The Thoresby Society is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee. We have been operating since 1889 and today have a membership of just under 300. We are based at the historic Leeds Library at 18 Commercial Street, in the city centre shopping area, having relocated there from our former premises at Claremont on Clarendon Road in 2015. We are run entirely by volunteers – our trustees, who form a Council, which meets quarterly. We also have a number of sub-committees which deal specifically with matters such as Events, Finance, the Library and Archive, Editorial work and Publicity.
The Society is based in the historic Leeds Library, an independent library founded in 1768, at 18 Commercial Street, in the heart of Leeds. The Society’s library is open to members. Non-members may have access by appointment with the Society’s Librarian. Regular users would be expected to join the Society.
Since its founding in 1889, the Society has collected an extensive archive of historical records, maps, images, and newspapers, housed within the historic Leeds Library. Open to all, we provide resources for both members and the public, from an annual publication to engaging talks and excursions, making Leeds’ history accessible to everyone interested in exploring its past.
Joining the Thoresby Society offers a unique opportunity to engage deeply with the history and heritage of Leeds. Members enjoy exclusive access to our extensive archives, a complimentary annual publication, and a calendar of engaging talks, excursions, and events.
