About
The butcher, the baker, the Christmas pie maker: the history of the high street at Christmas!
We’re always hearing about the death of the high street, and it’s true that many of them look decidedly the worse for wear. As we gear up for the most frenetic shopping season of the year, join us for a talk which celebrates the high street through history.
Historian Dr Annie Gray’s talk is based on the research for her latest book, but with a festive twist which should help to get you in the mood for the month to come. You’ll hear a lot about the food – from butchers bedecked with turkeys to seasonal street foods we might want to bring back, but you’ll also learn about how the high street developed as a hub for socialising and shopping, and how Christmas came to be both happy and heinous for shoppers and shop assistants alike. Oh – and there are elephants. Whether you love the atmosphere of a bustling shopping street, lit up with lights and enlivened by carollers, or prefer to shop at supermarkets or online, you’ll come away with a new appreciation of high street history – and even be emboldened to support it (if you’ve any shopping left to do…)
Dr Annie Gray is a historian specialising in food and dining in Britain from ca.1650 to the present day. She’s the resident food historian on BBC Radio 4’s The Kitchen Cabinet, a regular on TV, and a popular speaker. Annie’s books include The Greedy Queen: eating with Victoria, Victory in the Kitchen: the life of Churchill’s Cook, and At Christmas we Feast: Festive Food through the Ages.
Key to the North
Join us throughout the year for an aspirational series of talks and events around the Wakefield district.
Key to the North will encourage people to engage with new topics, acquire new skills and develop new creative interests. Talks, lectures and events will shine a light on the district’s and Yorkshire’s rich heritage and popular culture. Find out more at ouryear2024.co.uk
Venue opening hours
Monday : 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Tuesday : 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Wednesday : 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Thursday : 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Friday : 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Saturday : 9:30 am - 4:30 pm
Sunday : 9:30 am - 4:30 pm
Venue Details
Find us at
Castle Garth, Pontefract, WF8 1QH
Phone
01977723440
castles@wakefield.gov.uk