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Wakefield Museums and Castles
Celebrating the impact of Our Stories in 2025
Thursday, January 29, 2026This is a guest blog celebrating the Our Heritage, Our Stories project. By D’arcy Darilmaz, Cultural Development Officer and Tegwen Roberts, Heritage Development Manager.
Our Heritage, Our Stories is a two-year project supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. It is led by Heritage Development Manager Tegwen Roberts. It brings communities together to research, celebrate and protect Wakefield's unique heritage. This year, the project has strengthened partnerships and supported skills development. It has also empowered people to share their stories.
Read on to discover some of the highlights from 2025.
Heritage Network launched
Consultations with local heritage groups was led by Buttercrumble. This resulted in the launch of a new Heritage Network, with a clear code of conduct.
Meetings began in Castleford and Wakefield in November. They were followed by a recent meeting at Pontefract in January 2026. Further events are planned for this year. This includes a heritage celebration event in June 2026.
One of the Heritage Network consultation events
Heritage Champion
Throughout 2025, Our Heritage, Our Stories has worked closely with Wakefield Council’s Heritage Champion, Councillor Natalie Walton. Together, we have developed the role of the champion to support the Heritage Network and community-led heritage projects.
The Heritage Champion has been vital in making connections within the community and across the Council. The role has also advocated for the importance of heritage. It values heritage at a strategic level, in improving lives and places across the district.
Cllr Walton, Heritage Champion
Digital art commissions at Wakefield Exchange
Two digital artworks were unveiled at the opening of Wakefield Exchange in February 2025. They were by local artists Tony Wade and Andy Wright, and One to One Development Trust.
The interactive installations were inspired by our coal mining heritage and Studio Vertigo’s Sentinel light sculpture. They attracted over 21,000 visitors. They sparked powerful conversations about the Wakefield district’s past.
Visitors enjoying digital artworks at Wakefield Exchange on opening night. Credit: Mark Newton.
South Asian Heritage Month: South Asian Heritage Open Day
Our Stories have been working with the West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield Museums and Castles and Wakefield Libraries. Together, we uncovered and shared collections linked to our South Asian community. We held an Open Day event at the West Yorkshire History Centre during South Asian Heritage Month. It brought people together to celebrate these stories.
We explored how heritage spaces can better represent diverse communities. Feedback showed how valued and welcomed participants felt. It also illustrated how these events opened new understanding of diverse local heritage.
From the South Asian Heritage Open Day at West Yorkshire History Centre. Credit: Tatiana Hepplewhite.
South Asian Heritage Month: Chai and Chat
Our Stories also supported a welcoming “Chai and Chat” event at Wakefield One. The event was organised by Wakefield Council's Global Majority Race Equality Network staff forum. It featured collections from the West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield Museums and Castles and Wakefield Libraries Local Studies.
Over four hours, 109 people stopped by. We shared stories and explored heritage over a cup of chai.
The team at the Chai and Chat event. Credit: Nick Singleton.
Digital heritage projects with One to One Development Trust
Our Stories is working in partnership with One to One Development Trust. Together, we are creating two innovative digital experiences. These will bring two of the district’s most important hidden heritage sites to life. These projects also involve working with local people and community heritage groups.
Roman Castleford Uncovered
This project explores Castleford’s Roman past through a new interactive digital platform. You can step into a virtual Roman bathhouse, fort and vicus. You can even meet an AI Roman soldier!
Volunteers and local heritage groups helped shape the project. They also gained new skills in drone filming and digital modelling.
At the 2025 Castleford Roman Festival, 224 people tested the platform. 87% said it helped them connect more deeply with local heritage. The platform was then launched during Heritage Open Day at an event at Queens Mill.
Explore Roman Castleford Uncovered online.
Unveiling Roman Castleford Uncovered at Castleford Roman Festival 2025. Credit: Nick Singleton.
Pontefract Hermitage and Dispensary
Also in development is an experience focusing on the underground medieval hermitage and Victorian dispensary building in Pontefract. The project will allow people to explore these hidden spaces digitally. It will use virtual reality and community stories.
The project was launched at an event at Pontefract Museum in September 2025. It is due to be completed by June 2026.
Castleford Roman Festival: bringing archaeology to life
Castleford Roman Festival visitors also experienced cutting-edge archaeology in action. The University of Leeds' Geophysics Department demonstrated how geophysical surveys can uncover hidden remains. This gave the public a rare insight into the science behind heritage research.
Hundreds of people attended the survey over the course of the day. It was held at Castleford Parish Church and the site of Castleford Roman Bath house.
This short video explores the Our Stories activities at Castleford Roman Festival 2025:
‘Let’s Talk History’ – schools engagement
'Let's Talk History' was an innovative project led by Wakefield Council’s school improvement team. It connected local schools with heritage resources to help them explore historic figures from their local areas. Pupils developed research and presentation skills. They pitched ideas for better representation of these figures in their communities.
Our Stories commissioned local filmmaker Nick Singleton. Singleton worked with the Pontefract and Castleford Civic Societies to create video resources. Castleford Civic Society also joined the judging panels. This helped to strengthen links between schools and local heritage groups.
Find out more about significant figures in Pontefract and Castleford’s history in these short films:
Castleford Figures film:
Pontefract Figures film:
UKSPF Capital Heritage Grants
Our Stories secured funding through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. It enabled us to pilot small-scale heritage capital grants. These grants support community groups to restore local heritage assets, boost visitor numbers and grow capacity.
One of the funded projects includes renovation work to the 1940s bowling pavilion at Thornes Bowling Club. The club was formerly the sports club for Paton and Baldwin. Local volunteers are working with a specialist contractor to complete the renovations. They are also researching the history of the site.
Heritage Open Days 2025
Our Stories boosted involvement in Heritage Open Days. We supported and encouraged local groups to deliver events. A training event for organisers was held at West Yorkshire History Centre. Targeted support was offered to groups who had never taken part in Heritage Open Days before. In Castleford, Castleford Civic Society co-ordinated a programme of events for the first time. This was very successful.
As part of Wakefield Council Culture Grants, Our Stories also funded the development of 26 creative story trails by artist Beccy Dye. These trails were co-created with local people. They celebrated myths and legends from across the district. The trails were delivered during the festival over seven walking events.
The new Roman Castleford Uncovered platform was also launched during the festival. It was temporarily installed in Castleford Museum. The museum saw a 7% increase in footfall during Heritage Open Days week.
This short film explores how Heritage Open Days made an impact across our district:
New illustrated heritage trails
We commissioned design agency Buttercrumble to create new illustrated heritage trails. Our Stories worked with the Castleford, Pontefract and Wakefield Civic Societies and the Theatre Royal’s Conversation Café. The output was accessible, illustrated heritage trails for Pontefract, Wakefield and Castleford.
The trails were inspired by feedback from minority ethnic communities. They will make local heritage easier to explore for families and young children. They also support exploration by people whose first language isn’t English.
Copies are now available in the museums and libraries across the district.
Community-led Conservation Areas
The Heritage Development Manager has been collaborating with Conservation Officers and local heritage groups on proposals for two new conservation areas. These are in Felkirk and Bank Street, Bradley Street and Wesley Street in Castleford town centre.
The research in Felkirk has been led by the Felkirk Heritage group. In Castleford, it has been led by the Castleford Civic Society. They will be the first new conservation areas in the district since 2009 if successful.
Castleford’s consultation drew over 80 responses. It showed strong community interest in protecting local heritage.
The formal consultation reports have been completed. A final decision will be made by the council in February 2026.
The proposed Felkirk Churchyard Conservation Area
Looking ahead in 2026
Heritage Network skills development
A series of training events for community heritage groups will be announced in coming weeks. These will address skills gaps identified by local groups through the Heritage Network. This will help strengthen capacity and confidence across the heritage sector.
Heritage Hub
Work will soon begin on a new online Heritage Hub. This will be a dedicated space for residents to access resources. It will help users to discover local heritage groups and find out about events.
Heritage Interpretation Boards
Six outdoor interpretation panels will be designed for key heritage sites across the district. They will be created working alongside local community groups. Training workshops and best-practice guidance will also be provided. These will help groups create their own interpretation boards in the future.
Picturing Pontefract Exhibition
Our Heritage Our Stories is supporting the Picturing Pontefract exhibition at Pontefract Museum. We have coordinated community feedback from Heritage Network members. This has helped to shape the exhibition. The exhibition features images of Pontefract past, present and imagined. It will run from 2 February to 3 October 2026.
Our Heritage, Our Stories is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players.