for launching the world’s first production line at Cromford. These ideas lead to the growth of hundreds of Arkwright-style cotton mills across the country and by the early 1800s cotton was Britain’s major import and export.

The tour included an informative animation where a life-size Arkwright himself appeared to tell us all about his success.

After a short break for lunch, we re-boarded the coach for our visit to Buxton Opera House.

Once again, we started with tea and biscuits and were then given a talk on the history of the building and its architect – Frank Matcham. A tour of the building followed (lots of stairs!). The theatre seats 901 audience members and it was interesting to compare and contrast the features with our very own Theatre Royal Wakefield. We were taken below stage to see the orchestra pit – apparently a river runs past the back of the theatre and used to flood the pit occasionally, requiring the musicians to perform while wearing wellington boots!

Following the tour of the Opera House, it was a very short walk to the Old Hall Hotel (reputed to be the oldest hotel in England!) where we had a very enjoyable cream tea. Catering was more than generous with one or two people taking scones home to finish off later.

Overall, a very enjoyable outing.

Coach Excursion to Port Sunlight, 23rd July 
Report courtesy of Wakefield Civic Society

Our recent coach excursion to Port Sunlight proved to be a great success with a full coach and fine weather.

After a slightly earlier start that usual, 8:30am rather than 9am, we arrived in Port Sunlight in good time to have morning coffee (and cake!) in the café at the Lady Lever Art Gallery.

The Gallery, although in the village, is now part of National Museums Liverpool and has free entry. It was founded by industrialist and politician William Hesketh Lever (1851-1925) and dedicated to the memory of his wife Elizabeth (1850-1913) who became Lady Lever when her husband was knighted in 1911. (Lever was elevated to the peerage in 1922, adding his late wife’s maiden name Hulme to his title to become Baron Leverhulme.)

The gallery opened in 1922 and is home to an extensive collection of Pre-Raphaelite paintings, Jasperware and furniture, and is well worth a visit in its own right.

Lever, and his brother James, trading as Lever Brothers, made their fortune from producing soap – Sunlight Soap and later, Lux, becoming  household names.  Detergents and cleaning products such as Vim were also part of their growing range. With acquisitions and mergers, the original company still survives as Unilever, established in 1929 when Lever Brothers merged with Dutch margarine producer Margarine Unie, and now makes a range of household products and foodstuffs.

However, we were there to explore the village so, at 12:30pm, we re-boarded our coach where local guide John, who has lived in Port Sunlight all his life, gave us a talk about the history and architecture of the village as we were chauffered round.

Believe it or not, over 30 different architects were employed by Lever when he decided to create the village for his workforce. Unlike, Bournville and Saltaire, this ‘model village’ offers low density workers’ cottages set in a picturesque landscape and it is not surprising that the village, now managed by a Trust, was designated a Conservation Area in 1978.

Although originally for rent, some of the homes offered to workers were later made available to buy with the first homes being sold in 1980. Strict rules do, however, remain in force about renovations and alterations: double glazing, for example, is not allowed.

Lever was, and still is, regarded as a philanthropist and, by building a village for his workforce, one who cared for the people who worked for him. However, a side of his history recognised but not yet fully explored in the exhibitions at either the gallery or museum, is the extent to which Lever Brothers relied from 1911 on forced labour in the Belgian Congo to produce palm oil, a key ingredient in their product range.

On the conclusion of our tour, we adjourned to Hulme Hall for lunch. The Hall, was originally the women’s dining hall on the estate. After lunch, members were given free time to explore the village and visit the on-site Museum and to see inside an example of a Worker’s cottage, before returning to the coach for the journey home.

 

‘Medieval Cloth Making in Yorkshire’ by Dr John S. Lee, University of York: Talk for Wakefield Historical Society on 9th July.

Despite the warm sunshine and it being the holiday season, we were pleased to welcome a good audience to John Lee’s talk. He described the cloth making process in clear terms: sourcing wool, combing or carding, spinning, weaving, fulling and finishing. Dyeing could take place at various times in the process; it was skilled and added value to the cloth. The processes were well illustrated with images from early sources such as the Luttrell Psalter.

John then described the organisation of the industry which gradually became more centralised during the later medieval period. Clothiers sold the products through markets and fairs in the provinces and in London, with trade overseas particularly with the Hanseatic League.

The centres of the trade in the medieval period were shown on a map, particularly the Cotswolds, Norfolk and Suffolk, and York. Details using information from a 1399 inquisition of the cloth trade illustrated the number of weavers in Yorkshire, and the number of cloths they made per year, and included Wakefield, Thornhill and Sharlston. Weaving was seasonal, during the harvest period there were few cloths made.

In conclusion, John said that during the medieval period the trade grew, with clothiers being entrepreneurial, and successful. John’s excellent talk led to a series of interesting questions which John answered fully. His book on the subject, ‘The Medieval Clothier’ is available from Boydell and Brewer publishers.

Wednesday, 18th June,  Joint Excursion with Wakefield Civic Society to Epworth Old Rectory and Gainsborough
Report courtesy of Wakefield Civic Society

We started our visit in typical fashion with light refreshments (as seen in the photo above) – tea/coffee and some lovely homemade cakes baked for us by the volunteers who look after the Rectory. We then had a comprehensive guided tour with our expert guides where we learned not just about the architectural history of the building, which had been home to Samuel Wesley, rector of the local church, and his sons John and Charles, but also about the early days of Wesleyanism which arose out of the preachings of John and Charles but actually came about as a distinct movement only after their deaths.

We then left for Gainsborough where members had time to have lunch and explore the town before visiting Gainsborough Old Hall, a medieval manor house, pictured below, now in the care of English Heritage.

‘The Deposition from the Cross: A rare and valuable 12th century ivory carving from Wakefield’ by Michaela Zöschg, Curator of Medieval Art, V&A Museum
Talk on the 18th June.

 

We greatly appreciated this excellent talk by Michaela Zöschg who had travelled up to Wakefield to tell us about the carving and which shed a detailed and professional light on its history. She described the subject matter, Joseph of Arimathea taking Christ down from the Cross, and emphasised the skill of the sculptor in the extraordinary detail of the carving, and his ability to portray the emotions and the human suffering.

Michaela described what is known of its history, though research is still ongoing. It is believed that it was found in 1759 when a house in Northgate, Wakefield was pulled down. There is good evidence that another ivory depicting Judas at the Last Supper may come from the same workshop at York and a letter in the 1930s also relates this item to the demolition of the house in Northgate. York was known for the trade in walrus ivory in the early medieval period.

The Deposition from the Cross was the most important walrus ivory in private hands, and when it was to be sold an export ban was applied to it, provided that the V&A could raise £2 million pounds in just four months to save it for the nation. Our Society contributed to that sum, and both ivories are now prominently displayed at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

We hope that it will be possible at some time in the future for the ivory to come back to Wakefield to be on exhibition at the Museum.

Our thanks to Michaela Zöschg for an informative and fascinating talk.

More information from the V&A: https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O129522/the-deposition-from-the-cross-relief-unknown/

‘Caer Syndal’ – Welsh Bards and the Glory of Sandal Castle.  A summary of the talk by Dr. Andrew Breeze on 14th May 2025

Dr. Breeze, professor of philology at the University of Navarra, came to talk to us about a 15th century Welsh poem, with a link to Sandal. It is printed in Welsh in the ‘Poetical Works of Dafydd Nanmor’ ed. T. Roberts and I. Williams in 1923. We were told that a place named in the poem has puzzled Celticists. Before telling us more Dr. Breeze described some of the history of the ownership of Sandal Castle, starting with the de Warennes, until it reverted to the Crown in 1347. He talked about Richard, Duke of York, who, he said, used Sandal as his seat of power in the North. We were told Richard held many lordships in Wales, which had inherited the rights and revenues of their pre-Norman kings, providing York with enormous wealth. After York’s death in 1460, his son, Richard, who became Richard III in 1483, set up a base here in 1484/5 when he ordered building works to make the castle a suitable northern household. His death at Bosworth in 1485 led to Henry VII becoming king. He had his own links to Welsh lords, his uncle Jasper Tudor being half-brother to Henry VI. Nanmor’s poem, probably written in late 1459, exalted Jasper Tudor’s power as a war lord. The poem claims Tudor could conquer lands in Germany, Spain, Iceland etc. and closer to home he’d take Wigmore, Ludlow and Coventry (where the Parliament of the Devils was held that November, convened to pass attainders against Yorkist nobility). But the first of the conquerable places listed was the mysterious ‘caer Syndal’. Dr. Breeze, an energetic and entertaining speaker, concluded this was clearly a reference to Sandal Castle and both dramatises and glorifies the castle and shows us its importance in the 15th century.

Summary of the talk by Dave Russ: ‘Beverley Bros’ Brewery’ for Wakefield Historical Society on 9th April 2025

Dave Russ’s excellent presentation provided the audience with a pictorial history through images of the brewery and the owners, the fleet of wagons, advertisements, newspaper articles, bottle labels, beermats, and much more. Established by two brothers in 1861, Christopher Lodge Beverley and Anthony Taylor Beverley, their descendants continued to be directors of the company which became a limited company in 1888. The brewery, known as Eagle Brewery was on Harrison Street in the Kirkgate area of Wakefield, and remained there until it was taken over by Wilson’s, a division of Watney Mann in 1967. Its final ‘brew’ was on 21 May 1968. Thereafter it was used as a distribution centre.

Its core beer brands were ‘Imperial Ale’ and in the 1920s ‘Golden Eagle’ and ‘Old Warrior Strong Ale’. In 1936 they were the first brewery to can beer, and in 1948 they started to export for the first time. This was a stronger beer, which by 1951 was also being sold domestically. In the 1960s their beer won many awards including the stronger barley wine. Three public houses were built by the company: Ackworth Moor Top, the Lupset Hotel, and the Yews Hotel in Barnsley (now demolished).

There were links to Wakefield Trinity Rugby Club with their advertisements on the stands, and their wagons being used for parades when the club won Challenge Cup trophies. The 1946 ‘No 6’ wagon is preserved at the Greater Manchester Museum of Transport. Frank Beverley, the grandson of Christopher Lodge Beverley continued to be active as a director in the company until it was taken over by Wilson’s in 1967.

Dave Russ showed photos of his own wide collection of memorabilia, and it is a tribute to him that this aspect of Wakefield’s history has been saved and commemorated.

Report on the Annual General Meeting of 12^th March 2025

The meeting took place at the West Yorkshire  History Centre, Wakefield 7pm in the presence of approx. 50 members. This followed our successful 100^th Year in 2024.

The meeting was chaired by Richard Knowles, Vice President in the absence of the President, Pam Judkins.

Phil Judkins the Hon. Secretary for the past thirteen years was stepping down from that office. To mark his long service to the Society he was made an Honorary Life Member and was presented with a Book Token from the WHS Council.

The Reports of Officers and Groups were distributed and accepted by the meeting.

The following Officers were duly elected;

Hon Secretary  –  Michael Rochford
Hon Assistant Secretary  –  Phil Judkins
Hon Treasurer/Membership  –  Lorraine Simpson
Hon Lecture Secretary  –  Jody Ineson
Hon. Web Manager –  Shirley Levon.
Hon Excursion Co-ordinator  – Remained vacant

The following were duly elected to serve on Council;
Joanne Harrison, Jo Heron, Richard Knowles, Stephen Hargrave, Claire Pickering, Ken Rowley, Olivia Rowley, David Scriven, Brian Thomas, Lesley Taylor,.

Following the AGM there were three short talks. A full report of these can be found on the ‘Reports on Lectures’ page.

Centenary Event: Tuesday 12th November: From Lucy Hanlon to Mabel Matthews A.I.E.E., or: how a Wakefield-born woman helped electrify Britain.’  by Professor Graeme Gooday and Dr Katie Carpenter.

Katie Carpenter introduced the subject, providing background to the involvement of women in electrical engineering. This is being celebrated in 2024 by ‘Electric Dreams: a Festival of Womanpower’.

In the 19th century the Industrial Revolution had brought about mass production, which included ‘gadgets’ for domestic use. During those years there was a surge in the number of middle-class women in the home, often with a single servant, and the demand for labour-saving devices grew. Advice was provided by women demonstrating their use, and popular manuals were published. During WW1 women were employed in many engineering roles that had previously been held by men.

In 1924 the Electrical Association for Women was developed from a proposal by electrical engineer Lucy Mabel Matthews. The first meeting to develop the organisation, at this time called the Women’s Electrical Association, was held on 12 November 1924 at the home of Lady Katharine Parsons of the Women’s Engineering Society. Thus, the day of these talks to our Society fell on the centenary of that first meeting.

Graeme Gooday described the early life of Lucy Mabel Matthews. She was born Mabel Lucy Hanlon on Elm Street in Wakefield in 1879. Her parents then moved to Cheshire and Mabel married Richard Matthews in 1901. She was widowed in 1909 and subsequently cared for her parents who had moved to London. She worked as an engineer in a paper-makers in WW1. By 1922 she was working in the electrical department of the Consolidated Pneumatic Tool Co, where she progressively took over both the sales activity and then the management of the department, selling electrical power tools to mine managers throughout the UK and abroad – not at all a normal role for a woman! She was an expert on electric drills and lectured to the Women’s Engineering Society.

It was felt that women’s interest in the use of electricity in the home should be encouraged. The Electrical Association for Women was keen to promote the uses of labour-saving devices such as sweepers, dishwashers etc. to lighten the load on women and enable them to do their own housework. It wished to create jobs for women as demonstrators, overcome women’s doubts, create customers and thus the demand for electricity during the daytime.

Regional groups were set up, with the first meeting of the Leeds EAW in 1925, although a Wakefield group was only established in 1953 with the Mayoress and deputy Mayoress attending the first meeting.

Graeme Gooday noted that the history of the development of electricity could be found in ‘The Electrical Age’ journal 1926-1986 which is available online. He and Katie Carpenter demonstrated the tea towels that have been produced to commemorate the EAW.

After the two talks, Kevin Trickett, President of Wakefield Civic Society, explained that a blue plaque had been made to commemorate Lucy Mabel Matthews which would be attached on the wall of Lightwaves centre, close to where Elm Street had once existed. It was unveiled by Graeme Gooday and Katie Carpenter.

It was fascinating to learn about a Wakefield-born woman who had achieved so much in her lifetime: our thanks are due to Graeme Gooday and Katie Carpenter. We will be reminded of her contribution whenever we switch on a light, or start a dishwasher!

Electric Dreams, a Festival of Womanpower:

https://www.wes.org.uk/2024/09/26/electric-dreams-2024-a-festival-of-womanpower/

Centenary Event: ‘Joseph Aspdin and the production of Portland Cement in Wakefield’ by Professor Ian Richardson. Lecture at Wakefield Town Hall, 23rd October

Professor Richardson’s excellent talk on Wednesday detailed his research, with other contributors, Xiaohong Zhu, Paul L Dawson, Phil Judkins and Mark J Richardson, to prove that Portland Cement had first beencommercially produced in Wakefield at Aspdin’s cement works near Kirkgate Station.

Professor Richardson first showed an image of the original patent (no. 5022) and seal from 1824, and gave some background to Aspdin’s family. He described how for two centuries there had been no consensus amongst researchers as to the inventor, and whether it could rightly be ascribed to Joseph Aspdin.

The ‘Wakefield Arms’ public house, close to Kirkgate station, had been listed Grade ll as it was claimed to be ‘the only surviving example of a building covered with Joseph Aspdin’s patent Portland cement’. Much research was conducted using archival documents and maps to discover when it had been built and later alterations. This showed it had originally been three houses converted to form the public house about 1840/1841, which was likely to be the time that the render was added. Seven samples were taken of the render from various sites on the building, and one sample was subjected to detailed analysis of the microstructure. The conclusion was that the render was made in the 19th century using Portland cement.

A key part of the proof was to show the size of, and likely temperature reached by, the kiln used by Aspdin in Wakefield. Critical to this proof was a scaled plan of Kirkgate station, showing the kiln; this plan is held at the National Archives, Kew, and its restoration was funded by Wakefield Historical Society at the time of our research on Kirkgate Station. Had we not funded this, the map – which was then in a very poor condition, having delaminated from its backing cloth – would have crumbled to powder (as its companion map of Knottingley station already had) and Prof Richardson’s research would have been massively more difficult if not impossible. Drawings by Arthur Tait and Rev. Thomas Kilby also show the cement works kiln at Kirkgate, indicating that it was a tall structure, and plans and maps show that the diameter of this kiln was about 14 feet.

Prior to the move to Wakefield, Aspdin had lived in Packhorse Yard in Leeds, selling his cement in Angel Inn Yard, between Briggate and Lands Lane. However, the Aspdin family had built houses close to John Bower’s glass works in Hunslet, and this may be where Aspdin experimented with developing Portland cement.

The conclusion of this major piece of research was that it was likely that Aspdin developed Portland cement in Hunslet, but the first dedicated Portland cement works in the world was, indeed, in Wakefield.

The audience, which included descendants of the Aspdin family and a former landlady of the Wakefield Arms, were captivated by the story of the research, and delighted that Wakefield could claim another ‘first’ – as the ‘birthplace’ of Portland cement.

Centenary Event: 19th October: ‘Sausages, Smoked Ham and Streaky Bacon Spelled Success for 19^th century immigrants to Wakefield’ by Karl-Heinz Wüstner

Wakefield Historical Society was delighted to welcome Karl-Heinz Wüstner to give a talk about German butchers. He explained that there were three periods of immigration to Britain between 1790 and about 1905 from the Hohenlohe region of Germany, prompted by crop failures, political unrest, population growth and the threat of compulsory military service. There was great demand for the butchers’ products in the fast-growing industrial cities of the North of England. Ham, bacon, pork, sausages and pies all provided ready meals at the end of a working day, relieving working women from the preparation of an evening meal.

The butchers’ advertised their products with shop windows vying with fine displays to attract custom.

The two World Wars caused anti-German feeling; shops were wrecked and looted. Many Germans were interned in places like the camp at Lofthouse Park. Ziegler, a Wakefield butcher, published a plea in the local newspaper declaring his loyalty. Ziegler later achieved great success with shops across the north of England, and was one of the partners in Farm Stores, which entered into partnership with Associated Dairies, becoming the present supermarket chain Asda.

Although Hofmann’s is the only butcher remaining in Wakefield whose family originated in Germany, many of us remember other butchers such as Oesterleins. With reference to the subject the audience were treated to pieces of Hofmann’s pork pie.

An excellent and entertaining talk that shed light on the origins of some Wakefield butchers.

Centenary Event: Saturday 14th September 2024. Heritage Open Day at West Yorkshire History Centre.
Exploring Routes, Networks and Connections.

Wakefield Historical Society was delighted to collaborate with West Yorkshire History Centre and Wakefield Local Studies Library for a heritage event at the West Yorkshire History Centre.  A display of maps, plans and other documents was open for visitors to explore in the search room, and the conservation studio was also open to explore.

Lesley Taylor from our Society gave two talks on maps, plans and prospects of Wakefield and area before the 1850s by which time the Ordnance Survey was providing the basis of much of our mapping.  Her aim was to show something of who created them, why they were made, and what they tell us.

By the late seventeenth century, a curiosity to know more about the inland parts of Britain was emerging and William Lodge’s ‘Prospect of Wakefield as it appears from the London Road’, used on our Historical Society’s banner, was a first representation of the town viewed from the river side. A later prospect of the town by Samuel Buck, dated 1722, is a fine composition, providing much more detail about the town and its surroundings.  Buck’s many sketches in the region were made when he travelled with John Warburton, who was collecting subscribers for a new map of the West Riding using previous plans and maps to help him. These included Saxton’s West Riding map and Ogilby’s new road maps

Lesley pointed out that the makers of such prospects and maps usually needed to fund the surveying, engraving and printing expenses before sales could be made. However, landowners paid surveyors to provide them with manuscript plans of their estates. The surveyor, John Dickenson, made a plan to show the huge estate of the Earl of Strafford on the north side of Wakefield. Later his brother, William, made a survey book for John Smyth of Heath which showed his Wakefield property. These plans provide a small outline of the whole town and show the way surrounding land was farmed. Wakefield charities too commissioned their own map books in the mid-eighteenth century showing their dispersed plots of land.

William Pape a local surveyor, produced manuscript maps, surveying for individuals, charities and turnpike trusts. Road improvement was only one aspect of transport developments by the 1760s, John Smeaton made a beautifully illustrated plan of the Calder Valley to promote the Calder Navigation. In 1806 the Calder and Hebble Company commissioned a detailed map book of the completed navigation

Meanwhile, by 1771 Pape had created an ‘exact’ plan of Wakefield which was on display in the Archive’s search room. During the lunch break Lesley asked visitors to study this plan and try to understand why it had been made.

The afternoon session started by considering a likely explanation of the purpose of Pape’s simple plan. By using other sources, the establishment of Wakefield’s Street Commissioners by Act of Parliament in 1771 was identified. Problems and measurements on the map indicate that this plan was to show the main issues affecting through traffic in the town.

The Wakefield Enclosure Act of 1793 required two surveyors to create extremely detailed plans of the whole parish of Wakefield. These large plans combined with the surveyor’s notebooks are full of information, showing all the property and its ownership in the town in great detail. Whilst the enclosure surveyor, Thomas Gee was in town a local wool merchant Thomas Hardy, had plans of his Wakefield properties made, including a lot on Westgate and the almost completely lost Pincheon Street off Kirkgate.

County maps, such as that of Jeffery’s of the 1770s, had begun to show more of the main layout of the town. With the support of subscriptions from map collectors a huge county map was produced by Christopher Greenwood in 1815-17 then working and printing his maps in Wakefield. He had used the Ordnance Survey triangulation, completed for the whole country and made available to mapmakers long before Ordnance Survey 1” series mapping reached the north. Greenwood’s map showed new developments such as St John’s and Westgate Moor.

By the 1820s John Walker had settled in Wakefield where he made many plans, such as the huge Badsworth Hunt plan. His well-known plan of the town in 1823 is very elegant, celebrating new aspects of the town in a display of civic pride. Lesley also picked out some sale plans of which there are very many as the century progressed.

The Ordnance Survey eventually completed its 1” series in our area in the1850s. Work was also under way on the 6” to the mile mapping at this time, and plans of Wakefield at 5’ to a mile too was being surveyed. The map book created from this survey was on display on Saturday following its repair by the West Yorkshire History Centre’s Conservator. A surprise discovery of a company of Royal Engineers operating from Westgate from 1844 into the 1850s suggests that much of this work was based in Wakefield.

Lesley’s two talks illustrated the wealth of pre-1850s material at the West Yorkshire History Centre, and many people were surprised to find so many maps, plans and prospects of Wakefield available.

Centenary Event, “Connecting with Wakefield: trade, manufacture and information in the eighteenth century town”, talk by Gill Cookson, University of Leeds.
Wednesday 10th July 2024

Gill’s talk gave a general introduction to the subject, and then described the local scene of Wakefield within the wider processes of industrialisation. She stressed how important connection was, sharing knowledge and innovation within the community. Change was everywhere, with innovation not just in machinery, but in the use of materials, skills, premises, commerce and the setting up of new systems. Most change happened in workshops in the 18th century, responding to industrial needs with new systems running alongside the old systems. As an example, she stated that the use of hand looms continued after power looms were widely in use.

Wakefield had been a hub for the wool trade, which was in full flow by the end of the 16th century. The main route was from Kendal and Cumbria, through the Yorkshire Dales to Wakefield, Hull and London, and to retailers in the Midlands. The development of the Aire and Calder Navigation and the Calder and Hebble Navigation were vitally important to improve transport. They were financed and developed by the towns on the route, financiers and politicians working collaboratively.

John Brearley’s memorandum books written between 1750 and 1770 illustrated that “a public mill was a knowledge exchange”. He was a frizzer (fuller) with a mill at Wakefield whose books consist of notes about his own mill, local people, and local trade. They are held in the YAHS special collection at the Brotherton Library in Leeds; a full scan of the book 1772-1773 is online (https://www.yas.org.uk/Collections/Brearley-Memo-Book) Two books (1758-62) that are part-transcribed are in the YAHS Record Series, edited by John Smail in 2001.

John Smeaton, regarded as the first civil engineer, is known for many of his major projects such as the Eddystone Lighthouse, but he was also involved in many projects locally, using experienced learned on one project to move on to the next. He superintended projects on the Calder and Hebble Navigation between 1760 and 1770, and on the Aire and Calder Navigation between 1775 and 1779. He designed watermills in Wakefield in 1754 and 1765, and windmills at Wakefield in 1755 and in Leeds in 1781. He researched ways to evaluate the efficiency of waterwheels and this was published in 1759.

Gill’s excellent talk gave a wide perspective on industrial developments in the 18th century both nationally and locally, describing how change happened and the importance of connections. Her new book: “Making an Industrial Revolution: skill, knowledge, community and innovation” is soon to be published.

Centenary Event, Wednesday 12th June 2024:  ‘Wakefield Street Life 1800-1924’ by David Scriven

In his usual fluent and accessible manner David approached the subject of Wakefield street life over the nineteenth and early twentieth century, always illustrating his themes with a great variety of examples of specific incidents, and using a number of sources.

His images ranged around the town, beginning with a view of Westgate and a reminder of how it was changing during these years. The present buildings at the top of Westgate all replaced earlier, less imposing properties so that extensive building sites along the street must have been a common sight. The construction of wider pavements, the laying of setts and tramlines, and the introduction of gas lamps were all part of the changing scene.

A view of Kirkgate Bridge indicated the arrival of the railways in the mid-nineteenth century, the bridges slicing across streets, with the smoke from trains illustrating the huge problem of ever-increasing air pollution from coal use in homes, industry and transport, dimming the light of the sun.  Similarly, pollution of the Calder was turning it into a sewer. Smells came not only from the river but from privies, manure, and trade and industrial processes. Street noises too from horses and wheeled transport, work places and trains were ever present. Parts of the outskirts of Wakefield like St John’s, remained genteel and quiet, but older central streets housed rowdy inns, brothels, and lodging houses.

 An image of the Bullring in 1908 drew attention to the number of people working in transport. Stage coaches, and then cabs and trams, and later cars and buses all brought danger to the streets from animals or poor driving. Other street workers were delivering, labouring, lighting up, and at Friday market, selling. Different spots in the market area were allocated for different items such as the Market Cross, where butter was sold. There are also accounts of wives being sold.

Much of this street trading ended when the market place moved to Brook Street and a new market hall was built in 1847. Shopkeepers could not put out their goods into the streets, although street hawkers continued selling their wares. Other street activities, such as the corn market moved inside. The great livestock market was held on the Fairground behind the main streets, but the animals for sale passed through the town even when they arrived by railway. A servant hiring fair held yearly in Westgate continued into the early 20^thcentury. Begging too was a feature of the streets.

Leisure time often took the form of strolling or idling outside with an occasional entertainment like a balloon ascent or a circus. In 1865 a temporary building on Wood Street housed the Wakefield Fine Arts Exhibition. The more volatile Bonfire Night fire in the Bull RIng was eventually suppressed, although firework displays were still popular. The town was full of public houses making Saturday nights extremely rowdy, especially when the trains began to bring in residents from outlying areas. Circuses and menageries came to town, often announcing their arrival with processions of animals and performers through the streets.

Heath village outside Wakefield was a popular destination for Wakefield families walking or riding in horse-drawn transport on a Sunday. For others, Sundays were days of worship, and sometimes Sunday scholars from the church or chapel Sunday Schools would process through the streets. The salvation army too sent out preachers to the Bull Ring. An anti- catholic agitator in 1862 caused a riot amongst the Irish families in the town. Elaborate funeral processions might pass through the town.

Politics also took to the streets with processions or open-air meetings such as those of the suffragist speakers during their pilgrimage to London in 1913. Some political meetings ended in violence, for example in 1837 when three people died.

Crime was rife on the streets with pickpockets busy in crowded areas, and burglars and graverobbers out at night. Fights were a common feature of the night time streets. In the early nineteenth century punishment also took place in the streets, with floggings in Westgate, the pillory in the Bullring and stocks near the parish church. Policing changed during the 19^th century from the deputy constables and night watchmen of the early period to a new police force created in 1848.

The opening of public buildings often provided an opportunity for a display of civic pomp. Such as the erection of the statue of Queen Victoria in 1905 with visiting mayors and military bands. Another opportunity for such display was the opening of Clarence Park by the Duke of Clarence in 1893. In 1912 King George V and Queen Mary were visiting industrial Yorkshire and the townspeople’s welcome was orderly and warm.

Following the talk much of the subsequent discussion was about the importance of hierarchy within processions, and the many occasions for these. This meeting was also available on Zoom, thanks to Kevin Trickett, and messages of thanks for the opportunity of joining the meeting from home were sent. Some of David’s primary sources were discussed. Apart from newspapers, he referred to Henry Clarkson, John Hewitt, the Cryer Collection, George Gissing ‘A life’s Morning’, and Matthew Tomlinson’s diaries.

Centenary Event: 20th May 2024: Launch of ‘Memories of Scott’s Yard: Life in Westgate and Lupset 1926-1949’by Audrey Keighley, transcribed by Denise Brown.

Wakefield Historical Publications’ new title was launched in the Learning Zone at Wakefield Library as part of their WordFest event.

Our President, Pam Judkins, gave a short talk about the background to the memoir.

Audrey Keighley’s memoir covers her life as a small child in Scott’s Yard in the 1930s, her subsequent life on the Lupset council house estate as a teenager and as a young woman during the second world war. She furnishes a vivid description of those early years and the struggles of her parents to provide for the family.

Scott’s yard existed from at least the 18th century and ran from Westgate to Back Lane, parallel to Drury Lane. The 1911 census lists twenty properties, the majority of only two or three rooms. Residents had limited means and struggled to make ends meet. By 1939 most houses had been demolished leaving only six houses. Most residents were moved out into the new council estates.

We were delighted to welcome Denise Brown, who had transcribed her mother’s memoir, and other members of the family. The audience were keen to ask the family questions about the memoir, and to exchange their personal memories.

The book is available through our website price £6 plus post and packing: Wakefield Historical Publications

Centenary Event: “Words about Wakefield: Voices from the Past”, 10 April 2024

We were delighted to have a good audience for our readings about Wakefield in the past. We hope they found it a lively and interesting performance and were intrigued by some of the readings which do not appear in the standard histories of Wakefield. The readers greatly appreciated the professional training from Aoibheann Kelly, Head of Participation at the Theatre Royal.

Image: WHS President, Pam Judkins reading from past President Kate Taylor’s book ‘Not So Merry Wakefield”

Centenary Event: Society Meeting on 13th March 2024. AGM and talk ‘Fanny Whitehead and the Alverthorpe Textile Workers’ Strike.’ West Yorkshire History Centre, Wakefield.

The well-attended meeting started with the AGM, when our President and Council were re-elected, and reports were made on various aspects of the Society including the Gissing Centre and Wakefield Historical Publications.

Our President, Pam Judkins, reported on the possible sale to the Metropolitan Museum in New York of a medieval ivory sculpture that was found in Wakefield in the 18th century.  The Victoria and Albert Museum are trying to raise £2 million before a June deadline to keep it in their collection. Much discussion ensued as to how this could be publicised, and how the Society could help. It was agreed that the Society should make a £500 donation to the V&A.

This was followed by a short talk, ‘Fanny Whitehead and the Alverthorpe Textile Workers’ Strike’ by Shirley Levon. The Society had been sent a booklet about two textile workers who had been taken to court for obstructing the highway during a strike in 1889. The background to the strike at Colbeck Bros. mill at Alverthorpe was described, and the progress of unionisation in the textile industry at the end of the 19th century. Documents from the West Yorkshire History Centre that had been used in the research were on display.

Centenary Event, 16th February 2024 at Wakefield Town Hall: ‘Wakefield Gingerbreads: Spicey Life in Wakefield’, talk by Peter Brear

The audience were greeted with tables set out with eighteen different samples of gingerbread. Peter Brears had cooked and prepared the earlier examples, while members of the Historical Society had cooked more recent recipes. His knowledge of the subject as a renowned food historian is unparalleled, and his links to Wakefield made his talk particularly relevant to the audience.

Peter related how gingerbread was a speciality of Wakefield for over two hundred years, and that he remembered in the 1960s going into Gosnay’s shop on Northgate which still had glass panels over the beams etched with ‘Wakefield Gingerbread’ in gold. The Gosnay family had been confectioners in Wakefield since at least 1834.

Peter explained that ginger was widely used from the early medieval period: it was considerably cheaper than other spices such as nutmeg, and the roots could be dried in the sun and transported easily. The early gingerbread was eaten like a sweet at the end of a meal with the rich also enjoying crystallised ginger in syrup. It was also used as an aid to digestion. The earliest known recipe was from a cookbook of 1390. The samples Peter had prepared therefore covered 600 years of recipes. He had found that the medieval recipe was still being made at local country houses 400 years later.

‘Whitby gingerbread’ was the first ‘named’ gingerbread, baked hard, with a design stamped on it; it takes months to soften sufficiently to get a knife through it, and was widely used by sailors. The first record of ‘Wakefield gingerbread’ dates from 1746, followed by Grantham, Ormskirk, and Ashbourne. An eighteenth century gingerbread recipe by Lady St Oswald of Nostell was less sweet and hard like a biscuit; it needed to be stored in a slightly damp atmosphere like a cellar until it was eatable, locally this was called ‘coming again’.  Peter had cooked this gingerbread last October and it was only ready to be eaten in January.

From the 1870s when yeast or a raising agent were used, professional bakers started to cook and sell it widely. The recipes were often kept secret and therefore not recorded. The earliest known confectioner to make ‘Wakefield Gingerbread’ was Joseph Simpson of Kirkgate, known to have established his business by 1823. Gingerbread was also cooked in a domestic setting in our area as most houses had kitchen ranges and access to coal to fuel them.

Gingerbread became popular for afternoon tea in the Edwardian period, and recipes were included in fund-raising cookbooks throughout the 20th century.

Further west in the Pennines wheat was not grown, so in the early period oatmeal was added and the gingerbread cooked over a fire to make ‘tharf cake’ – with no yeast this was again quite hard. Parkins which used oatmeal were cooked round the bonfires to commemorate the Gunpowder plot each year, and became a tradition. ‘Treacle’ which could be golden syrup, or black treacle was added.

As Peter’s audience ‘ate’ its way through 600 years of history, they were also provided with milk, which has been a traditional accompaniment for the spicey ginger. Many people chose to take home ‘goody bags’ to enjoy the recipes again at home. Booklets written by Peter were given to all members of the audience containing the history of Wakefield gingerbread and the recipes.

Our thanks are due to Peter Brears for a fascinating talk about a Wakefield speciality that has been forgotten, and to him and some Historical Society members for all the cooking and preparation. It was a memorable event.

Centenary Event 24th January 2024: Lecture by Gary Brannan, ‘The Future of History is Within You: the next histories of Wakefield’
Wakefield Historical Society Meeting in conjunction with Wakefield Civic Society. 

We were delighted to start our Centenary Year off with a keynote lecture by Gary Brannan, ‘The Future of History is Within You: the next histories of Wakefield’. A local lad, born in Batley, Gary is at present Keeper of Archives and Special Collections at the Borthwick Institute in York, but had previously been an archivist at West Yorkshire Archives in Wakefield.

While based in Wakefield Gary had worked with John Goodchild who he described as ‘the last of the antiquarians’, and Kate Taylor, who he described as ‘a force of nature’. Gary was also on Wakefield Historical Society’s council until he moved to York.

Gary pointed out that the Society’s very first meeting was held in the same room as the present meeting. He described some of the achievements of our Society over the last hundred years, and how they had contributed so much to preserving Wakefield’s history; including the excavation at Sandal Castle in the 1960s/1970s, the setting up of Wakefield Historical Publications, the founding of the Gissing Trust in 1978, the Friends of Chantry Chapel in 1990, and more recent projects including the Road to Fotheringhay in 2010, the Waterfront project in 2013, and our most recent project on Westgate.

Gary challenged the audience to ‘tell the story’, by using all the different resources around them. He separated ‘history’ from what he described as ‘the easy charm of nostalgia‘ that is not based on fact as memories differ and depend on emotions. ‘Nostalgia’ was once classed as a medical condition. Popular history sees the past in a favourable light, and the present and future as bleak.

He encouraged the audience to look at recent history – to research the history of Wakefield and to take on difficult topics which people may not wish to remember – examples being Wakefield through Brexit and Covid, the Miners’ strike of the 1980s, night life in Wakefield or the regeneration following the loss of the mining industry. He emphasised the richness and unique nature of some of the resources that are available to us all: the material held at the West Yorkshire History Centre, the John Goodchild Collection, the Manor Court Rolls held at the Brotherton in Leeds, wills and church court records held at the Borthwick – and many others.

Gary described ways that we could broaden communication of our research, not just by written documents, but by podcasts, photos, walking tours and other methods. He summed up by saying that future histories should be recorded by us (“if not us, who? If not now, when?”) and should be firmly based on evidence using diverse resources.

Gary’s enthusiasm for historical research was both inspiring and thought-provoking, and will hopefully encourage many of the audience to pursue their interest in the history of our city.

AGM and two talks: ‘Some Carved Stones’ by Dave Russ and ‘£10,000 grant for the John Goodchild Collection’ by Phil Judkins
Society Meeting on 8th March 2023

The meeting started with the holding of our Annual General Meeting with the members approving the minutes from 2022, the reports of officers and accounts, and the ratification of the President, Pam Judkins, and other members of the Council.

Two short talks by members followed. Dave Russ described how he had seen a Facebook post about some mysterious stones, which had been deleted within 24 hours. However he believed he knew what they were and was able to contact the person who posted the images, and to see the stones himself. Dave showed us a series of photographs of the stones, each about 4 to 5 feet long, carved with capital letters: ‘N’ and ‘I,’ ‘O’ and ‘T’, ‘G’, ‘H’ (which had gold paint on) and two with scrolls and carvings on. Dave who has an interest in Beverly’s Brewery recognised them as part of the stones from the demolished Griffin Hotel which once stood on Bullring, and was later rebuilt on Providence Street. He showed us a colourised photo of the original hotel and the stones were instantly recognisable. He has not been in contact recently with the person who posted on Facebook, but he hopes to go back to see if there are other stones.

Phil Judkins described the background to a grant of £10,000 to research two events that occurred in Wakefield in 1541: first, a plot by some of Wakefield’s gentry and priests at the parish church to assassinate Henry Vlll; second, a battle between the Knights Hospitallers at the Preceptory at Newlands, Normanton, and the King’s men recruited from Wakefield. Phil explained that there was anger about the dissolution of the monasteries, inflamed by Henry’s behaviour following the Pilgrimage of Grace five years earlier, when promises including a promise that the rebels would be pardoned were broken.

Phil explained how Sir John Neville of Sandal’s Chevet Hall, a wealthy man who had been High Sheriff of Yorkshire three times, and had opposed the Pilgrimage of Grace, began plotting with Wakefield gentry, wool merchants and priests from the Cathedral and chantries. Their plot was to assassinate the King’s man in the North, Archbishop Holgate, at Pontefract, and raise a rebellion in the north, form an alliance with the Scots, and then murder King Henry.  But the plot was betrayed, and the penalty for High Treason was swift and cruel, of the 31 plotters, 26 were tried, and no fewer than 15 were executed.

Phil continued to explain that in the John Goodchild collection there is a manuscript, by a mysterious P.W., of an ‘Historical Ballad’, the ‘Battle of Newland’, which tells how the men of Wakefield, loyal to the King, were called upon to march to Newland, and there fought a battle to overcome the resistance of the Knights to being evicted. The manuscript, which has been printed several times, appears to date from the 18^th century at the earliest, but it may preserve the memory of a real battle.

The 1541 plot has not been fully researched, and other evidence of the ‘Battle of Newland’ has not been found. As the grant-givers, the UK Government’s Research and Innovation unit working with the Young Foundation, has asked WHS to discover what the community itself wishes to know, and Phil asked the audience if they would provide their thoughts through a prepared survey as part of this community involvement.

‘Little Dark Exciting Words’, talk by Richard Knowles
Wakefield Historical Society Meeting, 8th February 2023

Richard’s talk on bookselling and the history of printing was a pleasure to listen to, not least because of his enthusiasm for his subject. To illustrate his many interests, he read ‘The Road not Taken’ by Robert Frost, and explained that he could have followed any one of several paths, with his interests in armour, effigies, castles, T. E. Lawrence, and books and bookselling. He was involved with the archaeological dig at Sandal Castle between 1964 and 1973, and became Secretary of our Society in 1973. He worked for many years for the library booksellers ‘Askews’, before having his own bookshop in Horbury, selling new books but also specialising in antiquarian, local history books, and T. E. Lawrence.

Richard described the history of printing using examples from his own and his wife’s books and manuscripts. Medieval books were written and copied by hand, sometimes with beautiful illustrations. When Caxton introduced the printing press to England in the late 15th century, each letter was painstakingly set by hand to produce each page. Caxton was not only a printer, but also a publisher of books in English, with popular subjects such as Aesop’s Fables and the Morte d’Arthur which remain popular to the present day. Woodcuts were used for illustrations.

In the 16^th and 17th century type-fonts became more legible. In the 19th century steam presses enabled many more copies to be printed. Richard described the book by Thomas Gent, published in 1733 of the history of Ripon which included a woodcut illustration of Wakefield.

During the 19th century literacy increased, and books became cheaper. Jane Austen’s books were originally published in three volumes (termed ‘three deckers’), so that subscription libraries could claim three payments for lending a title. Purchasers could take the publishers’ simply bound books to the bookbinder to be beautifully bound in order to look good on their own bookshelves. Following the Education Act in 1870, all children attended school and learnt to read.. In the 20th century the first paperback books were published in the 1920s and bookshops on railway stations were established to take advantage of these less expensive versions.

Richard used several books as illustrations of the value that can be attached to rare books, particularly first editions in pristine condition and including the original dust wrapper. He described the various editions of T. E. Lawrence’s ‘Seven Pillars of Wisdom’ and explained his own interest in him. ‘Ulysses’ by James Joyce can achieve a value of £100,000 at auction, and a first edition of ‘Casino Royale’ by Ian Fleming can reach £20,000. He said that a first edition of ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ can sell for up to £60,000 and is likely to keep its value, as only 500 copies of the first edition were printed; it is regarded as alandmark in children’s publishing as it introduced so many children to the pleasure of reading.

As an example of a rare local history book, Richard mentioned ‘The History and Topography of the Parish of Wakefield’ by John Hewitt, originally issued in parts and of which there are possibly only six complete copies. Richard showed us a copy of the talk by J. W. Walker at the inaugural meeting of Wakefield Historical Society in December 1924.

After the talk we were able to look at some of the precious books that Richard had brought to display.  He continues to conduct his bookselling business online at: Rickaro Books: https://www.rickarobooks.co.uk

Talk by Sarah McLeod, CEO of the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust
19th January 2023

Wakefield Civic Society hosted this joint talk with Wakefield Historical Society, and the topic was a popular choice with all places taken, and some members joining the live stream.

Sarah McLeod described the founding of the Trust, which took ownership of the house and part of the estate in March 2017, following the raising of £7 million, and a further grant of £7.6 million from the Government. This fund was for capital projects, but the Trust were to be responsible for upkeep. The first aim was to build a team to make a long-term plan for the property. The Trust decided that it was vital to involve the people of South Yorkshire, and they were asked for their suggestions.

One of the first projects was to make the roof watertight and safe. Scaffolding and a false roof were constructed over the main building, and the public were given access via stairs and a lift to view the work. Hatches were added so that access was easier for maintenance purposes.

When the COVID lockdown started the workers were able to return on-site within 4 weeks as they were able to space themselves easily. Ten thousand wooden birds decorated by people of all ages with images and memories of lockdown were displayed on a giant tree on the lawn at the front.

There is an emphasis on opportunities for young people, with apprenticeships being available, training on heritage skills, and citizenship. The house is often used as a set by the film industry and the Trust became aware of a skill shortage in the industry. The Trust now has its own TV studio with training being provided for 16-25 year olds. The website provides digital tours of the house. The Trust works with schools and colleges, and internships are offered for students in the lower-income group.

The most recent projects have seen the restoration of the Camellia House, and work has started on the Stables, and the State Room in the main house. From an original staff of just 8 when the Trust took ownership, there are now 100 staff including 40 full-time employees, and 270 volunteers.

Sarah McLeod’s talk was inspiring, providing an insight into what is possible with such a large historic property if the will is there, and the support of the local population. It will be interesting to follow further developments.

Wentworth Woodhouse

Society Meeting, Wednesday 7th December 2022

Talk by Sir Rodney Brooke: ‘From Morley Boy to Westminster Knight’.

Sir Rodney entertained us with many anecdotes from his distinguished life in public service.  Growing up in Morley he could remember the trains full of rhubarb rumbling past his house, and the queues of miners at the bus stop. He talked of the societal change in his lifetime, with more people from the lower echelons becoming professionals, people moving away from their birthplace, and the diversity of religions in the area. His philosophy throughout his life was to start at the lowest level possible to improve people’s lives.

At 15 years old he became a newspaper reporter, then worked as a tea boy at Morley Town Hall. He became a solicitor and moved to Southwell, Nottinghamshire. Subsequently he became Clerk of the Peace for the West Yorkshire County Council and eventually Chief Executive. He oversaw the pursuit of the Yorkshire Ripper, the events surrounding the death of Helen Smith who met her death in Saudi Arabia, and the fire at Bradford City Stadium. He referred to the suite of offices at County Hall when the John Poulson scandal was being investigated. He recalled the setting-up of the West Yorkshire Archive Service, when the various separate archives came under one ‘umbrella’.

Subsequently moving to Westminster as chief executive, Sir Rodney described his opposition to Shirley Porter, leader of Westminster Council, and the ‘homes for votes’ scandal. He was knighted in 2007.

Sir Rodney was asked about the highlights of his career, and answered that it was his time as CEO at West Yorkshire County Council. Asked what he would wish to change, he said that it would be a return to household rates which was a fairer system as opposed to the present council tax.

Sir Rodney’s memoir has been published as ‘The Winding Stair: From Morley boy to Westminster Knight’, widely available through booksellers.

Centenary Event: Society Meeting on 13th March 2024. AGM and talk ‘Fanny Whitehead and the Alverthorpe Textile Workers’ Strike.’ West Yorkshire History Centre, Wakefield.

The well-attended meeting started with the AGM, when our President and Council were re-elected, and reports were made on various aspects of the Society including the Gissing Centre and Wakefield Historical Publications.

Our President, Pam Judkins, reported on the possible sale to the Metropolitan Museum in New York of a medieval ivory sculpture that was found in Wakefield in the 18th century.  The Victoria and Albert Museum are trying to raise £2 million before a June deadline to keep it in their collection. Much discussion ensued as to how this could be publicised, and how the Society could help. It was agreed that the Society should make a £500 donation to the V&A.

This was followed by a short talk, ‘Fanny Whitehead and the Alverthorpe Textile Workers’ Strike’ by Shirley Levon. The Society had been sent a booklet about two textile workers who had been taken to court for obstructing the highway during a strike in 1889. The background to the strike at Colbeck Bros. mill at Alverthorpe was described, and the progress of unionisation in the textile industry at the end of the 19th century. Documents from the West Yorkshire History Centre that had been used in the research were on display.

Centenary Event, 16th February at Wakefield Town Hall: ‘Wakefield Gingerbreads: Spicey Life in Wakefield’, talk by Peter Brear

The audience were greeted with tables set out with eighteen different samples of gingerbread. Peter Brears had cooked and prepared the earlier examples, while members of the Historical Society had cooked more recent recipes. His knowledge of the subject as a renowned food historian is unparalleled, and his links to Wakefield made his talk particularly relevant to the audience.

Peter related how gingerbread was a speciality of Wakefield for over two hundred years, and that he remembered in the 1960s going into Gosnay’s shop on Northgate which still had glass panels over the beams etched with ‘Wakefield Gingerbread’ in gold. The Gosnay family had been confectioners in Wakefield since at least 1834.

Peter explained that ginger was widely used from the early medieval period: it was considerably cheaper than other spices such as nutmeg, and the roots could be dried in the sun and transported easily. The early gingerbread was eaten like a sweet at the end of a meal with the rich also enjoying crystallised ginger in syrup. It was also used as an aid to digestion. The earliest known recipe was from a cookbook of 1390. The samples Peter had prepared therefore covered 600 years of recipes. He had found that the medieval recipe was still being made at local country houses 400 years later.

‘Whitby gingerbread’ was the first ‘named’ gingerbread, baked hard, with a design stamped on it; it takes months to soften sufficiently to get a knife through it, and was widely used by sailors. The first record of ‘Wakefield gingerbread’ dates from 1746, followed by Grantham, Ormskirk, and Ashbourne. An eighteenth century gingerbread recipe by Lady St Oswald of Nostell was less sweet and hard like a biscuit; it needed to be stored in a slightly damp atmosphere like a cellar until it was eatable, locally this was called ‘coming again’.  Peter had cooked this gingerbread last October and it was only ready to be eaten in January.

From the 1870s when yeast or a raising agent were used, professional bakers started to cook and sell it widely. The recipes were often kept secret and therefore not recorded. The earliest known confectioner to make ‘Wakefield Gingerbread’ was Joseph Simpson of Kirkgate, known to have established his business by 1823. Gingerbread was also cooked in a domestic setting in our area as most houses had kitchen ranges and access to coal to fuel them.

Gingerbread became popular for afternoon tea in the Edwardian period, and recipes were included in fund-raising cookbooks throughout the 20th century.

Further west in the Pennines wheat was not grown, so in the early period oatmeal was added and the gingerbread cooked over a fire to make ‘tharf cake’ – with no yeast this was again quite hard. Parkins which used oatmeal were cooked round the bonfires to commemorate the Gunpowder plot each year, and became a tradition. ‘Treacle’ which could be golden syrup, or black treacle was added.

As Peter’s audience ‘ate’ its way through 600 years of history, they were also provided with milk, which has been a traditional accompaniment for the spicey ginger. Many people chose to take home ‘goody bags’ to enjoy the recipes again at home. Booklets written by Peter were given to all members of the audience containing the history of Wakefield gingerbread and the recipes.

Our thanks are due to Peter Brears for a fascinating talk about a Wakefield speciality that has been forgotten, and to him and some Historical Society members for all the cooking and preparation. It was a memorable event.

Centenary Event 24th January 2024: Lecture by Gary Brannan, ‘The Future of History is Within You: the next histories of Wakefield’
Wakefield Historical Society Meeting in conjunction with Wakefield Civic Society. 

We were delighted to start our Centenary Year off with a keynote lecture by Gary Brannan, ‘The Future of History is Within You: the next histories of Wakefield’. A local lad, born in Batley, Gary is at present Keeper of Archives and Special Collections at the Borthwick Institute in York, but had previously been an archivist at West Yorkshire Archives in Wakefield.

While based in Wakefield Gary had worked with John Goodchild who he described as ‘the last of the antiquarians’, and Kate Taylor, who he described as ‘a force of nature’. Gary was also on Wakefield Historical Society’s council until he moved to York.

Gary pointed out that the Society’s very first meeting was held in the same room as the present meeting. He described some of the achievements of our Society over the last hundred years, and how they had contributed so much to preserving Wakefield’s history; including the excavation at Sandal Castle in the 1960s/1970s, the setting up of Wakefield Historical Publications, the founding of the Gissing Trust in 1978, the Friends of Chantry Chapel in 1990, and more recent projects including the Road to Fotheringhay in 2010, the Waterfront project in 2013, and our most recent project on Westgate.

Gary challenged the audience to ‘tell the story’, by using all the different resources around them. He separated ‘history’ from what he described as ‘the easy charm of nostalgia‘ that is not based on fact as memories differ and depend on emotions. ‘Nostalgia’ was once classed as a medical condition. Popular history sees the past in a favourable light, and the present and future as bleak.

He encouraged the audience to look at recent history – to research the history of Wakefield and to take on difficult topics which people may not wish to remember – examples being Wakefield through Brexit and Covid, the Miners’ strike of the 1980s, night life in Wakefield or the regeneration following the loss of the mining industry. He emphasised the richness and unique nature of some of the resources that are available to us all: the material held at the West Yorkshire History Centre, the John Goodchild Collection, the Manor Court Rolls held at the Brotherton in Leeds, wills and church court records held at the Borthwick – and many others.

Gary described ways that we could broaden communication of our research, not just by written documents, but by podcasts, photos, walking tours and other methods. He summed up by saying that future histories should be recorded by us (“if not us, who? If not now, when?”) and should be firmly based on evidence using diverse resources.

Gary’s enthusiasm for historical research was both inspiring and thought-provoking, and will hopefully encourage many of the audience to pursue their interest in the history of our city.

AGM and two talks: ‘Some Carved Stones’ by Dave Russ and ‘£10,000 grant for the John Goodchild Collection’ by Phil Judkins
Society Meeting on 8th March

The meeting started with the holding of our Annual General Meeting with the members approving the minutes from 2022, the reports of officers and accounts, and the ratification of the President, Pam Judkins, and other members of the Council.

Two short talks by members followed. Dave Russ described how he had seen a Facebook post about some mysterious stones, which had been deleted within 24 hours. However he believed he knew what they were and was able to contact the person who posted the images, and to see the stones himself. Dave showed us a series of photographs of the stones, each about 4 to 5 feet long, carved with capital letters: ‘N’ and ‘I,’ ‘O’ and ‘T’, ‘G’, ‘H’ (which had gold paint on) and two with scrolls and carvings on. Dave who has an interest in Beverly’s Brewery recognised them as part of the stones from the demolished Griffin Hotel which once stood on Bullring, and was later rebuilt on Providence Street. He showed us a colourised photo of the original hotel and the stones were instantly recognisable. He has not been in contact recently with the person who posted on Facebook, but he hopes to go back to see if there are other stones.

Phil Judkins described the background to a grant of £10,000 to research two events that occurred in Wakefield in 1541: first, a plot by some of Wakefield’s gentry and priests at the parish church to assassinate Henry Vlll; second, a battle between the Knights Hospitallers at the Preceptory at Newlands, Normanton, and the King’s men recruited from Wakefield. Phil explained that there was anger about the dissolution of the monasteries, inflamed by Henry’s behaviour following the Pilgrimage of Grace five years earlier, when promises including a promise that the rebels would be pardoned were broken.

Phil explained how Sir John Neville of Sandal’s Chevet Hall, a wealthy man who had been High Sheriff of Yorkshire three times, and had opposed the Pilgrimage of Grace, began plotting with Wakefield gentry, wool merchants and priests from the Cathedral and chantries. Their plot was to assassinate the King’s man in the North, Archbishop Holgate, at Pontefract, and raise a rebellion in the north, form an alliance with the Scots, and then murder King Henry.  But the plot was betrayed, and the penalty for High Treason was swift and cruel, of the 31 plotters, 26 were tried, and no fewer than 15 were executed.

Phil continued to explain that in the John Goodchild collection there is a manuscript, by a mysterious P.W., of an ‘Historical Ballad’, the ‘Battle of Newland’, which tells how the men of Wakefield, loyal to the King, were called upon to march to Newland, and there fought a battle to overcome the resistance of the Knights to being evicted. The manuscript, which has been printed several times, appears to date from the 18^th century at the earliest, but it may preserve the memory of a real battle.

The 1541 plot has not been fully researched, and other evidence of the ‘Battle of Newland’ has not been found. As the grant-givers, the UK Government’s Research and Innovation unit working with the Young Foundation, has asked WHS to discover what the community itself wishes to know, and Phil asked the audience if they would provide their thoughts through a prepared survey as part of this community involvement.

‘Little Dark Exciting Words’, talk by Richard Knowles
Wakefield Historical Society Meeting, 8th February

Richard’s talk on bookselling and the history of printing was a pleasure to listen to, not least because of his enthusiasm for his subject. To illustrate his many interests, he read ‘The Road not Taken’ by Robert Frost, and explained that he could have followed any one of several paths, with his interests in armour, effigies, castles, T. E. Lawrence, and books and bookselling. He was involved with the archaeological dig at Sandal Castle between 1964 and 1973, and became Secretary of our Society in 1973. He worked for many years for the library booksellers ‘Askews’, before having his own bookshop in Horbury, selling new books but also specialising in antiquarian, local history books, and T. E. Lawrence.

Richard described the history of printing using examples from his own and his wife’s books and manuscripts. Medieval books were written and copied by hand, sometimes with beautiful illustrations. When Caxton introduced the printing press to England in the late 15th century, each letter was painstakingly set by hand to produce each page. Caxton was not only a printer, but also a publisher of books in English, with popular subjects such as Aesop’s Fables and the Morte d’Arthur which remain popular to the present day. Woodcuts were used for illustrations.

In the 16^th and 17th century type-fonts became more legible. In the 19th century steam presses enabled many more copies to be printed. Richard described the book by Thomas Gent, published in 1733 of the history of Ripon which included a woodcut illustration of Wakefield.

During the 19th century literacy increased, and books became cheaper. Jane Austen’s books were originally published in three volumes (termed ‘three deckers’), so that subscription libraries could claim three payments for lending a title. Purchasers could take the publishers’ simply bound books to the bookbinder to be beautifully bound in order to look good on their own bookshelves. Following the Education Act in 1870, all children attended school and learnt to read.. In the 20th century the first paperback books were published in the 1920s and bookshops on railway stations were established to take advantage of these less expensive versions.

Richard used several books as illustrations of the value that can be attached to rare books, particularly first editions in pristine condition and including the original dust wrapper. He described the various editions of T. E. Lawrence’s ‘Seven Pillars of Wisdom’ and explained his own interest in him. ‘Ulysses’ by James Joyce can achieve a value of £100,000 at auction, and a first edition of ‘Casino Royale’ by Ian Fleming can reach £20,000. He said that a first edition of ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ can sell for up to £60,000 and is likely to keep its value, as only 500 copies of the first edition were printed; it is regarded as alandmark in children’s publishing as it introduced so many children to the pleasure of reading.

As an example of a rare local history book, Richard mentioned ‘The History and Topography of the Parish of Wakefield’ by John Hewitt, originally issued in parts and of which there are possibly only six complete copies. Richard showed us a copy of the talk by J. W. Walker at the inaugural meeting of Wakefield Historical Society in December 1924.

After the talk we were able to look at some of the precious books that Richard had brought to display.  He continues to conduct his bookselling business online at: Rickaro Books: https://www.rickarobooks.co.uk

Talk by Sarah McLeod, CEO of the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust
19th January 2023

Wakefield Civic Society hosted this joint talk with Wakefield Historical Society, and the topic was a popular choice with all places taken, and some members joining the live stream.

Sarah McLeod described the founding of the Trust, which took ownership of the house and part of the estate in March 2017, following the raising of £7 million, and a further grant of £7.6 million from the Government. This fund was for capital projects, but the Trust were to be responsible for upkeep. The first aim was to build a team to make a long-term plan for the property. The Trust decided that it was vital to involve the people of South Yorkshire, and they were asked for their suggestions.

One of the first projects was to make the roof watertight and safe. Scaffolding and a false roof were constructed over the main building, and the public were given access via stairs and a lift to view the work. Hatches were added so that access was easier for maintenance purposes.

When the COVID lockdown started the workers were able to return on-site within 4 weeks as they were able to space themselves easily. Ten thousand wooden birds decorated by people of all ages with images and memories of lockdown were displayed on a giant tree on the lawn at the front.

There is an emphasis on opportunities for young people, with apprenticeships being available, training on heritage skills, and citizenship. The house is often used as a set by the film industry and the Trust became aware of a skill shortage in the industry. The Trust now has its own TV studio with training being provided for 16-25 year olds. The website provides digital tours of the house. The Trust works with schools and colleges, and internships are offered for students in the lower-income group.

The most recent projects have seen the restoration of the Camellia House, and work has started on the Stables, and the State Room in the main house. From an original staff of just 8 when the Trust took ownership, there are now 100 staff including 40 full-time employees, and 270 volunteers.

Sarah McLeod’s talk was inspiring, providing an insight into what is possible with such a large historic property if the will is there, and the support of the local population. It will be interesting to follow further developments.

Wentworth Woodhouse

Society Meeting, Wednesday 7th December.

Talk by Sir Rodney Brooke: ‘From Morley Boy to Westminster Knight’.

Sir Rodney entertained us with many anecdotes from his distinguished life in public service.  Growing up in Morley he could remember the trains full of rhubarb rumbling past his house, and the queues of miners at the bus stop. He talked of the societal change in his lifetime, with more people from the lower echelons becoming professionals, people moving away from their birthplace, and the diversity of religions in the area. His philosophy throughout his life was to start at the lowest level possible to improve people’s lives.

At 15 years old he became a newspaper reporter, then worked as a tea boy at Morley Town Hall. He became a solicitor and moved to Southwell, Nottinghamshire. Subsequently he became Clerk of the Peace for the West Yorkshire County Council and eventually Chief Executive. He oversaw the pursuit of the Yorkshire Ripper, the events surrounding the death of Helen Smith who met her death in Saudi Arabia, and the fire at Bradford City Stadium. He referred to the suite of offices at County Hall when the John Poulson scandal was being investigated. He recalled the setting-up of the West Yorkshire Archive Service, when the various separate archives came under one ‘umbrella’.

Subsequently moving to Westminster as chief executive, Sir Rodney described his opposition to Shirley Porter, leader of Westminster Council, and the ‘homes for votes’ scandal. He was knighted in 2007.

Sir Rodney was asked about the highlights of his career, and answered that it was his time as CEO at West Yorkshire County Council. Asked what he would wish to change, he said that it would be a return to household rates which was a fairer system as opposed to the present council tax.

Sir Rodney’s memoir has been published as ‘The Winding Stair: From Morley boy to Westminster Knight’, widely available through booksellers.

Saturdays 14th and 21st May. Events showcasing the John Goodchild Collection

The event in the Ridings Centre on 14th May was sited in the entrance to one of the empty shops near the entrance. Our Society had a stall with details of John Goodchild’s publications, some of which had been published by the society and were for sale. The West Yorkshire Archives displayed some of the gems from the Collection which is held by the West Yorkshire History Centre on Kirkgate. Wakefield Libraries also had a stall with information about the publications that they hold.

On the 21st May we again had a stall at the West Yorkshire History Centre with some of John Goodchild’s publications for sale, and free sheets listing his publications. There were also free sheets about the Knights Hospitaller, as the Collection holds a number of records relating to them. Talks were provided in the morning and afternoon including ones by our Secretary, Phil Judkins. These were well attended.

Society Meeting, 13th April by Zoom
‘Wakefield’s Links with Slavery and Moves for Abolition’, talk by Paul Dawson.

Paul Dawson introduced the subject by commenting how Wakefield’s links to slavery had been largely ignored, although his research had shown that it was a regional centre of slave traders and the distribution of slave produced goods from the late 17th century. However the move for abolition was led by Wakefield Unitarian preachers, William Turner and Johnstone.

Wakefield benefited in three ways from slavery: trade and sale of people into slavery, trading in slave produced goods such as sugar and rum, and the export of goods such as cloth to slave plantations. Many dissenters who were debarred from taking positions in public life chose to go into slave-trading.

Paul then gave examples of some of the men who profited from slave-trading, many of whom were dissenters and linked by marriage to Wakefield families, such as Arthur Heywood who married into the Milnes family of merchants. Arthur and his brother Benjamin chartered 134 slaving voyages shipping 43,338 slaves. The Ingram family, who were Anglicans, invested heavily in slavery, enabling them to go into banking. Members of the family lived in Bank House in Westgate. John Leatham, a Quaker from Pontefract invested in slave trading voyages from 1792-1806, and bought out Ingram’s bank when it failed.

As well as slave traders, there were also slave owners, overwhelmingly Anglican. Thomas Charnock owned 392 slaves on his tobacco plantations in 1761.The vicar of St John’s, Richard Munkhouse married into a family that owned a plantation; on abolition his three daughters received compensation for 109 slaves they jointly owned. A collection of letters in the Archives record the buying of slaves by Henry Peterson, after whom Peterson Road is named.

Trading between Britain and the plantations was hugely profitable, and Wakefield people consumed slave produced commodities such as sugar, tobacco, tea, rum, mahogany, coffee and chocolate. Musgrave Brisco who lived on Westgate, and his son, Wastell, traded in such goods, using the turnpike roads and the Aire and Calder Navigation to trade goods on. Other Wakefield men who profited from trading were George Charnock, brother to Thomas, who used his wealth to build South Parade, Richard Fennell who supplied indigo to Benjamin Gott, and Robert Lumb who was the principal dyer in Wakefield.

The Unitarians at Westgate Chapel led the fight for abolition, with two of the ministers, William Turner and Thomas Johnstone taking a leading part. Johnstone was one of three men jailed for opposing the seditious meetings act of 1792 which limited freedom of speech. In the 1806 general election the Whig Committee run from the Chapel helped to secure a victory for Charles James Fox, and the slave trade was abolished the following year.

Paul’s well-researched talk exposed Wakefield’s links to the slave trade, and the wealth that it brought to our city. Paul’s book‘The Battle Against Slavery: The Untold Story of How a Group of Yorkshire Radicals Began the War to End the Slave Trade’is widely available.