CASTLEFORD 2026 - 100 YEARS OF CHANGE AND CHARACTER - AND THE NEXT 100 YEARS?
2026 is a fantastic centenary year for Castleford. Here I list how our town has changed while keeping its character over the last 100 years. This year "Talking Cas' and 'Talk Castleford with Tony' will discuss these events and, just as important, looking forward to the next years, the next century even. Tell me what you think. What memories of the town do you have and how do you hope the town will be like in the future.
Tony
CASTLEFORD 1926 TO 2025
This is not a comprehensive chronology. It does, however, lists important events for discussion. It starts 100 years ago but there are important events like the First World War including the Barnbow incidents that happened before then.
1926 The General Strike
Workers, especially miners and their families in Castleford experience hardship, lowered income. A bitterness toward the establishment is established. Workers switch their allegiance from the Liberal Party to the relatively new Labour Party.
1927 Pride in Castleford through Rugby League
Established in the previous year, Castleford Tigers becomes a shared community focus in troubled times. Something the Rugby League club has grown over the 100 years. It is now a key identity of the town.
1929 Economic woes continue
The famous Wall Street Crash has a detrimental on economies throughout the world, including Castleford.
1930 Explosion at Hickson's Chemical Plant
1931 The poor become poorer
The worsening economic situation brings in means testing resulting in more hardship, especially for out of work miners’ families.
1935 Castleford Tigers win the Challenge Cup
The win brings a ray of happiness in the time of economic woes and fear of a new World War on the horizon. The score was Castleford 11 Huddersfield 8.
1939 Second World War
The was lasted until 1945. Castleford life was transformed by the war effort. Men enlisting, women in war work, rationing, black outs and air raids.
1945 A Fresh Start for the Nation
At the end of the war, a Labour government is elected. Industries, such as coal mining, are nationalized. The priority is to tackle the acute shortage of housing, including the use of prefabs.
1947 The Big Freeze
A harsh winter affects the town.
1948 Optimism Grows.
The NHS and the welfare state are created. Employment steadily grows.
1951 “You’ve Never Had it so Good”
A healthier environment, increase in consumer goods and educational opportunities for the young.
1955 Castleford Achieves Borough Status
The foundation of the town as a community unit. Council housing expands, creating estates such as Airedale and Ferry Fryston, Car ownership increases and teenage culture comes into being.
1962 Another Freeze
Another freezing winter. Social barriers weaken.
1966 England wins the World Cup
Pride in the nation increases. Comprehensive education begins to replace the Grammar School / Secondary Modern split.
1968 Closure of Whitwood Colliery
1970 Economic downturn
First unemployment then inflation rises.
1973 Oil crisis
Three day work, miners’ disputes.
1974 Castleford incorporated into Wakefield District
1978 ‘Winter of Discontent’
1979 Thatcher in Government
The new Conservative government brings in changes that radically affect industrial town like Caslteford. Many traditional industries close and many nationalised industries are privatised.
1984 Miners’ Strike
The strike ends the following year, quickly followed by Castleford’s mines closing. The economy switches for manufacturing to services.
1994 National Lottery starts
The lottery has brought some funding to projects in Castleford
2000 A new millennium
The millennium clock, a replica of the old market clock, is unveiled on Carlton Street. The digital age starts.
2003 Xscape opens
A leading attraction in the region. The Glasshoughton area expands with Junction 32 shopping (formerly Freeport Castleford) a new Asda store and warehousing, mostly on the site of the former Glasshoughton Coal Mine and Coke Ovens. The railway station opens in 2005.
2011 Social Media starts to grow
For some, it’s hard to imagine, but social media is a fairly new phenomenon. Facebook sites like ‘Castleford Gossip’ weren’t around then. Most gossip was in pubs and clubs and at work.
2013 Castleford’s new library and museum opens
2016 Castleford and the country votes for Brexit
The country leaves the European Union.
2019 Caring for the Environment is taken seriously
People realise that climate change is a man made threat that needs tackling.
2020 Covid outbreak
Lockdowns and isolation have a serious affect on people, with many still affected in some form to this day.
2025 A hundred years later
Castleford’s story over the last 100 years has been one of a town that keeps together despite strong external pressures. What will the next 100 years bring?
Text- Copyright (c) Tony Wallis 2026
Images generated through prompts on Chat GPT 5.2 and Gemini
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