Young people are learning skills to protect and preserve an historic building in Wakefield.
The Westgate Unitarian Chapel needs urgent repairs and these are being funded as part of the £3.8m Wakefield’s Upper Westgate Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) project.
Part of the work at the chapel involves working with Yorkshire Lime Company, a specialist building contractor, that is teaching students from the building department at Wakefield College, about traditional methods for restoration.
There is a national shortage of skilled workers to work on heritage led projects, and it is hoped the scheme will encourage some students to consider a future career in conserving buildings.
The project is part of the £3.8m HAZ restoration initiative; a collaboration between Wakefield Council and Historic England that offers grants to owners of historic buildings along the street to repair and revitalise their buildings. Work has started on a number of buildings and the scheme has seen improvements made to four of the historic yards leading off Westgate.
Westgate Unitarian Chapel is one of only two grade II* listed buildings in the conservation area with the current chapel built in 1752. The catacombs of the Chapel are the burial place for influential historical figures such as industrialists, innovators, members of Parliament and political radicals.
Cllr Darren Byford, cabinet member for regeneration at Wakefield Council, said: “This is a wonderful project that is restoring this important building, and it’s great to see enthusiastic young people getting hands-on experience, and learning vital repair skills.
“These skills are essential so that buildings in our district can be preserved for the future, and this is one of the reasons why the HAZ programme is so important not just now, but so that generations to come can enjoy our history and heritage.”
Students are learning about working with heritage bricks, the use of specialist mortar, and about the difference of working at ground level and under-ground in the catacombs.
Sarah Cobham, committee member of Westgate Unitarian Chapel, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be offering this opportunity to local people so that they can become upskilled and help restore our chapel at the same time. Being part of the HAZ project is very important to us and we are proud to be enabling such important skills to be gained.”
Nicky Brown, from Historic England, said: “This is a fantastic initiative which is helping to restore a key historic landmark while enabling young people to develop new skills at the same time.
“Our historic environment plays an important role in creating our sense of pride in where we live and where we are from. This scheme is a great example of the innovative way that the High Street Heritage Action Zone is helping to revitalize the town, celebrating its rich history and making it more attractive to residents, businesses, tourists and investors.”
Jonathan Inglesfield, a construction lecturer from Wakefield College, said: “I think this is an excellent opportunity for the next generation of trades persons entering the construction industry; to learn how to look after our heritage buildings stock.
“The students are working closely with heritage experts who are devoting time, personal skill set and experience to support the understanding of our future workforce.
“This type of project is imperative to the country as these skills and the knowledge that are required is fading asset we are losing. This imparts further importance on projects of this nature to hopefully begin to encourage more of our workforce to up skill and look after the country’s heritage.”
