Experts teach young people skills as part of Wakefield chapel restoration programme

The Westgate Unitarian Chapel needs urgent repairs that is 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 The 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.

Coun 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.”

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.

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.

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.”

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.

Work has also started on a number of buildings and the scheme has seen improvements made to four of the historic yards leading off Westgate.