The Heart of Wakefield Project

• Explore Wood Street

The Heart of Wakefield Project explores the rich heritage of Wakefield’s Wood Street and the institutions and businesses based there in the past two centuries. The project was financed by the Heritage Lottery Fund and managed by Wakefield Council, in partnership with Wakefield Historical Society, Wakefield Civic Society and Leeds Beckett University.

Wood Street was created around 1806 when the Reverend William Wood set out, on land he owned, this new street between the town centre and the wealthy suburb of St John’s. The wide street became the focus of many public buildings, providing better amenities for the Wakefield community. Over the years, there have been changes in use of many of the buildings, with, today, plans to develop the street into the future.