Kids keeping Thornhill Lees’ history alive

Pupils from Thornhill Junior and Infant School and Headfield Junior School performed for almost 200 people at the launch event for a new book about Thornhill Lees and its industrial history.

The book – Transforming Thornhill Lees – began life as an exhibition put together by a group of interested individuals with the support of Kirklees Council’s Community Heritage Team.

They then went into schools with the end product – which inspired children to find out more about their family histories.

The book tells the story of a once rural village being transformed by industry.

Pupils performed some of their own stories alongside from the book at Thornhill Lees Community Centre on Saturday in front of an audience which included the Mayor of Kirklees, Coun Martyn Bolt.

Community Heritage manager Kim Strickson said a group of international students learned about the project on a visit to Headfield School.

“They were really blown away by the children’s performances and the book,” she said.

Mrs Strickson said it was important young people learned about the history of their community.

“It’s really nice to share this with the younger generation as much of the history is just not there anymore” she added.

“We wanted to get the message across that the children will be making history of their own with their families.”

Cabinet member for communities Coun Jean Calvert said: “Young people can learn a lot from getting to know the people who live in the same area and listening to their stories and learning from the past. “This sounds like it has been a fascinating project for both the schools and the book group and both will have benefited from it.”

The book, priced £10, is available to buy from Dewsbury Museum, Dewsbury Library, Thornhill Lees Library, the Dewsbury Reporter office and Kirklees Document Solutions.