Goole 200th birthday celebrations announced

A programme of events has been announced to celebrate 200 years of Goole.

It includes art installations, street theatre, exhibitions, film screenings and community events.

Organisers said an "action-packed weekend of celebratory events" were being planned on 18 and 19 July with further details announced nearer the time.

The programme gets under way with an exhibition called Goole-Built: The Story of Goole Shipyard, which opens at Goole Museum on 10 January.

The town, as it is known today, was established after the Aire and Calder Navigation Company extended its canal from Leeds to Goole in the early 1820s so coal could be exported from the West Riding of Yorkshire to Europe.

In 1826, Goole was granted a port charter and, in the same year, the town's first street, Adam Street, was built.

Other bicentennial events planned for January include community art sessions to create a large wall-hanging artwork inspired by Goole's coat of arms, and Goole On Film, featuring the town from the 1920s through to the 1980s.

Highlights later in the year include the visit of Helios, a touring art installation featuring detailed imagery of the sun's surface, a bonfire night lantern parade and an exhibition entitled A History of Goole in 200 Objects.

Resident Vikki Storey said: "I think that it's a very exciting year. There are some really interesting things planned.

"I think we need it though because a long time ago people dubbed it sleepy hollow and I think people really jumped on this 200 years and are injecting life into the town. "

Helen Sanderson, 52, who has lived in Goole all her life, said: "We need to bring the community together. People are keeping to themselves at the minute and we need something to make us smile."

Abbie Bircumshaw, who works in a tattoo shop in Goole, said: "I think it's something that should be celebrated because sometimes I think it's really easy to get into a bit of a slump and forget about all the achievements a place has had as well.

"At times it can be very doom and gloom, wherever you are in the world, but I think there are a lot of positives here that should be celebrated."

The Goole 200 project is led by East Riding of Yorkshire Council's Arts Development team and has been funded by a UK Shared Prosperity Fund grant.

Ryan Madin, programme co-ordinator for Goole 2026, said the celebrations would encourage visitors, boost town centre footfall, and ensure "there are plenty of opportunities for local people of all ages and interests to get involved".

"With the £25 million Goole Town Deal regeneration programme now in its final stages and so many community partners coming together to mark the bicentenary, 2026 promises to be a very exiting year for the town," he added.

The Goole Town Deal regeneration programme includes multi-million-pound investments in the Market Hall, Victoria Pleasure Grounds and the railway station.

Full details of the events are available on the Goole 200 website.

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