The Wharncliffe Companion to Wakefield & District

An A to Z of Local History

Leonard Markham

• Publisher: Wharncliffe Books
• Year: 2005
• Print ISBN:
  9781903425893
• eBook ISBN:
  9781783408405
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: British History
• Index: History

Aimed at visitors and residents alike, this companion to the history of Wakefield is an indispensable reference guide to the long, varied and sometimes surprising story of the town. Essential information on the people, places and events that played key roles in the story is presented in a convenient A to Z format. Famous and notorious individuals are portrayed here, dramatic, sometimes tragic events are remembered, and familiar local myths and legends are explored. The volume is a source of fascinating insights into Wakefield's past and should provide answers to frequently asked historical questions - the whos, wheres and whys that make up the rich history of the town.

W

WAKEFIELD

County town of the old WEST RIDING occupying an eminence above the CALDER RIVER. A Saxon settlement in the tenth century centred on three roads – Northgate, Westgate and Kirkgate - which ran down to the Roman ford on the river, the town flourished around its church of All Hallows and became a busy agricultural centre. It developed important cloth weaving and hosiery industries (nearly 2,600 people were employed in 1911) other local products including iron and coal coming to dominate the regional economy in the nineteenth century and in the early part of the twentieth century. Wakefield became a Metropolitan District in 1974 after Local Government Reorganisation, the new District Council absorbing thirteen former administrative authorities. There are Wakefield’s in Jamaica, Kansas, Michigan, Nebraska, New Zealand, Quebec, Rhode Island and Virginia. The city has its own metropolitan BRASS BAND.

WAKEFIELD 41

Industrial estate straddling the A650 portal into the city with immediate access to Junction 41 of the M1.

WAKEFIELD ART GALLERY

Displaying mainly twentieth century drawings and paintings, many of local interest, the gallery houses impressive collections of works by Barbara HEPWORTH, Henry MOORE and Roland PITCHFORK. It has a pleasant and relaxing sculpture garden.

WAKEFIELD’S BLACK WHITSUNDAY

During the Civil War, Wakefield was a Royalist stronghold, held, on 20 May 1643, by three thousand foot under the command of Sir Francis Mackworth and seven troops of horse led by General Goring. While Goring and his officers were carousing at HEATH HALL – they spent the afternoon playing bowls after a night of heavy drinking – a numerically inferior Roundhead force was planning an attack on the town. They struck without warning in the early hours of Whitsunday, overwhelming two troops of men stationed at STANLEY and proceeding to Wakefield at about four o’clock in the morning. Driving musketeers from the hedges, they assaulted ‘Wrengate and Northgate; and after an hour and a half fight, recovered one of their peeces, and turned it upon them, and entered the town at both places, at one and the same time.’ Goring, Sir Thomas Bland, other officers of note and fifteen hundred soldiers were taken prisoner, the number of men captured exceeding that of the attacking force. On the following Saturday, a jubilant Parliament resolved: ‘That a public thanksgiving should be given, in all the churches and chapels of London etc for the good success it had pleased God to give the forces under the command of the Lord Fairfax, at the taking in of Wakefield.’

WAKEFIELD BREAD STREET

Formerly Ratten Row and, earlier still, Breadbooths, taking its name from the bakers who once traded there.

WAKEFIELD CATHEDRAL

Dating from the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, this magnificent skyline building in the centre of the city became a cathedral in 1888. At 247 feet, it has the highest spire in Yorkshire. Its treasures include a font of 1661, a rood screen of 1635, several whimsical misericords and a collection of fine stained glass.

WAKEFIELD CATTLE MARKET

In its heyday, the market was the largest in the north of England, processing some half a million animals in the 1870s and 1880s. It was bought by Wakefield Council in 1938 and finally closed in 1965.

WAKEFIELD CIVIC SOCIETY

Formed in 1964 with the intention of preserving the buildings, environment and historical heritage of Wakefield. The society has a prestigious design awards scheme and is responsible for erecting blue information plaques on significant city buildings. It jointly sponsored the creation of the GISSINGS CENTRE and has contributed to civic renewal schemes such as the reinstatement of Wakefield’s characteristic narrow yards.

Wakefield Cathedral spire, the tallest in Yorkshire. LMA

WAKEFIELD CLARENCE PARK

Extensive public park provided from funds largely donated by local businessmen and dignitaries and opened in a grand civic ceremony attended by thousands of jubilant citizens on 6th July 1893. The first of Wakefield’s public parks was accessed by nearly two miles of brightly planted footpaths and avenues, a double row of one hundred and eight horse chestnuts providing a leafy honour guard alongside a spectacular carriage drive. The inaugural festivities were accompanied by the ringing of the cathedral bells and the release of fire balloons.

WAKEFIELD COLLEGE

The principal further education establishment in the district operating from several sites. The college has developed flexible learning programmes in all subject areas providing for basic skills training to the highest level of professional and vocational qualifications.

Wakefield College. LMA

WAKEFIELD COUNTY HALL

Another prominent city-centre skyline building erected between 1894 and 1898 as the WEST RIDING County Offices. Architect’s Gibson and Russell’s winning competition entry incorporates an eye-catching polygonal corner tower surmounted by a dome, dormer gables and oriel windows. Internally, the building is sumptuously furnished with tropical hardwoods, marble and a collection of exquisite sculptures and friezes, one frieze in the ante room to the council chamber showing scenes from the WARS OF THE ROSES, including the Battle of WAKEFIELD GREEN.

WAKEFIELD CRIB

Unique and beautiful nativity scene sculpted for WAKEFIELD CATHEDRAL by Austin Wright in 1955. The woven backcloth is by Theo Moorman. The work, which is on permanent display to the left of the altar, was restored in 1999.

Wakefield County Hall. LMA

Wakefield County Hall. LMA

WAKEFIELD CROWN COURT HOUSE

Part of the imperial collection of buildings in the heart of the city, this impressive structure built in 1810 has a tetrastyle Greek Doric portico and pediment. It was completed in 1810. Before that date, magistrates had to administer the law from local public houses. The building was extended in 1848 and again in the 1880s but it was controversially closed in 1973.

WAKEFIELD CROSS

Originally dating from around AD 940 and erected in the cathedral yard, the cross was mutilated at the time of the Reformation and was discovered acting as a makeshift doorstep in a shop in 1862. It was removed to York in 1870 and now resides in St Mary’s Abbey in the city. Wakefield has a 1933 replica – base to crosspiece – to the right of the cathedral altar.

WAKEFIELD DRURY LANE LIBRARY

Opened in 1906, the library was provided mainly through the generosity of Scot Andrew Carnegie, the multi-millionaire who made a fortune in America developing railroads. He gave £8000 to the project and devoted $12 million to endowing 660 libraries in the UK. Bradford magistrate Charles Skidmore donated 2000 books to the library, mainly about Wakefield and its district. Carnegie was present at the unveiling ceremony. With unabashed brass neck, the mayor told the benefactor: ‘All things considered, a good Scotsman was not much inferior to a Yorkshireman.’ The design of the library was controversial. One detractor said: ‘The whole edifice conveys the impression of a somewhat extravagant nobleman’s stable, an ambitious municipal abattoir or a rather stylish auction mart.’

WAKEFIELD ELIZABETHAN GRAMMAR SCHOOL

Established in ‘a retired and silent quarter of the town’ in 1598, the school in what is now Brook Street, became the Green Coat School, transferred from premises in Westgate in the 1850’s. One of that school’s original masters – John Bradford – was appointed on the understanding that: ‘He will not play at cards or dice or any other unlawful game during the said term. Alehouses or Taverns of Custom he will not haunt nor contract matrimony nor commit adultery with any woman during the said term. Latterly, the school became attached to WAKEFIELD CATHEDRAL, teaching choirboys ‘to chant and sing anthems’. In recent years, the building has been restored and used as an exhibition and meeting centre.

WAKEFIELD-EMLEY AFC

Amalgamated Unibond Premier Division soccer club known as the Pewits. They play at Belle Vue in Wakefield. In 1988, EMLEY reached the Final of the FA Vase at Wembley. In 1998, the club played West Ham in the FA Cup, only loosing 2-1 before a crowd of nearly 18,000 at Upton Park.

WAKEFIELD EMPIRE THEATRE

A beautifully appointed theatre designed by Frank Matcham and opened in 1909 in Kirkgate. The theatre had its own orchestra.

WAKEFIELD EUROPORT

Inter-modal, fully serviced 350 acres (142 ha) industrial development site – Yorkshire’s largest - at Junction 31 of the M62 Motorway offering daily rail services to continental Europe via the Channel Tunnel.

WAKEFIELD EXPRESS

Local newspaper first published by gaslight on a steam-powered press in March 1852 by John Robinson in his Southgate premises, which are still in use today. The price of the first edition was 4½ old pence. The first e...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Dedication
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• Foreword
• Introduction
• Acknowledgments
• The Merrie City
• Useful Addresses
• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• Q
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• X
• Y
• Z