We’re just over a month into the John Goodchild Project and lots of exciting things have been popping up already! I hope you’ve been following our little gems on social media, we’ll keep them coming throughout the project.
Here is a little glimpse into some of the items that we’ve found so far, there really is something for everybody in this collection!
For those of you who have an interest in mining and collieries we have colliery correspondence [and some legal arguments!] surface plans and rent accounts relating to Wharnecliffe and Wheldale Collieries, Carlton Main, Silverwood Colliery, Manvers Main Colliery, Elmsall Lodge, Ackton Hall Colliery, Frickley Colliery to name but a few. We can’t wait to discover more mining material!
Correspondence Carlton Main Colliery Company Limited, 1927
For those railway enthusiasts among you we have not only found the register of cleaners, firemen and drivers for Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway giving dates of promotion and rates of pay for Wakefield, we have also located some Midland Railway plans, Snydale branches and know there are lots more waiting to have their moment in the spotlight.
Of interest to sporting fans are the minutes of Wakefield Cricket and Bowling Club Cricket Sub-Committee and General Committee or how about Wakefield Schools rugby league under 11 team v St Helens, souvenir brochure May 1979, were you on the team in 1979?
If you like to see how our districts have changed, there are photographs of premises in Middlestown, Overton, Wakefield, Netherton, Horbury with many more hiding in the collection, oh and there is an amazing photograph of Northern Command Field Engineering bombing & Anti-gas School, 1918.
Red Hall, Wakefield c1890
There have been quite a few packaging challenges along the way with lots of deeds needing a bit of TLC too so it’s a good job we have our fabulous conservation team on site here at the West Yorkshire History Centre.
Onward and upward into 2020 we go!
Catablogue 