18th January 2012 The inaugural meeting of the Portobello Project Group
The first meeting of the Portobello Project Group took place at Balne Lane Local Studies Library. In order to learn where the Battle of Wakefield took place, the group were looking at secondary sources, assessing their usefulness and creating a bibliography. The meeting was led by Deborah Scriven, who until she retired in 2010 was the Local Studies librarian.
31st December, 2011. Anniversary of the Battle of Wakefield
The Friends of Sandal Castle and the Yorkshire section of the Richard III Society marked the anniversary of the Battle of Wakefield on 31 December. WHS' 'Pontefract to Fotheringhay' banner was much in evidence, and those who attended the wreath laying at the memorial monument appreciated WHS' replacement of the duke's head (pictured in last month's e-Supplement).
21st December 2011, The Society Christmas Dinner
Diners were entertained byJohn Goodchild who talked about the old road where the Reindeer stands and the improved road just below it where the National Museum of Coalmining is to be found. He referred to the origins of the Reindeer in the mid 19th century as a beer house for coalminers. He also spoke of the moated medieval house, New Hall, a little distance away. Quizzes during the evening taxed people's knowledge of Harolds, from the last Anglo-Saxon king, Harold Godwinson, to a recent Labour MP for Leeds West, Harold Best., and the location of two dozen Wakefield public houses. A competition to complete the limerick: 'There once was a vicar of Leeds/who was famed for his terrible deeds', produced some remarkably bawdy answers but was won by Chris Nichol with 'He sat on his steeple/and spat at his people/Who ran into church at great speeds'.
|
22-23rd November, Society members visit the National Archives
Members of the Society visited the National Archives at Kew as part of the project headed by Phil Judkins to research references to Wakefield in the National Archives. For some members this was their first visit, but after an online induction, they were able to enjoy looking at original documents. The aim of the project is to provide a database of Wakefield references that will be of value to researchers.
12th November 2011, West Yorkshire Archaeology Day School
 |
Members of the Society attended the Archaeology Day School held at the Royal Armouries, Leeds. In the morning members of West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service described new research and development that had occurred during the year across West Yorkshire. Many places within the Wakefield area were included: Heath Hall West Pavilion, Pinderfields Hospital Administration Building, and "The Elms" on Bond Street, Wakefield, once the home of the historian J.W. Walker and recently demolished. The new archaeological dig at St Richard's Priory in Pontefract was described, and the involvement of the local community. Perhaps the highlight of the morning was Amy Downes, the Finds Liaison Officer, who described the recent discovery of a substantial hoard in a garden at Ackworth. This consists of about 600 coins, probably dating from the siege of Pontefract Castle during the Civil War. The supposition was that it was buried by a Royalist supporter as it included coins from the Spanish Netherlands usually associated with Charles 1st's wife Henrietta Maria. In the afternoon Dr Penny Spikins from the University of York described research on microliths, small flint tools from the Mesolithic era, which were manufactured in the Marsden Moor area. Stuart Wrathmell described new interpretation of Roman finds at Castleford, indicating that it was a regional metal-working centre of great significance. The afternoon session concluded with a lively session by John Hudson, clay potter, who demonstrated how medieval floor tiles were made, in some cases disputing other experts' assumptions. The quality of the talks was excellent, and the speakers enthused their listeners; next year's Day School will be looked forward to with anticipation.
November 2011. Richard, Duke of York's Head
| The monument on Manygates Lane in Sandal commemorating the Battle of Wakefield in 1461 has undergone restoration by DMW Restoration, Conisbrough, and now has a newly sculpted head. |
|
|
