Wakefield,[2]also known as theCity of Wakefield,is alocal government districtwithcity statusand ametropolitan boroughinWest Yorkshire,England.Wakefield,the largest settlement, is theadministrative centreof the district. The population of the City of Wakefield at the 2011 Census was 325,837.[3]
The district includes theFive TownsofCastleford,Featherstone,Knottingley,NormantonandPontefract.[4]Other towns includeHemsworth,Horbury,Ossett,South ElmsallandSouth Kirkby(also forms the civil parish ofSouth Kirkby and Moorthorpe). The city and district are governed byWakefield Councilfrom theCounty Hall.[5]In 2010, Wakefield was named as the UK's third most musical city byPRS for Music.[6]
Economy
editThe economic and physical condition of several of the former mining towns and villages in Wakefield District have started to improve due to the booming economy ofLeeds– and an increase in numbers of commuters to the city from the sub-region – and a recognition of undeveloped assets. For instanceCastleford,to the North East of Wakefield is seeing extensive development and investment because of the natural asset of its outlook on to theRiver Aire,its easy access to the national motorway network and the availability of former mining land for house-building. In Ossett, house prices have risen from an average of £50,000 in 1998 to £130,000 in 2003.
Although unemployment was amongst the highest in the country for most of the 1980s, and 1990s, Wakefield District now has below-average unemployment. The "Wakefield East" ward had 4.7% unemployment in May 2005 (source:Office for National Statistics)—which was more than 1% higher than any other ward. The eastern half of the district remains considerably less prosperous than the western half, with several deprived wards
The district is mainly made out of oldcoal-miningtowns, although other industries includewool,chemicals,machine tools,glass and other forms of manufacturing.Horburyis something of an anomaly in having had aniron works.[7]WhenMargaret Thatchercame to power in 1979 there were 21 pits in the district. By the time the1984 Strikebegan this had decreased to 15, however it still had more collieries than any other district in the country. At the time ofprivatizationin November 1994, only two remained: thePrince of Walesat Pontefract, which closed in 2002, andKellingleyat Knottingley which closed in 2015 ending the industry that once dominated the district. Most of the district's pits had been very hardline during the 1984 strike.
History
editThe former Borough of Wakefield was raised tocity statusbyletters patentin 1888. It became acounty boroughin 1913, taking it out of the jurisdiction of the West Riding County Council. The present boundaries were set in 1974 by theLocal Government Act 1972,when theCounty Borough of Wakefieldmerged with theWest Ridingmunicipal boroughsofCastleford,OssettandPontefract,theurban districtsofFeatherstone,Hemsworth,Horbury,Knottingley,NormantonandStanley,along withWakefield Rural Districtand parts ofHemsworth Rural DistrictandOsgoldcross Rural District.The newmetropolitan district's city status was reconfirmed by letters patent in 1974. The Council's headquarters isCounty Hall,originally built for the West Riding County Council and acquired by Wakefield in 1989.
Geography
editGreen belt
edit
The district is within agreen beltregion that extends into the surrounding counties that is in place to reduceurban sprawl,prevent the cities and towns in theWest Yorkshire Urban Areaconurbation from convergence, protect the identity of outlying communities, encouragebrownfieldreuse, and preserve the countryside. It restricts inappropriate development within the designated areas and imposes stricter conditions on permitted building.[8]Green belt surrounds the Wakefield built up area and stretches into the wider borough and outlying towns and villages.Walton,Netherton,Featherstone,South Kirkby,South Elmsall,Hemsworth,Castleford,Knottingley,andPontefractare surrounded by it. Smaller villages, hamlets and rural areas such asWarmfield and Heath,Stanley Ferry,Newmillerdam,Snydale,Wintersett,and Chapelthorpe are included in the designation.[9]The green belt was adopted in 1987,[8]and in 2017 amounted to some 23,500 hectares (235 km2;91 sq mi).[10]
Governance
editThe district is divided into 21wards,each represented onWakefield Metropolitan District Councilby three councillors. Councillors are elected on afirst past the postbasis, usually for a four-year period which is staggered so that only one councillor per ward is up for election at any one time. Exceptions include by-elections and ward boundary changes.
Sports
editThe city district is home to three professionalrugby leagueclubs, theWakefield Trinity,Castleford Tigerswho both play in theSuper LeagueandFeatherstone Roverswho play in theKingstone Press Championship.All three have had periods of success. The city also has several amateurrugby leagueclubs includingFeatherstone LionsandNormanton Knights.Current England rugby league internationals from the area include;Tom Briscoe,Rob Burrow,Zak Hardaker,andBrett Ferres.The district is also home to two clubs in theNorthern Premier League:Ossett UnitedandPontefract Collieries.
The district has a strong heritage of cricket with former Yorkshire and England captainGeoffrey Boycottborn inFitzwilliamand former Yorkshire and England cricketerTim BresnanfromPontefract.
Pontefract RacecourseinPontefract,is the longest continuous horse racing circuit in Europe at 2 miles 125 yards (3,333 m; 16.57 furlongs).[11]
Culture
edit
The ruins ofSandal Castleand its visitor centre are open to the public, overlooking thePugneys Country Park.[12]TheNational Coal Mining Museum for England(an Anchor Point of ERIH, TheEuropean Route of Industrial Heritage), theYorkshire Sculpture ParkandNostell Priory[13]are within the Wakefield metropolitan area, as isWalton Hall,a Georgian mansion set in what was the world's first nature reserve, created by the explorerCharles Waterton;the house is now a proposed UNESCO World Heritage Site.Sir David Attenboroughhas stated[when?]that "Walton Hall is an extremely important site in the history of nature conservation worldwide. It is, arguably, the first tract of land anywhere in modern times to be protected, guarded and maintained as a nature reserve."[citation needed]
Two children'snursery rhymeswith Wakefield connections are "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush"which may have been sung by women inmates at Wakefieldprison.[14]and "The Grand Old Duke of York"which may allude to the Battle of Wakefield in 1460, referring toRichard Plantagenet,the 3rd Duke of York.[15]The lyrics of the popular hymn "Onward Christian Soldiers" were written at St Peter's Church in nearby Horbury.[16]
Media
editTelevision
editThe area is served byBBC YorkshireandITV Yorkshirereceived from theEmley MoorTV transmitter.[17]
Radio
editThe radio stations that broadcast to the area are:[18]
- Rhubarb Radio
- 5 Towns FM[19]
Newspapers
editThe area is served by the local newspaper,Wakefield Express.[20]
Social housing
editA decision was made, in 2004, to transfer the district's extensivecouncil housingto Wakefield and District Housing (WDH), an 'independent' housing association, who would be more efficient with repairs and maintaining decent accommodation; as council housing represented almost 30% of the district, this was the second-largest stock transfer in British history. WDH are investing over £700 million to regenerate the District and working with partners, such as WMDC, are investing in new housing within the District.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^abUK Census(2021)."2021 Census Area Profile – Wakefield Local Authority (E08000036)".Nomis.Office for National Statistics.Retrieved5 January2024.
- ^"Local Authority Districts, Counties and Unitary Authorities (April 2021) Map in United Kingdom".Office for National Statistics: Open Geography Portal.Retrieved1 August2023.
- ^"City of Wakefield population 2011".Neighbourhood Statistics.Office for National Statistics.Archivedfrom the original on 15 March 2016.Retrieved1 March2016.
- ^"The Wakefield District".Wakefield Council. Archived fromthe originalon 11 March 2018.Retrieved13 March2022.
- ^"Wakefield District".Wakefield Council.Retrieved4 April2018.
- ^Richard Smith (13 March 2010)."Bristol named Britain's most musical city".Daily Mirror.Archivedfrom the original on 5 June 2011.Retrieved22 June2021.
- ^"Horbury Junction Iron Co".Grace's Guide.Archivedfrom the original on 31 December 2014.Retrieved31 December2014.
- ^ab"Green belt review"(PDF).Wakefield Council.Archived(PDF)from the original on 22 March 2018.Retrieved5 April2018.
- ^"Local Plan - Adopted".Wakefield Council.Retrieved23 June2018.
- ^"Green belt statistics - GOV.UK".gov.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 3 July 2018.Retrieved5 April2018.
- ^"Course Details – Pontefract Racecourse".Archived fromthe originalon 21 August 2008.Retrieved4 July2008.
- ^Sandal Castle,Wakefield Council,archivedfrom the original on 26 June 2013,retrieved17 April2013
- ^Nostell Priory,National Trust,archivedfrom the original on 9 November 2009,retrieved18 November2009
- ^Wakefield Prison,wakefield.gov.uk,archivedfrom the original on 29 January 2010,retrieved18 November2009
- ^1066–1600,wakefield.gov.uk,archivedfrom the original on 4 February 2010,retrieved17 November2009
- ^Onward, Christian Soldiers
- ^"Emley Moor (Kirklees, England) Full Freeview transmitter".UK Free TV.1 May 2004.Retrieved1 July2024.
- ^"Yorkshire Radio Stations".Retrieved1 July2024.
- ^"5 Towns FM Radio Online".Internetradiouk.Retrieved1 July2024.
- ^"Wakefield Express".British Papers.17 July 2013.Retrieved1 July2024.