Heritage Lottery investment into Wakefield has topped £21 million following the award of its latest £350,500 grant to the very popular visitor attraction, the National Coal Mining Museum for England.

The latest grant reinforces HLF’s commitment to funding the amazing variety of heritage in Wakefield and its surrounding area. The National Coal Mining Museum for England grant will be used to conserve its collection of coal cutting machinery and save a unique, unpublished collection of photographs from British Jeffrey Diamond, a Wakefield based manufacturer of mining equipment, which charts the development of the machinery. The two collections will be catalogued and put online so that people from far and wide can discover the history of the machines which were a force behind the mining industry.

This is the latest in a series of almost 100 HLF awards to Wakefield, demonstrating the Fund’s commitment to the area’s heritage. A number of these awards have helped to ensure that the region’s major heritage projects are protected for future generations, and play a vital part in improving the economy of Wakefield and the Five Towns, by attracting more visitors to the rich variety of heritage projects. Over £7 million has been awarded to the National Coal Mining Museum and over £4 million to Nostell Priory. These grants have funded everything from major renovations to the expansion of visitor facilities, improved education facilities and the conservation of important collections.

However, HLF is funding not only major venues but a range of smaller but equally important projects. These illustrate HLF’s commitment to young people, communities and the natural environment. For example, the Pontefract Liquorice Trust’s ‘The Root of Pontefract’ project is working with young people to uncover the history of the world famous Liquorice industry thanks to a £24,900 award. The project includes an exhibition, parade and even a fashion show!

Fiona Spiers, HLF Regional Manager for Yorkshire and the Humber added: “This is great news for Wakefield. HLF funding continues to deliver a very positive impact into the regeneration and popularity of the city and surrounding area.

“This latest project will secure the future of these impressive machines which worked at the coalface for many years and it is fantastic that their story will be told with the proud mining heritage which is close to so many people.”

Baroness Lockwood, Chairman of the National Coal Mining Museum said: “We are really excited at the prospect of working with engineer’s, conservators and the community to bring these machines back to life, and are most grateful to HLF for showing their support for this project.”

The Heritage Lottery Fund uses lottery players’ money to preserve the nation’s heritage and open it up for everyone to discover and enjoy. A huge range of projects can be funded by HLF, from our proud industrial past, parks and museum collections to projects that celebrate wildlife, local traditions, memories and traditional industries.

Examples of Heritage Lottery Funded Projects in Wakefield:

‘Liquorice – The Root of Pontefract’
The Pontefract Liquorice Trust’s ‘The Root of Pontefract’ project is working with almost 100 young people to uncover the history of the Liquorice industry in the area thanks to a £24,900 award. The story of this sticky subject, from its role as a medicine to today’s much loved sweets is being told through an exhibition at Pontefract Museum, a liquorice trail and even a fashion show!

The town, which began making liquorice in the 16th Century, was Britain’s major producer by 1853. The young people will increase their knowledge of local history and develop new skills as they help manage the project from start to finish.

The National Coal Mining Museum for England
The National Coal Mining Museum, has received several HLF awards, totalling over £7m and is one of the most successful visitor attractions in the region. An HLF grant of £4.4m helped to conserve and open up mine buildings dating back as far as the early 19th century, conserving precious collections, providing new facilities and opportunities for visitors to discover the proud industrial history of the area.

A more recent grant of £1m supported the conservation of the Hope Pit buildings and has given visitors an insight into their previous use. The former colliery was converted into a centre for school science projects on the coal mining industry. Other awards have supported education projects and conservation of important collections.

Nostell Priory
Nostell Priory is another HLF funded success which was restored by the National Trust with the help of a £4.2m grant. The house stands at the centre of the area’s rich heritage and HLF supported the acquisition of the estate’s historic parkland and stables.

The parkland is now restored to its 19th Century glory, providing a picturesque setting for the house and its restored muniments room, holding records of the estate’s history and the intriguing stories of its many inhabitants.

Other HLF awards include £32,600 for an exhibition in the wider ‘Maids and Mistresses’ project, which uncovered the often hidden stories of women in the house and £102,500 for the community engagement project which is involving local people in the work of the estate, helping them to discover its history and develop new skills.

Wakefield Young People’s Timeline
Young people from across Wakefield’s different communities were brought together in a dynamic project led by The Westmorland Centre which encouraged them to travel through time, investigating 600 years of local history with a character called Joe Juggler. The project benefited from a £25,000 HLF grant.

The young people were encouraged to explore what it means to be a citizen of Wakefield by working with a series of organisations and local people, including Huddersfield University, museums and historians. They collaborated and produced a CD rom to bring this local history to life using newsreel style filming and new technology, whilst developing research and media presentation skills.