About Us
“Castleford Heritage Trust was established in 2000, and is a registered charity and a limited company which aims to promote the community's heritage and culture to build a strong, successful community. We use natural as well as cultural heritage as a vehicle for regeneration and improving educational opportunities. We have promoted access to the waterways, local woodland and other green spaces, developed educational opportunities and community involvement in natural and industrial heritage projects and celebrations.
We have initiated, promoted and delivered major regeneration projects in the town, particularly environmental and natural heritage projects, increasing community involvement. We have delivered projects in partnership with other organisations, including the Environment Agency, English Partnerships (now the Homes and Communities Agency), Yorkshire Forward, Arts Council England, Yorkshire, Groundwork Wakefield, The Canal and River Trust, and Wakefield Council. The Castleford Riverside Regeneration projects were successful in winning the 'Community' category in the BURA and Waterways Trust Regeneration Awards, and other prestigious awards.
More recently ...
In 2013 we completed our three year Fryston Woods Access and Improvement Project, funded by Natural England’s Access to Nature Scheme, through funding from the Big Lottery. We also received match funding from the Three Areas Project, through the Joint Public Health Unit (Wakefield District PCT & Wakefield Council). Through the project we employed a Woodland Access Ranger to work within the local community to encourage use of three sites: Fryston Wood, Well Wood and the Fryston Country Trails. We won a national award for our Partnership working on this project.
From 2008 to March 2013 we were based within Bridge Arts, a community and arts venue, and managed the day to day running of the centre, a community café and an arts activity programme. We managed the refurbishment of the building, which took place in 2009/10, and was funded by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust. The project ran until March 2013, and we purchased and moved into Queen’s Mill in April 2013.
Since becoming owners of Queen’s Mill, we have carried out major refurbishment works, become an established Community Anchor for the Wakefield District, welcomed new businesses to the site, re-established flour production, hosted community events and exhibitions, and welcomed thousands of people to the site. The development of the Mill is an on-going project, and we thank all the funders who have supported us so far:
- Coalfields Regeneration Trust
- EN:Able
- Homes and Communities Agency
- Locality
- Lloyds Bank
- People’s Postcode Lottery
- Power to Change
- Wakefield Council
- WREN
- Yorkshire Building Society
None of this work could have happened without our dedicated and ever-growing team of volunteers who contribute in so many ways to the running of the Trust and the Mill. Our wholehearted thanks go to everyone who has contributed.
More information about the Heritage Trust, Queen’s Mill, and about how you can get involved is available on this website. We hope you enjoy browsing the site, and find everything you need.”
Lorna Malkin, CEO, Castleford Heritage Trust