MEMORIES OF PARK WOOD
We've been collecting people's memories of Park Wood, click on a name below to read their memories ...
History of Park Wood
Considering that Park Wood has been around for a very long time, possibly from when Britain was covered in forests, we know very little of its history.
Parts of the wood are officially designated as Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland (ASNW) and Plantation on Ancient Woodland Site (PAWS). This means that parts of the woodland have been around for a very long time and have developed on largely undisturbed soil, making it a vital part of our heritage and the main driver behind the future management of the woodland.
Other parts have been planted with Fagus Sylvatica (Beech), and areas have been used in the past for quarrying, mining, agriculture and as allotments. This is apparent from old maps of the area.
We know that in recent times the main cobbled path from Kendal Street up to Thwaites Brow had gas and then electric lights; we don’t know when they were put in or taken down. A nature trail with points of interest was created in 1979, and some of the way markers are still visible but overgrown.
We have little documentary evidence of how the area now covered in woodland has been used in the last few hundred years and we would be very interested in any information or leads that anyone can provide to help us improve our historical records and knowledge of the site. Any personal memories of the woodland would also be great.
Parts of the wood are officially designated as Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland (ASNW) and Plantation on Ancient Woodland Site (PAWS). This means that parts of the woodland have been around for a very long time and have developed on largely undisturbed soil, making it a vital part of our heritage and the main driver behind the future management of the woodland.
Other parts have been planted with Fagus Sylvatica (Beech), and areas have been used in the past for quarrying, mining, agriculture and as allotments. This is apparent from old maps of the area.
We know that in recent times the main cobbled path from Kendal Street up to Thwaites Brow had gas and then electric lights; we don’t know when they were put in or taken down. A nature trail with points of interest was created in 1979, and some of the way markers are still visible but overgrown.
We have little documentary evidence of how the area now covered in woodland has been used in the last few hundred years and we would be very interested in any information or leads that anyone can provide to help us improve our historical records and knowledge of the site. Any personal memories of the woodland would also be great.
WOODLAND HERITAGE
Chris Atkinson from Pennine Prospects included Park Wood in the Celebrating Our Woodland Heritage project, jointly funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Yorkshire Water, Newground Together and the Green Bank Trust, with support from the University of Bradford’s Department of Archaeological Sciences.
READ THE PARK WOOD ARCHAEOLOGY REPORT HERE >>
This three year project (2016-2019) seeks to enhance our understanding of the historical and archaeological development of woodlands across the South Pennines.Until recently woodlands across the region have received little historical attention. As a result landowners and the West Yorkshire and Lancashire Historic Environment Records are lacking important archaeological information that would otherwise support any proposed woodland management activities. This project serves to rectify this situation, whilst raising awareness and promoting the history and archaeology of woodlands to the public.
Through a series of archaeological surveys, workshops, excavations and Forest Schools; individuals, societies, pupils and families have been learning archaeological skills whilst contributing towards the regions understanding and appreciation of woodlands.
The results of the investigations will be compiled into a series of publicly accessible reports and publications as well as a community and academic conference. A series of heritage trails within woodlands across the region (including Park Wood, Towneley, Hardcastle Crags and Healey Dell, Rochdale) will also be launched so walkers and families can explore the history of woodlands for themselves.
See the info on findings about Park Wood, Keighley:
READ THE PARK WOOD ARCHAEOLOGY REPORT HERE >>
This three year project (2016-2019) seeks to enhance our understanding of the historical and archaeological development of woodlands across the South Pennines.Until recently woodlands across the region have received little historical attention. As a result landowners and the West Yorkshire and Lancashire Historic Environment Records are lacking important archaeological information that would otherwise support any proposed woodland management activities. This project serves to rectify this situation, whilst raising awareness and promoting the history and archaeology of woodlands to the public.
Through a series of archaeological surveys, workshops, excavations and Forest Schools; individuals, societies, pupils and families have been learning archaeological skills whilst contributing towards the regions understanding and appreciation of woodlands.
The results of the investigations will be compiled into a series of publicly accessible reports and publications as well as a community and academic conference. A series of heritage trails within woodlands across the region (including Park Wood, Towneley, Hardcastle Crags and Healey Dell, Rochdale) will also be launched so walkers and families can explore the history of woodlands for themselves.
See the info on findings about Park Wood, Keighley:
PARK WOOD COMMUNITY ARCHIVE
Do you have any stories, memories or pictures about Park Wood? We plan to document how Park Wood has been used over the years and what has changed in recent times.
We would be interested to hear from anyone with their personal memories such as playing in the woods or sledging as a child or of the gas lamps that once lit the cobbled path. Old photos showing identifiable parts of the wood would be great too, together with any commonly-used names to identify particular landmarks in the woodland. If you have any information or stories you'd like to share, we'd love to hear from you! Contact us at [email protected]
See the News Page for the stories we've received so far >>
