Car Boot Sale, September 15th 2024
The Friends of CHaT Parks will be holding their final car boot sale of 2024 on Sunday September 15th. Sellers can arrive from 7 am to 12 noon, with buyers from 8am. The cost per vehicle is £10 car; £2 for a trailer and £15 for a van. Entry point is off the Denby Dale Road (on the same side as the Bandstand – banners and stewards will be on the roadside to assist) and the postcode is WF2 8DY. Exit onto Park Avenue. Items for sale should be second-hand. No knives or weapons.
See you there!
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Heritage Open Days Walk, September 7th 2024
On Saturday 7th September 2024, the Friends of CHaT Parks will be holding a guided walk around the Park explaining the history of the three parks that make up Wakefield Park as part of the national Heritage Open Days. This walk meets at the car park at the Thornes Park athletic stadium at 2.30pm and finishes about 4.00pm. No booking is required – please wear comfortable shoes for the walk. More details can be found on:
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Pay and Play in Thornes Park this summer
Don’t forget that the pay and play games in Thornes Park are open every day in the school holidays, from about 10.30am to 5pm.There’s tennis, pitch and putt, putting and bowls to choose from, so come along and have a go!
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On this day – 2nd August 1924
On this day – the 2nd of August 1924 – Thornes Park was opened by the Mayor, Alderman John Tennant, completing the trio of parks in Wakefield.
James Milnes, a Wakefield cloth merchant, bought land at Thornes in 1778 and in the subsequent year work began on Thornes House. The house was designed by John Carr and built in 1779-8. It seems probable that emparkment took place alongside the construction of the house, encompassing the area subsequently known as Thornes Park and covering over 100 acres. The areas to the east, which would later form the core of the current park area, were then farmland. In 1920 the Wakefield Corporation acquired the entire Thornes estate, with 92 acres added to the public park in 1924, and the house itself with 20 acres became a grammar school. The original building was destroyed by fire in 1951 but was rebuilt and reopened in 1956.
[Source: photo of Thornes House by kind permission of Wakefield Libraries and Museums, www twixtaireandcalder.org.uk]
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Thornes Park Miniature Railway Open Day
Saturday 3rd August 2024 sees the return of Thornes Park Miniature Railway open day. This event invites lots of visiting engines from various clubs around the country. A huge variety of steam engines and even the odd steam car visit to run on the site.
Passenger hauling from roughly 10.30am right through to 5 or 6pm.
Rides £1 per person, cash or card payment accepted.
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Games Of Thornes open for the summer!
Games of Thornes are now open every day during the summer holidays! The ticket office by the tennis courts will be open from 10.30am to 5pm for bowls, pitch and putt, putting and tennis. Equipment can also be hired. So come on down to the park and enjoy playing different games and have some fun for all the family!
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Clarence Unleashed comes to the Park!
It’s only a few days now until the Clarence Unleashed festival in the Park. Wakefield Music Collective present the Clarence Park Festival on Saturday and Sunday, July 27th and 28th at the Bandstand in Clarence Park, Denby Dale Road, Wakefield from 12 noon to 9pm each day.
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Tennis coaching for adults in Thornes Park
Wakefield School of Tennis are offering a fantastic opportunity for adults to play tennis with qualified coaches at Thornes Park. On Tuesdays there’s a ladies only class and on Tuesdays and Saturday there is a mixed session.. The link below shows all session days and times:
Adult coaching in Thornes Park
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The opening of Holmfield Park, 1919
On this day – July 19 1919, Holmfield Park was opened.
Holmfield House was built in 1833 by Thomas Foljambe, a Wakefield lawyer who had been acquiring land at Thornes. In 1863 the house and land were sold to Major Joseph Barker, worsted manufacturer, who enlarged the house in the 1870s with a stable block, entrance lodge, boundary wall, carriage drive and an avenue of chestnut trees. After Major Barker’s death in 1892 the house was first let and then sold to Alderman W.H. Kingswell, who like Major Barker had been one of the original Park Trustees. In 1918 Wakefield Corporation purchased the house and the surrounding 14 acres and on July 19th 1919 – national Peace Day marking the conclusion of the First World War – Holmfield Park was dedicated by the Mayor, Councillor George Blakey.
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Tennis Day Camps in Thornes Park
Summer holidays are coming soon and here’s a fantastic tennis day camp for children 5-13 years in Thornes Park. Wakefield School of Tennis will be holding three day camps (morning or afternoon attendance) for only £2 for the day – yes, £2! This Summer, the holiday Tennis Camp sessions run midweek. All sessions have key elements of Tennis coaching with multi sport elements added.
Children will need to bring a drink and please remember that the Thornes Park courts have very little shelter, so make sure they have plenty of sun (& rain ) protection. The days on offer are: Tuesday 6th August 10am – 1pm; Monday 19th August 10am – 1pm and Tuesday 26th August 12-3pm.
To secure your child’s space and for more information follow this link:
https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/ThornesPark/Coaching/Camps
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The opening of Clarence Park 1893
On this day – July 6th 1893 – Clarence Park opened. The Duke of Clarence had planted a white horse chestnut tree on the site of the proposed park and sycamores, chestnut and oak trees were planted, with a double row of 108 chestnuts lining the carriage drive in the park. Other features included a bandstand on Lowe Hill presented by Colonel Milnes-Gaskell planted round with three dozen oak trees and wrought iron gates at the entrance on Denby Dale Road provided by Lady Caroline Milnes-Gaskell. A decorative drinking fountain was erected in 1893 in the park as a memorial to Major Joseph Barker by the workforce of his worsted mill at Thornes Wharf.
A colour postcard depicting a scene from Wakefield Park in 1904. The drinking fountain can be seen in the foreground. It was erected in 1893, probably when Clarence Park was opened on the 6th July in memory of Major Barker of Holmfield House by the employees of his worsted mill at Thornes Wharf.
[Source: by kind permission of Wakefield Libraries and Museums, www twixtaireandcalder.org.uk]
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Classic Vehicle Gathering July 5th 2024
The Classic Vehicle Gathering 2024 on the 5th July was a great success, thanks to the hard work of the Fleur de Lys Society and the Friends of CHaT Parks. Wonderful vehicles, good weather and the enthusiasm and knowledge of all the entries made it a great family event. Thank you to Drone Yorkshire for this wonderful photo of the event.
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Wakefield School of Tennis courses
The start of Wimbledon sees the launch of the growing coaching sessions here at Thornes park, for both junior and adult players. Thornes park coaching program in partnership with Wakefield School of Tennis. While the weather is good, why not dust off that racket and get on court.
Junior courses:
https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/ThornesPark/Coaching/Junior
Adult courses:
https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/ThornesPark/Coaching/Adult
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Clarence Unleashed – the Clarence Park Music Festival lineup
The lineup of the annual Clarence Music Festival has been announced by Wakefield Music Collective. Taking place at the Bandstand in Clarence Park on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th July. It’s going to be a great weekend of live music.
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Summer Solstice, Saturday 22nd June 2024
Wakefield Music Collective presents the free Summer Solstice event at the Bandstand in Clarence Park from 2.00 to-6.30pm on Saturday 22nd June. Sally Cinnamon, The 189ers, Jilly Riley & Stu Fletcher, Zarina and Mental Block will be live in the park to celebrate the Summer Solstice so come and enjoy!
Car Boot Sale, Sunday 23rd June 2024
Our next car boot sale for the Friends of CHaT Parks will be on Sunday June 23rd. Sellers can arrive from 7 am to 12 noon, with buyers from 8am. The cost per vehicle is £10 car; £2 for a trailer and £15 for a van. Entry point is off the Denby Dale Road (on the same side as the Bandstand – banners and stewards will be on the roadside to assist) and the postcode is WF2 8DY. . Exit onto Park Avenue. Items for sale should be second-hand. No knives or weapons. See you there!
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Race for Life 15th June 2024
On Saturday 15th June Thornes Park will be busy with the Cancer Research UK Race for Life. The 10k race starts at 9.30am and the 5k and 3k races at 11am. The postcode for the event site is Horbury Road,WF2 8TY. The starting point is on the playing field by the children’s playground. Then there are some two Pretty Muddy events – the Pretty Muddy Kids at 12.45 and the Pretty Muddy 5k at 13.30. Entries for these events can still be made at:
Tennis courses in Thornes Park news
The Friends of Chat Tennis program is growing with the addition of an adult session through Saturdays. This will be starting on 2nd July from 11:30-12:30 and can be booked in on a per session basis. Here’s the link.
https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/ThornesPark/Coaching/Summary/9dc1dac8-c8cd-4d5c-abbc-48eb0bc0f0f1
Wakefield School of Tennis will be running new junior and adult tennis classes in Thornes Park. Fully qualified coaches will guide players and all the equipment is provided. These classes are such a great way for both adults and children to learn about how to play tennis in a friendly and relaxed way and make friends along the way.
The Wakefield School of Tennis are holding junior and adult sessions at the tennis courts in Thornes Park on Saturdays. Here are the links to book on:
Juniors 1.45-2.30pm FREE
https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/ThornesPark/Coaching/Summary/81e69efb-afc5-458b-bece-c5729fe3ba0e
And Adults 2.30-3.30pm:
https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/ThornesPark/Coaching/Summary/a4ca8ead-dc01-4825-8fde-7021485b4713
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Brass Band in the Park
Wakefield Music Collective presented the second brass band concert of 2024 at the Bandstand in Clarence Park this Sunday afternoon – 2nd June, sponsored by the Friends of CHaT Parks . The James Farrell Concert Band performed from 2-4pm on a lovely sunny afternoon.
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Car Boot Sale May 19th 2024
The first car boot sale for 2024 for the Friends of CHaT Parks was on Sunday May 19th.
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May Day Bank Holiday Weekend 2024
The 2024 May Day Bank Holiday weekend was as busy as usual.
On Saturday the morning parkrun was cancelled and returned Saturday May 11th. The Thornes Park easy ride organised by the Wakefield District Cycling Forum met at the Stork Lodge cafe by the duck pond at 10.30am, with an easy going paced ride suitable for beginners. The Games of Thornes opened from 10.30-5pm at the ticket office for booking golf, bowls and putting, also with equipment hire. At 1.45pm Wakefield School of Tennis held their weekly junior coaching at the tennis courts in Thornes Park. (This is a free event for children and a great introduction to tennis with qualified coaches.) They will also hold adult coaching from 2.30-3.30pm for £3.50.
On Sunday the junior parkrun celebrated their 6th birthday at their 9am run. The Games of Thornes opened at 10.30am for golf, putting and bowls. At about 1.30pm the Wakefield Miniature Railway was running by the children’s playground.
On Monday 4th May , the May Day Gala was held in the Clarence Park arena from 10am to 5pm, with a family funfair, rides and attractions. Games of Thornes also opened from 10.30am to 5pm.
This website is operated and maintained by the Friends of CHaT Parks.
Please explore and find out more about this wonderful resource in the heart of Wakefield.
The Friends of CHaT Parks are a very active group who would love you to join them.
