Heritage Walks Around Wakefield

Born in South Hiendley in 1771, the son of John Watson, a surveyor, he trained in Wakefield with William Lindley of Doncaster, who built South Parade in Wakefield. Charles then designed much of the St John’s Square area.

🔗 Take a walk around some of his buildings.

Anyone who knows Wakefield will be familiar with the statue to Queen Victoria in Castrop-Rauxel Square on Rishworth Street, but did you know that there are other monuments to women in and around the city?

🔗 Find some of Wakefield’s wonderful women.

Since medieval times, Wakefield has held a reputation for being ‘the Merrie City’. Although the precise origins of the label are long lost, it’s perhaps not difficult to imagine why the name might have been coined!

🔗 Take a trip back in time and discover some of Northgate’s historic pubs.

Wakefield’s standing as a place for art and culture is justly deserved. The creation in 1997 of the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, and the opening of the Hepworth Wakefield gallery in 2011 have drawn national and international attention to the city and district. Not all artwork is contained in galleries and museums, of course!

🔗 Stroll around the city centre to discover a wealth of art that’s free to explore.

You may be familiar with Wakefield’s Westgate Run, but did you know that Kirkgate could at one time have given Westgate a run for its money, having at least as many pubs, inns and hotels as its better known rival. This trail highlights just a few of the watering holes that called Kirkgate home.

🔗 Discover some of the historic pubs and inns of Kirkgate.

Discover Wakefield and its connection to Dame Barbara Hepworth on this guided trail around the city that she grew up in, and that would one day build a gallery bearing her name.

🔗 Discover the city from the eyes of its most famous daughter.