This week we take an in-depth look at events at Leeds Central Library during the Heritage Open Days Festival 2025.

Local History Open Day

Running on Saturday 13 September, 11.00am – 2.00pm in the Local and Family History Library, the Open Day is a chance for librarians to exhibit some of our most cherished and fascinating items in the Central Library collections. Expect a nod to this year’s theme of architecture as well as lots more besides. Drop in with no booking required.

Repton Lunchtime Talk

The Yorkshire Red Books of Humphry Repton (1752-1818) talk by Dr Patrick Eyres is taking place on Wednesday 17 September, 1.00 – 2.00pm. The talk is free but booking is essential.

Humphry Repton was the successor to ‘Capability’ Brown as Britain’s pre-eminent landscape gardener. He was renowned for inventing the Red Book. This was an artwork for prospective clients that combined hand-written design proposals with theatrical before-and-after watercolour illustrations. Nine were produced for Yorkshire clients. The talk will include Repton’s commission from Earl Fitzwilliam at Wentworth Woodhouse (1791-1794), which introduced him to patronage in Yorkshire. It will then focus on those adjacent to Leeds – for the new aristocrats at Harewood (1800), the industrialist, Benjamin Gott, at Armley House (1810) and the banker, John Blayds II at Oulton Hall (1810).

Dr Patrick Eyres is co-author, with Karen Lynch, of On The Spot: The Yorkshire Red Books of Humphry Repton, Landscape Gardener (2018), a digital version is available here.

Fascinating Family Activity Trail

During the festival (12 – 20 September) there will be a family trail running in Leeds Central Library. Pick up an activity sheet from the ground floor and work your way through the building to see what you can discover. The trail is free and available during usual library opening hours.

This trail was funded by Leeds Civic Trust grants scheme.

Heritage Tours

Our regular Heritage Tours of Leeds Central Library are running each day of the festival. All tours are fully booked at present but there is a waiting list so please add your name to this as we do sometimes have cancellations. Join the waiting list here. More tours will be available in October, November and December – full details here.

For more Leeds events take a look at the Heritage Open Days website.