Welcome to the Wakefield Civic Society

Wakefield Civic Society - an organisation dedicated to making Wakefield a better place in which to live, work or relax.

 

Whether you are a resident or a visitor to Wakefield, the Society can offer something of interest. From printed information through to talks and guided walks and from excursions through to social events, there is something for everyone.

 

If you would like to join us, please get in touch by emailing us at info@wakefieldcivicsociety.org.uk. Alternatively, you can find details of our membership schemes for individuals and corporate organisations on the attached pages.

 

Now Available!

 

Wakefield - City of Spires, Towers and Turrets Trail

Wakefield - Blue Plaque Trail

Wakefield - City of Sculpture and Public Art

 

These three booklets published by the Society are now available. Each A5-size guide is 24 pages long and printed in full colour. The booklets are set out as walking guides around the city centre and allow you to explore the city's history, architecture and public artworks at leisure.

 

Each booklet costs £1 and can be purchased from Wakefield Tourist Information Centre in the Bull Ring or from Mocca Moocho Cafe in Cross Square. The City of Sculpture and Public Art booklet is also available at The Hepworth Wakefield and Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

 

Alternatively, all three booklets can be ordered from the Society at £1.50 per copy. Please write to Wakefield Civic Society, PO Box 380, Wakefield, WF1 3WT stating how many of each booklet you wish to purchase and enclose a cheque for the appropriate amount made payable to Wakefield Civic Society.

 

August Newsletter and Autumn Programme now available!

 

Members should by now have received their August newsletter and details of our Autumn/Winter programme of talks and social events.

 

Most of our talks and other events are open to non-members and many are free. Full details are available on our Events page together with details of any charges that apply.

 

New Tesco store proposed for Wakefield

 

Members of the Society are asked to let us know what they think about the proposal to build a new Tesco supermarket on Ings Road - please email us at info@wakefieldcivicsociety.org.uk

 

For more information, see our August newsletter - out shortly.

      

 

Friends of CHaT Parks group 

 

The newly formed Friends of CHaT Parks is now independent of the Civic Society. Full details of the group and how to join can be found on their website: www.chatparks.org.uk

 

What is Wakefield Civic Society?

 

Wakefield Civic Society was established in 1964 out of a concern for the built environment of our city. Now a registered charity, the Society is dedicated both to preserving and celebrating our built heritage and to campaigning for new schemes to be of the very highest standard and quality possible. Membership of the Society is open to anyone sharing our ideals and details of how to join can be found on our membership pages.

 



Who We Are

 

We are a group of friendly, like-minded individuals and organisations who really do care about Wakefield, its buildings, its heritage and its environment. Membership is open to anyone who shares our aims.

 

The Society was formed in 1964 as a response to the redevelopment of the city which had seen some much-loved buildings being demolished. For over forty years, the Society has been lobbying the council and developers to retain the best of our architectural heritage while trying to encourage high standards of town planning and building design in Wakefield whenever new buildings are being considered.

 

The Society is part of a regional and national movement. We are just one of an estimated 1,000 or so societies across England. We recently became one of the founder members of Civic Voice, the new national charity for the civoc society movement. We are also members of the regional association of civic societies,  the Yorkshire and Humber Association of Civic Societies (YHACS). 

 

The Society is one of five active civic societies in the Wakefield Metropolitan District. The others are Castleford and District Civic Trust, Horbury Civic Society, Ossett Civic Trust and Pontefract Civic Society.

 

Details of Ossett Civic Trust can be found on their website: www.ossettcivictrust.co.uk

 

Details of Pontefract Civic Society can be found at: www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk



Our Aims

1. The encouragement of high standards of architecture and town planning in Wakefield and district.

 

2. The stimulation of public interest in the beauty, history and character of the area.

 

3. The preservation, development and improvement of features of public amenity and historical interest.

 

4. The implementation of these ends by exhibitions, lectures, publications and other means.

 

While this means that we are committed to saving old buildings of architectural and historical interest, we also like to see ourselves as forward-looking and ready to welcome bold new designs that will enhance the character of our city.



Who's who in Wakefield Civic Society


Officers:

President

Kevin Trickett		 Vice-President

Darren Byford		 Hon. Secretary

Mike O'Donnell		 Hon. Treasurer

Jean Broadbent



Other Committee Members:

David Atkinson
Jamie Blackshaw
Terry Blackwood		 Anne Davis
Lesley Harrison
Rick Hayward
Harry Livesey		 Margaret Morgan
Stuart Pickering
Jean Rhodes		 Fran Slater
Peter Slater
Anne Taylor		 Margaret Taylor
Peter Taylor
Geoffrey Wood



Roles & Responsibilities:

Communications & Marketing

Kevin Trickett		 Blue Plaques

Kevin Trickett
Anne Davis
David Atkinson		 Corporate Members

Kevin Trickett		 Newsletter Editor and Website

Kevin Trickett		 Membership Secretary

Jean Broadbent
Press Officer

Ian Green at Green Communications. Tel 0845 450 3210		 Dining Club

Anne Davis		 Summer Programme Secretary

Mike O'Donnell		 Conservation Areas and Buildings at Risk

Mike O'Donnell		 Winter Programme Secretary

Darren Byford



Planning Sub-Committee:

David Atkinson Rick Hayward Harry Livesey Peter Slater Anne Taylor Margaret Taylor Peter Taylor