Did you know Trout season lasts from March to September? Library Assistant Becky Bavill went for a rummage in the reference and research stacks where she found ‘Yorkshire Trout Flies’ by TE Pritt (SR799.124 PRI) Published in 1885 the item is counted as one of our treasures, seeing as it is not only a first…
Month: May 2023
The Albert Hall, later Leeds Civic Theatre
This week we welcome guest blogger, Geoffrey Mogridge, who has written extensively on the history of classical music in Leeds. Here he looks at the history of the building we now call Leeds City Museum. The central arena of the City Museum in Cookridge Street had two earlier lives. This was originally the Albert Hall,…
“A Wilderness of Stone and Brick”: Herbert Read’s Leeds
Earlier this year our Central Library hosted a screening of the documentary film To Hell With Culture, an immersive study of the life and work of Sir Herbert Read, in partnership with Hyde Park Picture House. Alongside that screening we put together a small exhibition of materials we hold about Herbert Read, specifically that which…
Coronations in our Collections
As King Charles III’s coronation approaches, we take a moment to reflect on the rich history of coronations in our collections. From the earliest days of official record keeping, to the illustrated newspapers of the 20th century, we have lots of interesting material documenting the ceremonies and celebrations surrounding these momentous occasions. Some of the…
What Poll Books can tell us about our ancestors in Leeds and the West Riding
This week, as part of Local and Community History Month, we welcome guest author Janice Heppenstall for a fascinating and in-depth look at using electoral results in family history research… Janice will be joining us at the Central Library on Thursday May 11 to deliver a talk based on her family history research. Further information…
The Secret Library | Leeds Libraries Heritage Blog 