A Window to your Past
As part of Heritage Week, Wakefield & District Family History Society (WDFHS) is hosting an event in the Ridings Shopping Centre, Wakefield on Friday and Saturday September 11th and 12th 2009, 9.00am to 5.00pm.
They will be joined by the West Riding Archives, Local Studies from Balne Lane Library, John Goodchild from the John Goodchild Collection, Wakefield Historical Society, Wakefield Museum Service and Outwood Video Club.
On display will be photographs, maps and documents to illustrate aspects of Wakefield's fascinating history.
A painting by Castleford artist, Joanne Shaw FRSA, which shows shops in Marygate around the turn of the century, WDFHS is being displayed to illustrate family history research. The painting shows the shops of HO Cawthraw, fish and game merchant, W Sidebottom, cooper and Singer sewing machines.
Another of Joanne's paintings is of George William Harrison who was elected as Wakefield's very first Mayor in March 1848 after a Charter was granted giving Wakefield the right to elect a Mayor, 8 Aldermen and 24 Councillors to govern the town.
Prior to this local government had been in the hands of the Streets' Commissioners who were making such an inadequate and defective job of government that the townsmen appointed a committee to take the necessary steps for preparing an Act for better government of the town.
The result was that a Charter of Incorporation was granted on March 15th 1848 and in May of that year George William Harrison made history by becoming Wakefield's first Mayor.
If you have any photographs or information about George William Harrison, the Marygate shops or the families whose businesses they were please contact alan@a-window-to-your-past.com
Alan's website is at A window to your past.
