Clothing Strike (1970) Westgate and Great George Street In February 1970, textile workers in Leeds began an unofficial strike in support of their demand for a shilling an hour pay increase. The strike snowballed, with workers attracting further support as they marched from clothing factory to clothing factory – until more than 20,000 people were…
Category: Events
Park Row Courthouse
Park Row Courthouse (1813 – 1861) Bottom of Park Row The Courthouse, designed by Thomas Taylor, was located at the bottom of Park Row and was first opened in 1813, replacing the courts in the Moot Hall, Briggate. The Rotation Office, formerly on Kirkgate and where Magistrates made decisions before going to trial, was moved…
The Leeds Women Against the Clause March
Leeds Women Against the Clause March (5 March 1988) Victoria Gardens Over two thousand Leeds people marched against Clause 28 (Section 28) during the Stop the Clause Demonstration on the 5th of March, 1988. The March was organised by Leeds Women against the Clause and met in Victoria Gardens before marching through the city. The…
The Leeds Women Against Violence Against Women March
Leeds Women Against Violence Against Women March (22 November 1980) City Square On the weekend of 22nd November 1980 the National Women’s Liberation Conference was convened in Leeds, organised by Women against Violence against Women. During this conference, around 500 women – angry about the Police investigation into the Yorkshire Ripper murders and the prospective…
The Leeds and County Liberal Club
Leeds and County Liberal Club (1890) Quebec Steet For most of the 19th century Leeds politics was dominated by the Liberal Party. This power and prestige was reflected in the building of an ornate new Party venue towards the end of the century: the Leeds and County Liberal Club on Quebec Street. Opened in 1891…
Writing in the Margins: The Annotated Nuremberg Chronicle
This week we welcome guest author Dr Nina Adamova, British Academy Visiting Fellow at St Petersburg University, who explores a particularly interesting copy of The Nuremburg Chronicle held at the Central Library. Dr. Adamova will be delivering a talk on the same subject tomorrow at 2pm. Tickets are still available at the time of writing. …
‘Report into the Investigation of the Series of Murders and Assaults on Women in the North of England between 1975 and 1980’
This week we hear from independent researcher Francesca Roe, who describes how an unassuming document in the Central Library collections casts light on the Yorkshire Ripper investigation and its failings. Between 1975 and 1980, Peter Sutcliffe – better known as the Yorkshire Ripper – murdered 13 women in the North of England. The terror…
Memories of Leeds Central Library
Do you have memories of working in the Leeds Municipal Building on Calverley Street? Leeds Library Service is keen to hear from you, as their local history Librarians begin an exciting new project exploring the heritage of one of the city centre’s most iconic Victorian buildings. First opened in 1884, the Municipal Building has variously…
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