The Town Council has had planning permission approved to sympathetically repair and restore both chapels.
The chapels are situated at the entrance to the cemetery and were built in the 19th century. Both chapels are in need of full repair, restoration and re-purposing.
Currently the North chapel is used primarily for storage and we plan to use this chapel as a classroom and a visitor centre. We held an initial consultation event in the North chapel on the 12 August where we displayed the architects plans and asked for ideas of how we could use the space. The North chapel will also serve as an emergency coffin place of rest should the Sexton require this.
The South chapel, which is currently used as storage and a basic office / mess room for the cemetery team to operate from. This chapel is in need of reorganising to make better use of the space.
North & South Chapel plans
The Town Council has had an original half Miner’s wheel refurbished and sited as a memorial to the Selby Coalfield at the Community Woodland in Bondgate.
For generations to come the wheel will stand as a permanent memorial to those who worked in what was once the deepest and largest coalfield in Europe. The two memorial benches sited close by will provide a place for reflection and recollection of loved ones no longer with us.
An opening ceremony was held on Saturday 29 April 2023.
The Mining Memorial Volunteers have raised funds to have a Memorial Wall built to the rear of the wheel and an opening ceremony was held on Friday 4 September 2024. Members of the public will be able to purchase a brick on the wall to have their loved ones names “engraved” on. Details to follow.