Oral Histories Normanton

Since late 2025, Age UK Wakefield District has been collecting stories and treasured memories from residents in Normanton, Altofts and the surrounding areas as part of Our Stories, an oral histories project celebrating working‑class voices from across Wakefield and the Five Towns.

Through recorded conversations, alongside artwork and photographs from years gone by, these stories bring to life memories of childhood games, family and community life, and working lives shaped by industries that are now part of our shared past.

The recordings were showcased at an exhibition held at Normanton Library in March 2026, where visitors could hear people speaking in their own words and see images reflecting life in the district across generations.

On this webpage, you’ll find links to the audio recordings, allowing you to listen to these stories for yourself, as well as photographs from the exhibition launch day.

Age UK Wakefield District would like to thank all participants who contributed their time and personal stories to this project, including members from Normanton Library Coffee Morning, Knit and Natter and Ancestry Group, as well as the Thornycroft centre in Pontefract. Your generosity in sharing your memories and experiences has made this exhibition possible. Our thanks also go to Wakefield Libraries and Museums and the Heritage Lottery Fund for making this project possible.

If you'd like to listen to the wonderful stories we collected, visit our Youtube channel Age UK Wakefield District Youtube

• Childhood Memories
• Community & Family Life
• Miners Stories
• Recreation
• School Memories
• Transport & Communication
• Working Life