A BEEHIVE shelter in Wilsden, featuring a carving made from salvaged stone of a landmark building, is being renovated as part of a village heritage project.
The beehive carving, made with stone salvaged from the old Co-op store, in Wilsden Beehive Shelter. Photo: Irene Lofthouse
Thanks to National Lottery funding of £26,793, Wilsden Parish Council’s Beehive Shelter Rejuvenation is underway. The shelter is unusual as it features a carved beehive from the Victorian Grade II-listed Wilsden Co-operative Store that was demolished in 1985.
The 1867 Co-op, pictured in 1913 with beehive carving at the top
The Co-operative Industrial Society adopted the beehive as an emblem to symbolise industry, co-operation and collective strength of the community. The Wilsden design is believed to be unique to the village.
Structural repairs will breathe new life into the historic shelter, linking past heritage with future users.
Cllr Peter Allison says: “We’re delighted to have received this funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The Beehive Shelter is a valued space in our village that provides a link with the former Co-operative store and represents a lived history for many residents.”
As well as re-establishing the shelter as a heritage landmark, the project is working with social historian and writer Irene Lofthouse to explore memories of Wilsden Co-operative Store - or Wilsden Industrial Society as it originally was.
Says Irene: “Local people will remember the pre-1985 store and building, which had its place on Main Street from 1893. Often stories and experiences of shopping are only shared with families or friends, as an everyday task isn’t seen as ‘heritage’. But it’s an integral part of a community and the Wilsden Co-op Store has a long history in the village.
A Wilsden Co-op procession pictured in 1906. Photo: A Pratt
"I’m sure many residents will have stories from visits as shoppers and workers, as children and adults, of stamps and the ‘Divi’. I’m looking forward to listening to and recording memories, so these can be available online.”
Irene will also be working with Wilsden Primary School to explore the history of the village Co-op Store from its early days to the present. “Using pictures, memorabilia and newspaper articles, pupils can learn how their families shopped at the Co-op in the past, and compare how it is today,” says Irene. “Children can respond through creating their own stories, drawings and poems.”
The old Wilsden Co-op closed in 1984. Photo: Peter Fawcett
The culmination of their responses, and memories of adults, will be collated into an anthology illustrated with drawings and pictures. Says Irene: “It is intended that the recordings, images and anthology will be available as an online archive. It’s a way to connect the past, present and future, capturing not only memories, but also the speech of both old and young in the village, and handwriting styles - things that will be very different in another 50 years.”
Work on the shelter is due to start in late October. For more information, or to share memories and pictures, email clerk@wilsdenparishcouncil.gov.uk or call 07384 713156.