Wakefield Accommodation

Henry Moore at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park Wakefield

Yorkshire Sculpture Park, A superb Family Day Out in Yorkshire

Henry Moore Yorkshire Sculpture Park Barbara Hepworth Wakefield West Yorkshire Tourism UK

Exciting times are afoot in Wakefield, birthplace of sculpture greats Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth, which is set to see new architecturally impressive museums and galleries alongside what is an already impressive arts and culture scene. Wakefield's waterfront is receiving much attention with plans for the new Trinity Walk retail outlet and the new sculpture gallery (to be designed by acclaimed architect David Chipperfield) which will serve as home for a huge collection of Barbara Hepworth's work, hence its name 'The Hepworth Wakefield' (due for opening 2010). One of Yorkshire's most impressive arts spaces is in the area - the renowned Yorkshire Sculpture Park, home to numerous sculptures by Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth and new stars on the sculpture front such as Andy Goldsworthy, James Turrell and Nigel Hall. Wakefield is also appropriately the site for the National Coal Mining Museum for England based at Caphouse Colliery. Here you can take underground tours and view one of the most impressive coal mining collections and archives in the UK. Wakefield Westgate Station sits on the East Coast Mainline Rail line, offering easy access from Edinburgh and Scotland and up from London. Indeed Wakefield's excellent transport links, including its close proximity to the M1 and excellent rail links will play a major role in the city's rejuvenation.

Wakefield Tourist Information Centre, 9 The Bull Ring, Wakefield, WF1 1HB. Tel. 0845 601 8353.

Wakefield Art Gallery, Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth & the New Hepworth Wakefield

Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth were both born in Wakefield and both worked considerably in bronze, wood and stone sculpture. The Wakefield Art Gallery duly pays tribute to these two famous artists with the reclining figure in Elmwood (1936) by Henry Moore and early carvings by Hepworth. Wakefield Art Gallery also includes work by Matthew Smith, Paul Nash and Jacob Epstein.

The gallery has a special leaning towards modern British artists and work by regional artists, with a monthly series of talks offered by a local artist. A gallery shop is on-site with ramped access to the ground floor.

Wakfefield Art Gallery is soon to be complemented by the Hepworth Wakefield, the new architecturally astounding art gallery shortly to open in the city. (see the Hepworth Wakefield webguide right for details). Collections to feature include 30 of Barbara Hepworth's original plaster sculptures and of course Henry Moores renowned 'Reclining Figure' (1936). Hepworth's early Mother and Child (1934) and Pierced Hemisphere (1937) will also move to the Hepworth Wakefield. The design is to be the work of David Chipperfield Architects who are also set to construct the new Turner Gallery in Margate, Kent.

Wakefield Art Gallery, Wentworth Terrace, Wakefield, WF1 3QW. Tel. 01924 305796.

Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP)

An international centre for sculpture and contemporary modern art, the Yorkshire Sculpture Park sits on 500 acres of 18th century parkland (Bretton Country Park) south of Wakefield (easy access off the M1 motorway). Displays change constantly here, including large bronze sculptures by Henry Moore. The park often exhibits visiting pieces by Moore on loan from elsewhere. What you can always expect is to see internationally acclaimed artists such as Barbara Hepworth, the aforementioned Henry Moore, Anthony Caro, Antony Gormley, Serge Spitzer, Jonathan Borofsky and others. For up-to-date information on current displays checkout the YSP's weblink below for details.

Highlights at the YSP include the abstract work of Barbara Hepworth - 'Family of Man' has been exhibited here and since the hugely successful Hepworth Centenary Exhibition in 2003 here at the YSP there always remains some of her work on show. Other pieces include 'Molecule Man 1 1 1' by Jonathan Borofsky and Elisabeth Frink's 'Running Man'. Frink's work is mostly figurative and mostly male figures in bronze.

The innovative work of Andy Goldsworthy, James Turrell and Nigel Hall have been appearing recently at the YSP. Public events, workshops, tours and talks run throughout the year and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park is a superb introduction to contemporary art and sculpture for children. Outdoor workshops have a real interactive edge for kids, plus the acres of space and room to romp around and interact with sculpture on display in the park appeals particularly to children. (no stuffy art gallery approach here!).

Follow the signs off Junction 38 on the M1.
www.ysp.co.ukYorkshire Sculpture Park, West Bretton, Wakefield WF4 4LG. Tel.01924 832631. Find directions, opening times and a detailed map of the YSP via their webguide.

Wakefield Museum

From Royalist stronghold during the English Civil War to industrial and mining centre, the history of Wakefield and the Castleford area is explored in-depth in the Wakefield Museum. Due attention is given to Wakefield explorer and one of the first conservationists - Charles Waterton and you can retrace his steps through South America and the rain forests. In the 1820s, after extensive travel around Guyana, Waterton returned to his home Walton Hall in Wakefield and built a 9 foot high wall around the estate, turning it into a wildfowl and nature reserve. His entire collection now resides at the Wakefield Museum and he's a particularly interesting character, noted as an early opposer of pollution which saw him successful in having a local polluting soapworks moved. Download a leaflet via the Wakefield Council weblink right detailing the Waterton Trail around Anglers Country Park and Walton Hall which is now a hotel.

Other galleries in the Wakefield Museum explore the towns Roman links, the history of nearby medieval Sandal Castle, the lives of rich and poor in Victorian industrial Wakefield and the highlight - a detailed exhibition on the 1984-85 Miners' Strike.

Wakefield Museum, Wood Street, Wakefield WF1 2EW. Tel. 01924 305356

Wakefield Waterfront - The Calder & Hebble Navigation & The Aire & Calder Navigation

Wakefield's Waterfront along the Calder & Hebble Navigation connected to the Aire and Calder Navigation at Fall Ing Lock is seeing extensive regeneration. Alongside the planned Hepworth Wakefield art gallery, numerous other listed historic buildings including the old 19th century watermill, the Navigation Warehouse (1790) and other mill complexes are due for a complete overhall. The old mill is expected to be open to the public and still contains its original waterwheel within.

Like many other waterfront developments taking place across the country, Wakefield Waterfront will be a mix of leisure, retail, museums and art galleries and luxury accommodation. Preserving precious historic waterfront buildings like the old watermill is an integral part of the redevelopment. Read more via the Hepworth Wakefield's webguide right.

Wakefield's waterfront has a long history linked closely with the local coalfields. After the completion of the Aire and Calder Navigation from Goole to Leeds, with its detour down to Wakefield pressure built for improvements to navigation of the River Calder above Wakefield. By the 1770s the Calder & Hebble Navigation (a largely river navigation as its name implies) reached all the way from Wakefield west to Sowerby Bridge. The Calder & Hebble connected on to the Huddersfield Narrow Canal and Rochdale Canal. The Calder & Hebble Navigation never proved quite as successful as the Aire & Calder, but a certain amount of trade did result from connections with the Huddersfield Broad and Narrow Canals.

To the north along the Aire & Calder Navigation on the outskirts of Wakefield sits Stanley Ferry Marina, site of the Stanley Ferry Aqueduct - the first cast iron aqueduct built in the country. The first boat cross this historic aqueduct in 1839 and it sits in water today alongside the newer concrete aqueduct built in 1981. Canal towpath walking is popular up here, and the Stanley Ferry Marina has a pub on-site (see webguide right for details).

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