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The Town of Culture title is something that has caused a good deal of speculation about which towns are and aren’t strong enough to compete. With places such as Whitby entering (albeit in a different category), with its wealth of history and international fame for being Dracula's landing port of choice, it may seem towns must already have a strong backbone of fame to enter at all, and that smaller, lesser known places, such as Pocklington, a market town at the foot of the Yorkshire Wolds, may be vastly overshadowed. In fact, it may seem like they don’t stand a chance.
The fame of places like Berwick-Upon-Tweed, a richly historical town entering in the same category as Pocklington, give them an advantage, and areas such as Helmsley may have the upper hand with their castles, but Pocklington is a surprisingly significant town for how little known it is.
Situated in the Wolds and surrounded by fields, there is a strong feeling of agricultural unity in this small town, as well as countless links back to the town’s farming past.
The annual ‘Flying Man Festival’ is unique in many ways, with the story of the Flying Man himself - Thomas Pelling - being known to even the youngest schoolchildren of the town, and the architecture is similar to the nearby - and very famous - York, for its higgledy-piggledy mixture of modern and archaic.
The Arts Centre is known for hosting comedians, musicians and performances, and, of course, there is a wealth of historical depth in Pocklington, from the Iron Age to William Wilberforce to foundlings.
In a previous article I have already discussed some of Pocklington’s astounding historical links, with the assistance of Dr Melanie Giles of Manchester University. For the Iron Age finds in England, Pocklington is uniquely significant. From charioteers to torsos under primary schools, the discoveries in the area have been plentiful, including a beautiful shield, brooches and other artefacts that speak of the town’s artisanal history. The Iron Age people of Eastern Yorkshire were primarily artists, not warriors, and Pocklington has gone a long way to proving that.
Much later on, Pocklington was potentially the site of the last witch burning in England with the death of Old Wife Green, and a series of vengeful witch killings around the time form a stark contrast to the more peaceful Iron Age settlers.
Pocklington was also the base for William Wilberforce’s education at Pocklington School, and, of course, the Flying Man, Thomas Pelling, who fell from the church while performing in the town, and was famously buried where he fell.
There are also a handful of smaller, although no less important, stories, such as that of Ann Fordyce, a foundling from Ackworth Hospital who made her home and life in Pocklington, and was buried in the cemetery.
Pocklington is also the site of the annual Rugby Sevens match on Good Friday, which people from across the country flock to to watch, and which teams from across Yorkshire and beyond travel to compete in.
I've already mentioned the Arts Centre, an award winning venue for culture and the arts, which plays host to everything from well-established comedians to smaller theatre groups, sometimes even ones run by the children in the area, and hosts art exhibitions of the students at the local school. The Arts Centre provides a community space, and often hosts classes for art, exercise, or school groups.
The Feathers is also a building of note, a well-known, well-beloved inn that dates back to at least the Elizabethan era, and said to be haunted by the ghost of a young woman named Charlotte.
Pocklington is also significant for its beautiful Burnby Gardens, with its beautiful tulips and museum, which often hosts bands or events throughout the year. Burnby Gardens held an event to mark the diamond jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, where local schoolchildren built gardens on small plots of land, allowing the whole community to be involved in the celebration in an innovative, creative and educational way.
The Church of All Saints in Pocklington is thought to date back to the Anglo Saxon era, with fragments of Norman architecture remaining, although it mostly dates from around the 12th to 15th centuries. Outside is a monument to St Paulinus, commemorating a visit around the time the original church was built in AD627.
The mechanism of the church clock is interesting in that it is almost totally unique, using a single train to strike the hours and quarter hours, with only one other clock like it (in Keswick, Cumbria). While the majority of the features of the church, such as the stained glass and the carving of the Good Samaritan, date back to the late 19th century, it is still a fantastic microcosm of the town’s rich and exciting history, and illustrates the number of people and sheer significance of Pocklington in an understanding of history in the North.
The Mayor of Pocklington, Roly Cronshaw, has detailed the events that will be running in order to support the Town of Culture bid, saying that it “...is about people. We want to connect generations, support those who may feel isolated, and create shared experiences for families and neighbours. By bringing our community together through culture, we can build lasting relationships and a stronger, more inclusive Pocklington.”
Pocklington is a town with a strong community feel already, so these goals are only going to bring the town closer, and the culture within this part of East Yorkshire is incredibly strong - only when moving away did I realise how niche and unique a lot of it is, from the annual festivities to the superstitions and ghost stories.
Despite its comparative obscurity, Pocklington is a town with a good fighting spirit - as showcased by the recent victory at the Rugby Sevens - a vibrant community, a thriving culture, and a rich, detailed past - all of which must be vital ingredients for a Town of Culture?
Header Image: The runway of former WW2 Bomber Command base RAF Pocklington
