The Yorkshire Society is a non-political organisation founded in December 1980 by Mr Barry Whittaker and Councillor for the West Riding David Daniel. It extended the philosophies of an earlier Yorkshire Society which, in 1818, wished to encourage people born, working or living in the County of Yorkshire to join and then help improve several aspects of the area, including the social welfare of its people as well as Yorkshire's physical environment. Traditionally, the patron of the Yorkshire Society is the Duke of York,

History

Earlier Societies of the same name included the organisation which ran the Yorkshire Society's Schools on Westminster Road in London. The Yorkshire Society referenced in 1818 was headed by wealthy Yorkshire gentry who were keen to provide charity to the working class and poor throughout much of Yorkshire. As is the case today, the organisation's patron was the Duke of York.

  • The former Lord St. Oswald, first ever Vice President of the Society
  • Colonel North, for granting Kirkstall Abbey and grounds to the people
  • H. H. Asquith, former Prime Minister
  • Sir Donald Bailey, inventor of the Bailey bridge
  • Herbert Smith, aircraft designer
  • Benjamin Latrobe, architect of the United States Capitol, Washington DC
  • Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, former Prime Minister
  • Benjamin Shaw, textile manufacturer
  • Sir Martin Frobisher, explorer
  • Kit Calvert, "saviour of Wensleydale cheese" (turned the Wensleydale Creamery at Hawes into a farmers' cooperative when it was threatened with closure in the 1930s)
  • Mary Ward, an English Roman Catholic nun who founded the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, also known as the Sisters of Loreto.

Acting as host for the annual Yorkshire History Awards.

Yorkshire Day

The Yorkshire Society also convenes the civic celebration of Yorkshire Day, which is held on 1 August each year.