Kirkstall Abbey through Turner’s eyes
Walk in silence, study Turner pictures, hear some poems in the same monastic ruins that inspired J M W Turner to paint them.
With poet Clare Wigzell.
Meet outside the Visitor Centre at Kirkstall Abbey.
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From Cocoon to Loom: Picturing the Chinese Silk Trade
Explore the ingenious process of silk production, weaving and trade through historic paintings, textiles, books – and discover where the magic begins, in the silkworm’s cocoon itself.
At its heart of this small temporary display, a suite of 19th-century watercolours from the Clemens N. Nathan Collection depicts the traditional process of making silk in China, from rearing silkworms to fabricating the final garments.
Leeds City Centre Queer History Tour
On this walking tour historian Kit Heyam will take you on a tour of Leeds' queer history highlights.
From Pride to squats, from 1840s court cases to 1990s raves, you'll see the city and its past in a new light.
Leeds LS6 Queer History Tour
On this walking tour, historian Kit Heyam will take you on a tour of Woodhouse and Hyde Park's queer history highlights.
From early Pride to squats, from wartime genderqueers to gay hotlines, you'll see the city and its past in a new light.
The Route of the Middleton Railway
From 1758, horses pulled carts of coal into Leeds from Middleton Colliery. In 1812 a new age began – not just for this short stretch railway but also for Britain and the world. Engineer Matthew Murray, of the nearby Round Foundry in Holbeck, was commissioned to build a steam locomotive to pull the wagons into Leeds. With his successful first engine in service, the colliery owner could out-compete his rivals in supplying the fuel that powered the industrial age.
All Souls Church, Blackman Lane
Gilbert Scott's final church, in the Gothic Revival Style. Built as a Memorial Church To Walter Hook , The great 19th century church builder and Vicar of Leeds.
Heritage Open Day: Rhubarb Routes
Join us at Hollybush to discover why it was once the centre of the rhubarb world! In 2024 we’re celebrating Joseph Whitwell, gentleman rhubarb farmer, with a blue plaque commemorating the site of his former home and farm at Hollybush. Whitwell pioneered the process of forcing rhubarb at scale, and The Royal Agricultural Society reported in 1871 that he was the ‘largest grower of forced rhubarb in any single location in the UK’. But why was Hollybush such a perfect place for a rhubarb grower to live?
The Leeds Goth QR Code Challenge
Leeds has an important place in the history of Goth culture. It’s home to the site of the world’s first Goth club and the city where Goth identity formed.
As part of this year’s national Heritage Open Days festival, you are invited to take the Leeds Goth QR Code Challenge and explore Leeds’ heritage as the birthplace of Goth.
Family History Consultation
If you are having difficulty with your family history research then join our team of family history librarians at the Central Library for a free consultation: from first steps using Ancestry to more advanced queries, we're on hand to help.
We can primarily assist with family history in the Leeds and West Yorkshire area; the consultation is open to anyone, however, as we may be able to offer general advice depending on your circumstances.
Family History for Beginners Workshop
Join us in the Sanderson Room at Leeds Central Library for this live and interactive version of our popular Family History workshop, for a friendly introduction to key concepts and resources for complete beginners.
Free but booking required at www.ticketsource.co.uk/leedslibraryevents