Exploring and celebrating the cricketing heritage of Kirklees and Calderdale is the aim of a Heritage Lottery Fund project
Cricket is a fundamental part of the local cultural tradition. Yet often, the heritage of grounds, and the societies that shape them, is neglected. Clubs in Calderdale/Kirklees act as a focal-point for community life.

It is not just that local men play for senior sides, but children turn out for junior sides, women often help on the social side, and many elderly people take on administrative roles. There is also high ethnic-minority involvement.

This Project received a £43,400 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, and also received an in-kind contribution of £7,000 from the University of Huddersfield. The Project aims to explore and celebrate the cricketing heritage of Kirklees and Calderdale, focusing in particular on the 100+ local league cricket clubs and grounds in the Kirklees-Calderdale area.

The Project is being managed by the Division of History, University of Huddersfield in Association with The Trinity Insurance Halifax Cricket League, The Drakes Huddersfield Cricket League AND Halifax Public Library, Huddersfield Public Library and West Yorkshire Archives.

The Project is about cricket, community and the local heritage. Cricket is a fundamental part of the local cultural tradition. Yet often, the heritage of grounds, and the societies that shape them, is neglected. Clubs in Calderdale/Kirklees act as a focal-point for community life: It is not just that local men play for senior sides, but children turn out for junior sides, women often help on the social side, and many elderly people take on administrative roles. There is also high ethnic-minority involvement. In giving a voice to local cricket people via oral history, and interpreting local heritage through information leaflets, we will explore the relationship between cricket and society. Furthermore, the Project 'outcomes' will remain rooted in the clubs and their communities.