Selby Civic Society members and guests visited Wakefield last Sunday as part of its 2018 Events programme and were treated to an informative and entertaining morning tour of a little-known gem in the city ? the Georgian area – which is situated on the highest hill of the city, centred around St John?s Church.
Led by Wakefield Civic Society?s President. Kevin Trickett MBE and Alison Sykes, the group was shown the splendid terraces of St John?s Square, fringing the church green. Interestingly, the elegant, uniform frontages were not matched by the irregular backs of the properties, where all kinds of alterations and additions had taken place over the years.
The visit continued to the National Coal Mining Museum for England based at the site of Caphouse Colliery in Overton, near Wakefield. After lunch, some members visited the museum galleries and surface mine buildings, while for others the highlight of the visit was a tour 130m down in the underground workings of the former pit led by an ex-miner who informed and entertained the group with tales and anecdotes of his coal-mining life and experiences.
A great day was had by all.