matthewheptinstall
FACE OF CHANGE
THE City of Wakefield, a metropolitan district of West Yorkshire, England. Located by the River Calder on the eastern edge of the Pennines, the urban area is 2,062 hectares (5,100 acres) and had a population of 76,886 in 2001.[1]
Wakefield was dubbed the "Merrie City" in the Middle Ages[2] and in 1538 John Leland described it as, "a very quick market town and meately large; well served of fish and flesh both from sea and by rivers ... so that all vitaile is very good and chepe there. A right honest man shall fare well for 2d. a meal. ... There be plenti of se coal in the quarters about Wakefield".[3]
The site of a battle during the Wars of the Roses and a Royalist stronghold during the Civil War, Wakefield developed in spite of setbacks to become an important market town and centre for wool exploiting its position on the navigable River Calder to become an inland port.
At the start of 19th century Wakefield was already a wealthy market town and inland port trading in wool and corn.[25] The Aire and Calder and Calder and Hebble Navigations and the Barnsley Canal were instrumental in the development of Wakefield as an important market for corn from Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire supplying the growing population in the West Riding.
When cloth dealing declined wool spinning mills using steam power were built by the river. There was a glass works in Calder Vale Road, several breweries including Melbourne's and Beverley's Eagle Brewery, engineering works with strong links to the mining industry, soapworks and brickyards in Eastmoor giving the town a diverse economy.[29][30] On the outskirts of the town coal had been dug since the 15th century and 300 adult males were employed in the town's coal pits in 1831.[3] During the 19th century more mines were sunk so that there were 46 in Wakefield and the surrounding area by 1869.[30][31] The National Coal Board eventually became Wakefield's largest employer with Manor Colliery on Cross Lane and Park Hill colliery at Eastmoor surviving until 1982.[32]
Developments by the river and canal, the "Wakefield Waterfront", include the refurbishment of the Grade II listed Navigation Warehouse as well as office, retail, restaurant and cafe units. The development also includes the "Hepworth Gallery", named in honour of local artist and sculptor, Barbara Hepworth. Flats and offices are also being built at Chantry Waters, on an island between the river and canal.[68]
TALES BY THE RIVERBANK/Times are a changing Systems in Flux
M.HEPTINSTALL
Free from the presence of security I wandered amongst the old iron gates and crumbling roofs near the river, disturbing the old pigeons as my mind wandered to the industries and lives of the past. The memories of these industries seem enshrined in the crumbling banks of the water. Times are a changing systems in flux.
The old mills stand daunting, not forgotten, but living on borrowed time as the plethora of flats intrude, pushing ever closer in this urban landscape. The contrast of the architecture is emphasised further by the jagged geometry of the Hepworth gallery standing proud as a beacon in the sea of change.
FACE OF CHANGE
THE City of Wakefield, a metropolitan district of West Yorkshire, England. Located by the River Calder on the eastern edge of the Pennines, the urban area is 2,062 hectares (5,100 acres) and had a population of 76,886 in 2001.[1]
Wakefield was dubbed the "Merrie City" in the Middle Ages[2] and in 1538 John Leland described it as, "a very quick market town and meately large; well served of fish and flesh both from sea and by rivers ... so that all vitaile is very good and chepe there. A right honest man shall fare well for 2d. a meal. ... There be plenti of se coal in the quarters about Wakefield".[3]
The site of a battle during the Wars of the Roses and a Royalist stronghold during the Civil War, Wakefield developed in spite of setbacks to become an important market town and centre for wool exploiting its position on the navigable River Calder to become an inland port.
At the start of 19th century Wakefield was already a wealthy market town and inland port trading in wool and corn.[25] The Aire and Calder and Calder and Hebble Navigations and the Barnsley Canal were instrumental in the development of Wakefield as an important market for corn from Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire supplying the growing population in the West Riding.
When cloth dealing declined wool spinning mills using steam power were built by the river. There was a glass works in Calder Vale Road, several breweries including Melbourne's and Beverley's Eagle Brewery, engineering works with strong links to the mining industry, soapworks and brickyards in Eastmoor giving the town a diverse economy.[29][30] On the outskirts of the town coal had been dug since the 15th century and 300 adult males were employed in the town's coal pits in 1831.[3] During the 19th century more mines were sunk so that there were 46 in Wakefield and the surrounding area by 1869.[30][31] The National Coal Board eventually became Wakefield's largest employer with Manor Colliery on Cross Lane and Park Hill colliery at Eastmoor surviving until 1982.[32]
Developments by the river and canal, the "Wakefield Waterfront", include the refurbishment of the Grade II listed Navigation Warehouse as well as office, retail, restaurant and cafe units. The development also includes the "Hepworth Gallery", named in honour of local artist and sculptor, Barbara Hepworth. Flats and offices are also being built at Chantry Waters, on an island between the river and canal.[68]
TALES BY THE RIVERBANK/Times are a changing Systems in Flux
M.HEPTINSTALL
Free from the presence of security I wandered amongst the old iron gates and crumbling roofs near the river, disturbing the old pigeons as my mind wandered to the industries and lives of the past. The memories of these industries seem enshrined in the crumbling banks of the water. Times are a changing systems in flux.
The old mills stand daunting, not forgotten, but living on borrowed time as the plethora of flats intrude, pushing ever closer in this urban landscape. The contrast of the architecture is emphasised further by the jagged geometry of the Hepworth gallery standing proud as a beacon in the sea of change.