The Grange - Carleton Grange Trust

29/05/2026

BehindTheScenes@TheGrange

Some of the team recently attended a meeting organised by Creative Wakefield, where Arts Council England and The National Lottery Heritage Fund spoke about current funding opportunities.

The session offered clear information on the support available and how organisations can engage with it. There was also time to meet and speak with other creative businesses and independent practitioners working across Wakefield and District’s creative sector.

As The Grange continues to open it's doors to all and grow, we are developing both our own programme of creative work and our role as a foundation that can support others. Building relationships across the sector is an important part of that process.

The session was hosted by Creative Wakefield which exists to support the vibrant creative community.

For more information about Creative Wakefield: https://creativewakefield.net/about/

You can find The Grange listed in the directory here: https://creativewakefield.net/view-public-profile/?u=2311

26/05/2026

Walk Wheel Cycle Trust will be at The Grange next week to hear from local people about road safety around our schools.

If you live in the area or have children at The Rookeries, you are invited to join Ellen from 10–11:30am on Thursday 28th May in the Large Hall. No booking is required, you can drop in. Refreshments will be provided.

The Walk Wheel Cycle Trust are working with Wakefield Council to identify and address road safety concerns around school neighbourhoods across Wakefield, including making walking, wheeling and cycling safer around schools.

They have been working with pupils and staff at The Rookeries in Carleton and are now looking to hear from local residents and the wider community about their experience of the area.

For more information, visit: tinyurl.com/wakefieldschools

26/05/2026

Spring is in full bloom, a time for new beginnings, opportunities for change, space to grow.

As life at The Grange is being nurtured, ingrained in the day to day is every person who comes into the building plays a vital role and is of equal importance.

If you would like to be part of the team, you can see our current vacancies here: https://www.carletongrange.co.uk/about/work-with-us/

22/05/2026

Film@theGrange

We are working with Neil Kemp to launch and bring to life one aspect of film at The Grange.

Communication.

Film and documentary is being embedded at The Grange, not only as communication but sitting alongside a public film programme, future institutional memory and civic film records.

As part of the renovation work, equipment is being installed and work is taking place internally to carve the way forward for film to become part of daily life at the Grange.

Neil’s specialism includes powerful storytelling underpinned with strong belief film should move people, not just fill space. Neil has over a decade of experience in film as well as a background in music and has been an integral part of these two industries locally in Pontefract as well as internationally.

For more information about film at The Grange, you can subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/

To find out more information about Neil’s work, you can visit www.instantkarmafilms.co.uk

14/05/2026

Renovation@TheGrange

The Assembly Room, formerly known as the Small Ballroom, has been specified with Anaglypta “Egon” wallcovering in consultation with interior designer Sarah Reynolds as part of the ongoing restoration of the building’s public rooms.

Anaglypta was first developed in Britain in 1887 and became widely used across theatres, halls, hotels and civic interiors during the late Victorian and Arts and Crafts period. The “Egon” pattern itself has been available since 1897 and carries the restrained floral and geometric relief associated with that period.

The Assembly Room is being formed as a contemporary civic room for film screenings, photography presentation, talks, live music, listening events, civic ceremonies, discussions, smaller gatherings and everyday public use. The room is currently being equipped with new lighting, blackout drapery, projection, sound and presentation infrastructure as part of the wider restoration programme.

The intention has never been to create a themed heritage interior, but a contemporary and welcoming public room with architectural character.

The doors are open and all are welcome.

03/05/2026

This film brings into view some of what has been taking place inside the building.

The Grange has always been part of public life. What is changing is how it is used, and who it is open to.

The building is in use as work continues. Rooms are coming back into use, and the structure is being repaired and adapted.

Refurbishment is ongoing across the whole place.

This sets out where things are.

Work is continuing here and beyond, with links forming across the town, the district, and further with partners in culture, education, health, and public life.

More of the building will come into use over time.

This is moving forward.

A film by Neil Kemp (Instant Karma Films)

For more information about The Grange, visit: www.carletongrange.co.uk

The Grange: Made to work

30/04/2026

A defibrillator notice for The Grange.

The defibrillator at The Grange is temporarily unavailable from today until Monday at midday due to essential works within the building.

Public access will resume immediately after this point.

In an emergency, always call 999. The operator will identify the nearest working defibrillator and guide you through its use.

The Grange remains open and in use. The unit will be returned to its usual position as soon as possible.

For further information about The Grange:
https://www.carletongrange.co.uk/

29/04/2026

We are working with Sarah Reynolds across the social rooms and within the large hall as they becomes multi-functional spaces for theatre or film, ceremonies or parties, meetings or exhibitions.

Sarah’s specialism includes the selection of period colours and finishes, and the velvet curtain system for acoustic use and day to day operation. Sarah is a professional in decorating historical properties, featuring in magazines such as ‘Period living’ and ‘Homes & Antiques.

We have also drawn on guidance from Emma Sharpe, Senior Conservation and Design Officer, within Wakefield Council.

The work is taking place while the building continues in use. These changes will be there in the building, in use, over time.

For more information about hire of The Grange, whether for family, professional, or community use, please see here:
https://www.carletongrange.co.uk/venue-hire/

For more information about Sarah, please see here: https://www.whiterabbitinteriordesign.co.uk/about/

22/04/2026

There’s been a local craftsman on site this week. His precision hints at the beginning of a story we’re only just starting to tell, although the story started way before we came along. And in the tale of the Grange, the man behind the camera is every bit as important as the people who appear before it, guiding its path as it grows into its civic purpose.

21/04/2026

Renovation@TheGrange
The carpets have gone and the floors revealed. Time has treated them kindly. They remain largely untouched, asking only for the lightest hand to restore their quiet elegance. Outside, spring is stirring, and the Grange is responding in its own unhurried way, emerging softly, like daffodils and tulips rising unnoticed through the dark earth before they are seen.