As many people know I am a big fan of history this began at an early age visiting many of West Yorkshire's fantastic museums and historic houses with my parents.
It continued throughout my teens as I spent a lot of time at our local castle ruin, Sandal Castle famous for its role in the 1460 battle of wakefield and death of Richard the grand ol' duke of York (as in the nursery rhyme).
I also spent a lot of time in the local museum which was situated at the old Mechanics Institute on Wood Street, a beautiful Georgian building in a fitting location close to the center of the City.
This building housed a plethora of local artifacts and informative displays.
When you entered the building the atmosphere hit you, a grand staircase greets you and two rooms lead from the entrance hall to the left and right.
Into the left room and you were greeted by a figure wearing the armour of a Roman Centurion, beside this exhibit a glass case held models of Sandal Castle and opposite a wall depicted the depths at which certain periods of archaeology could be found.
There were a lot more finds from this early period of Wakefield's history in this room including swords and armour from the battle of wakefield 1460 and the English civil war of 1640.
The room on the right contained artefacts of modern history from the late 19th through to mid 20th Century including a rare Cameron motorcycle built in Walton a small village on the outskirts of Wakefield.
As you ascend the grand staircase and reach the landing you could walk either to the left, right or forward, I don't recall what was to the left but on the right were doors from Wakefield Prison.
The large room straight ahead contained the large collection from Charles Waterton a 19th Century explorer and naturist who owned Walton Hall, much of this collection were strange looking animals that Mr Waterton is said to have created through the art of taxidermy but also holds a gigantic Boa constrictor and an Aligator which Mr Waterton is reputed to have wrestled and killed.
For any child, the exhibits in this building were bound to set his/her imagination running wild and I will always remember fondly the times I spent there.
This brings us to the reason for this blog post.
The museum has since been moved into the newer Wakefield One building which also houses the Library and several other of the council's departments.
I have only visited the museum here twice, both time to meet with the finds officer from the Antiquities department to identify items I have found whilst metal detecting.
I am appalled at the meagre handful of exhibits they are now offering for us to view.
It takes on average ten minutes to walk around and view every artefact, the Cameron Motorcycle is still on display (which was always one of my favourite pieces) around ten Bronze age axe heads found at Stanley Ferry, Two roman coins and some pottery all in the main entrance, there is one sword on display from Sandal Castle and the rest is Victorian information and items in regards to the Fire Brigade, Police, coal mines and some everyday items.
The largest exhibit is the Waterton Exhibit which has its own room and is much the same as it used to be.
I know that the models of Sandal are at the visitors centre which is on the grounds of the castle but where is the rest of our history?
Wakefield has such a rich history that it should be a crime what the council is doing, the motto on Wakefield's coat of arms is "Preserve and Prosper" yet all I have seen in the last ten years or so is the demolition and neglect of some of our most beautiful buildings.
There is no mention of the boat building that the City was once famed for, nor the textile industries, the waterwheel which still exists in the old mills by the new monstrosity they call The Hepworth Gallery.
Nothing of the race course at Outwood, Lofthouse park, the prison of war camps which were located at Methley, Lofthouse and Crigglestone, nothing of Wakefield's claim to Robin Hood or connection to highwaymen Dick Turpin and Swift Nick Nevison.
There is no mention of the tunnels which run beneath the streets that everyone has heard about, no mention of the cell which lays beneath the pavement of the bull ring, the city wall, the cattle market on Westgate and the market in the centre of town which again the City was famed for, nothing about Low Hill castle in the park, Newland's abandoned village and Knight's Templar/Knight's of St John Preceptory near Normanton.
If you were to visit any museum around the Country, even if housed in a new build, they have an extensive collection of artefacts and displays giving you information about the history of that place, York thrives on tourism because of its history, as does Chester, Leeds, only eight miles North holds the Royal Armouries, the Thackray Medical museum and a town museum.
We have one of the tallest Cathedrals in the Country, one of only six bridge chapels left in the Country, an infamous prison, two nursery rhymes were taken from places in Wakefield, round and round the mulberry bush- Wakefield Prison and the grand Ol' Duke of York- Sandal Castle.
The Viking's are said to have been the first to land here but there is nothing in the museum to represent this, if you visit County Hall there is a large mural depicting Wacca the Viking sailing up the River Calder.
Why are Wakefield Council so adamant on hiding our history? shouldn't we celebrate such a rich and fruitful history? why is the museum housed in such a small space when there are much more magnificent buildings such as the old courthouse or Clayton hospital or even Clark Hall near Pinderfields Hospital which I believe has now been sold for office use.
The fact is the Council should be doing more to promote our history, it should be shared.
