Wakefield in West Yorkshire

Wakefield in West Yorkshire

Wakefield in West Yorkshire

Wakefield is a city in West Yorkshire by the River Calder on the east of the Pennines. It was the location of an important battle during the War of the Roses, and was a Royalist stronghold during the Civil War. It became a market town, trading in corn, coal and textiles, and in 1888 the parish church became a cathedral. The cathedral stands 247 feet and is the most prominent landmark in Wakefield, as well as Wood Street which is home to the Wakefield Crown Court of 1810. The Town Hall was constructed in 1880 while St. John's Church dates back to the Georgian period.

There is avidence of prehistoric man in the area, with flint, stone, bronze and iron instruments having been found in the area. The area was occupied by the Romans in 43 AD. The Angles settled in the fifth to sixth century, later being conquered by the Vikings.

By the 19th century Wakefield was a wealthy market town, with an inland port assisting trade in wool and corn from Norfolk, Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire. The market developed in the roads around the Bull Ring and cattle market.

Just nine miles east of Leeds and twenty-eight miles southwest of York, Kirkgate train station was built in Wakefield in 1840, part of the Manchester to Leeds route. Wakefield Westgate was opened in 1867 on the Doncaster to Leeds line. The city centre is situated on the bank of the River Calder adorned with a 24th century stone bridge, as well as a reinforced concrete bridge built in 1930. Wakefield encompasses villages on the outskirts like Flanshaw, Lupset, Sandal, Thornes, Alverthorpe, Agbrigg, Kettlethorpe and Newton Hill.

When the coal mines closed there was a rise in unemployment. But the local industry saw growth this decade as the local economy was diversified. There has been investment from both national and European institutions, contributing to the regeneration of the area. Manufacturing remains important in terms of employment, while distribution and service industries grow and become significant employers in the area.

Regeneration in Wakefield is trumped by the construction of Trinity Walk in the city centre, housing retail units and library. There are also developments by the river, and Wakefield Waterfront has had the Navigation Warehouse refurbished (a Grade II listed building) as well as new office and retail units.

It's easy to see why Wakefield is proving to be a popular area for people to move into, with a convenient mix of culture and heritage and regeneration and opportunities. It also has good transport links, with easy access to the M1 and M62 motorways as well as a large network of local buses. The nearest airport is Leeds Bradford, which is 19 miles away.

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