Some 500 years ago Christopher Columbus at last raised the necessary sponsorship and in 1492, as every schoolchild knows, began his epic voyage across the Atlantic. At just about the same time in a little valley in the north of England there was a group of men busily cutting down trees for the construction of a farm building. It has absolutely no relevance to their adventure but, though the Santa Maria, the Nina and the Pinta certainly required far more timber than the farm building, in our own Beeston, Stank Barn remains; Columbus's ships can only be seen in replica.
Until 1985 Stank Barn was thought to be the oldest complete building in Beeston (though there are a few Norman stones in the fabric of our parish church of St Mary.) However, lurking a few yards outside Beeston parish boundary but within its manorial territory was another piece of our heritage awaiting rediscovery at Cad Beeston.
Clothed in brickwork and appearing for all the world like a typical ramshackle Victorian terrace row, this building faced demolition and might so easily have been lost to us had not its ancient beams been recognised for what they were, the timber frame of a fifteenth century manor house; and it is older by some seventy years than eve Stank Barn.
Not everyone knew of the existence of Stank Barn before its superb refurbishment (in fact, even now I meet Beeston fold who ask me of its whereabouts); and no one at all had the slightest inkling of knowledge about Cad Beeston Manor House. It might just have vanished from the face of the earth.
These two buildings are visible remains of our Beeston heritage; one being virtually re-discovered when recognition of its importance as a tangible historical document in wood and stone brought a halt to decay and made essential restoration a priority; the other being re-discovered in the full sense of the word to survive the threat of complete destruction and regain its former glory.
Yet a community's heritage is much more than its old buildings. Memories and the written word are very much a part of history.
Parish records are usually available for study and this is something that can be undertaken on the amateur level by anyone with interest, enthusiasm and time to spare. One of our members has delved into the Beeston Parish Register to good effect. The Leeds Reference and Local History Library can also provide resources for those who wish to follow a line of research.
Such records sit quietly filed and forgotten until someone takes the trouble to seek them out. Memories are more ephemeral. There is need for people's stories to be set down while they are still fresh, for memories passed from mouth to mouth become modified and fade/ Indeed they can be forgotten within the lifetimes of those whose memories they are because if no one takes the trouble to seek them out they remain the property of a small and unfortunately diminishing band of folk. Memories, just as much as ancient manor houses, need to be re-discovered or they may be lost forever.
The Beeston Local History Society is not a lone operator. It is just one of a large body of similar groups beavering away throughout the land in search of their roots. But members have maintained their efforts in a practical way here in Beeston for nearly ten years now and hope to continue into the foreseeable future. These pages are the latest fruit of their activities.
The book may hopefully provide an interesting read but, like its three predecessors, it also helps to preserve a resource that is so easily lost. We will be satisfied if you take as much pleasure in rediscovering this selection of your local heritage as we have had in bringing it to you.
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