As well as adding occasional articles to this website, I also write articles for the Yorkshire and Humber Association of Civic Societies’ quarterly newsletter Society Insight and sometimes contribute to the newsletters/websites of other organisations.
From 2013 to 2020, I wrote restaurant reviews and other articles for TopicUK business-to-business magazine, even featuring on the cover of the March 2017 edition!
June 2017 saw the publication of my book on the history of Wood Street in Wakefield.
The book was written for Wakefield Civic Society as part of the Heart of Wakefield Project. Made possible by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund – the project was delivered in partnership with Wakefield Council, Wakefield Historical Society and Leeds Beckett University with support from Faceless Arts and One to One Development Trust and was set up to research the history of the street.
The book looks at the history and architecture of the street and its buildings which include two town halls, three police stations and the County Hall! It also reveals how Wood Street acquired its name.
In June 2019, my second book for Wakefield Civic Society was published. The book, Wakefield: City of Sculpture and Public Art, sets out a walking trail around the city centre pointing out the decorative embellishments to be found on buildings, sculptures and monuments that can be found just through strolling casually around Wakefield. With an expanded text, new photographs and a larger format, this book is an updating of the original work published in 2011.
Published in March 2022, my third book for Wakefield Civic Society, Westgate Wakefield, tells the story of one of Wakefield’s most important (and ancient) streets. Produced for the Westgate Historic High Street Heritage Action Zone, with funding from Historic England and Wakefield Council, the book includes a building-by-building tour of the Upper Westgate area of the city centre.
All three of these books can purchased from Wakefield Civic Society by post via the Society’s on-line shop: https://wakefield-civic-society.square.site/
Each book has a cover price of £3.50 per copy plus £1.50 towards the cost of p&p/delivery to a UK address with all proceeds going to the Society.
With the late Kate Taylor, and on behalf of Wakefield Civic Society, I have also written two other guides to Wakefield, published by the Society.
These booklets can also be purchased from the Society via the on-line shop and cost £1 each plus 50p towards the cost of p&p/delivery to a UK address.