Welcome to the new look website.
There are a couple of new pages to check out plus all the regular information
we had on the old site.
This
year is our 10th anniversary so please keep an eye on the EVENTS page
for all the exciting developments.
We
also now have an ARCHIVE page where you'll find photos and information
about our work over the years.
To see
a selection of images for the Fryston Open Day
and the Memory map please go to the EVENTS page.
THE
FRYSTON WALL

Castleford
Heritage Trust were able to commission the wall sculpture in Fryston
village by artist Harry Malkin as part of our involvement in the scheme
to reclaim the former Wheldale and Fryston pit sites. The reclamation
was originally funded by central government through English Partnerships
as part of the national scheme to regenerate former coalfields.
CHT was commissioned to be part of the reclamation scheme in order to
facilitate community involvement. We were funded to employ a community
ranger and to co-ordinate events and consultations with the local community.
When the improvement plans for Fryston village were discussed there
was a request from residents that the proposed supporting wall below
the railway bridge should be decorated. This wall was originally proposed
to be a large blank concrete wall in front of the houses on South View
and local people desired their view to be improved in some way.
Following his successful wall sculpture at Ford Square in Castleford
town centre, Harry was asked to do a design for Fryston. He was also
chosen because he was formally a miner at Fryston pit and knows the
village and villagers well. Residents and CHT members are delighted
with the chosen theme 'Fryston Above and Below Ground'. Harry's work
has been much admired by the wider community and people in Castleford
town centre as they have been able to watch him carve and construct
the sculpture in a shop in Carlton Lanes Shopping Centre.
Harry said 'it was hard work to put in the 20 x 8 feet wooden wall that
was to support the three tonnes of clay used in the walls but it was
a great pleasure to be able to use the shop unit in Carlton Lanes to
carve them. Once the walls were under way I would open the door regularly
to talk to the great number of passing people who were stopping to see
what was going on. Some were regulars from the village who would come
time and again to see the progress but many of them had never heard
of Fryston and had travelled many miles to shop in Castleford.'
We are looking forward to the official unveiling ceremony on 4th September
at 12 noon, all are welcome to join us at the event and afterwards at
a barbeque on the village green. We would especially like to see ex-villagers
and ex-miners from Fryston and Wheldale pits.
A GREAT
LOSS

It's with great sadnes that we report tne death of one of our most loyal
and supportive members Eric Crossland who passed away suddenly on 12th
May.
This is a great loss to the Trust and to the Castleford community, and
we will all miss him and would like to pay tribute to his work and achievements
for our town.
Eric was responsible for planning and ensuring the restoration of the
Old Market Clock for the millennium celebrations and at 75years old
he cycled to Filey to help raise the funds for this.
He was
founder member of the Castleford Heritage Trust and in 2009 he erected
information boards on the Roman Bath-house site.
Eric grew
up in Castleford where his parents had a shop and he worked as a skilled
welder at the glassworks at the Castleford Boatyard. He worshiped at
Trinity Methodist Church and was a member of the local Labour Party.
He will
be missed by children old and young as he was Santa Claus to most of
the schools and groups in the town and much loved for this role.
Eric was
also a member of the Male Voice Choir for nearly sixty years and the
Choir will be singing a special tribute concert at Lock Lane Centre
on 26th June at 6.30p.m. when a free buffet supper will be served
by Wendy Rayner and her team.