Wakefield’s 50 favourite things revealed after 600 nominations from locals
The project asked people their favourite things about the city
Wakefield’s arts scene, architecture and green spaces featured strongly in a project which asked people to list their favourite things about the city.
In June this year, residents were invited to nominate the things that made them proud of the city as part of the ‘Wakefield in 50 Objects’ scheme to promote civic pride.
Wakefield Civic Society received around 600 nominations, 225 of which were shortlisted before voting took place.
The results were revealed at an event at Wakefield Exchange on Wednesday evening.
Society president Kevin Trickett said: “This has been a fascinating exercise.
“While some of the nominations we received might have been expected – for example, in the favourite buildings category, the cathedral scored highly – some of the nominations were out of the ordinary.”
The shortlist was arranged into ten categories and people were asked to vote for one item in each.
Mr Trickett said: “The results show strong support for Wakefield’s growing reputation as a place for art and sculpture, underpinning Wakefield’s ambition to be recognised as the UK capital of sculpture.
“Art and creativity are obviously very important to the people who took time to participate in our project.
“There was also clear recognition that community groups and individuals who put the heart into Wakefield.
“Additionally, Wakefield is seen as a friendly place where people rub along, extending a warm welcome to people coming to the city.”
Live music and the performing arts also shone through in the voting, with performers Jane McDonald, The Cribs and Bill Nelson all featuring in the top 50.
Mr Trickett said: “We make no claim for this being a statistically valid or academically rigorous experiment.
“If we were to run the project again, we might find some of the results would be different, but there are certain nominations that would always feature in any top 50.
“We used the term ‘objects’ to allow maximum scope for people to nominate anything at all that they liked about the city.
“All we wanted to do was to get people thinking positively about Wakefield.
“It has certainly done that with some very supporting comments having been made to us about the way it has made people think about and appreciate all the good things we have practically on our doorstep.
“No doubt, people will recognise some of their personal favourites but wonder why others have not been included.
“But that is part of the process – let’s talk about what makes Wakefield great and share our thoughts and experiences.
“Our hope is that our project will act as a counter to people who take to social media to criticise things about Wakefield.
“Yes, we know not everything is perfect but if we accentuate the positive, as this project has tried to do, we might find we have more in common than divides us.
“Let’s continue the discussion and start telling others about all that Wakefield has to offer.”
Wakefield in 50 Objects results in full
Category 1. Character
- Wakefield as a city of art and sculpture
- The Merrie City
- A creative city
- Wakefield’s food scene
- Wakefield’s City of Sanctuary status
Category 2: Art and Sculpture
- Barbara Hepworth’s Family of Man
- Queen Victoria statue
- Tess Jaray’s Cathedral precinct art installation
- Jason Wilsher-Mills’ Amazonian Love God
- The Stork Gates at Thornes Park
Category 3: Architectural gems
- Wakefield Cathedral
- Chantry Chapel and Bridge
- County Hall
- Sandal Castle
- 6-8 Silver Street
Category 4: Community
- Wakefield Civic Society
- Rhubarb Festival
- Second Chance Headway Centre
- The Forgotten Women of Wakefield guided walks
- LonGBoaT Wakefield
Category 5: Gone but not forgotten heritage
- Former market hall and open-air market
- Wakefield Pie Shop
- Clarke Hall Educational Museum
- Bus Station Clock Tower from 1952
- ABC Cinema
Category 6: History and heritage
- The city’s coal mining history
- The Battle of Wakefield 1460
- Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush rhyme
- Charles Waterton’s wall
- Wakefield Civic Society blue plaques
Category 7: Natural wonders
- Newmillerdam Country Park
- Thornes Park
- The Cathedral peregrines
- Alverthorpe Meadows and Wrenthorpe Park and Nature Reserve
- The Aire and Calder Navigation
Category 8: Personalities
- Barbara Hepworth
- Jane McDonald
- Kevin Trickett
- The Cribbs
- Bill Nelson and Be-Bop Deluxe
Category 9: Places
- Yorkshire Sculpture Park
- The Hepworth Wakefield
- Theatre Royal Wakefield
- Trinity Walk Shopping Centre
- The Art House
Category 10: Transport and infrastructure
- 99 Arches railway viaduct
- Wakefield’s geographical location
- Good road and rail connectivity
- Wakefield Westgate rail station
- The Free City Bus