2026/2027 Programme

Milestones in the History of Leeds and Dortmund

Joint meeting with the Dortmund Anglo-German Society

Exactly 400 years ago, Leeds received its first Royal Charter from King Charles I paving the way for Leeds to obtain city status. To join in the celebrations, we are devoting our next Anglo-German event to the history of both Leeds and Dortmund. What were the milestones in the development of the two cities over the years? What similarities and what differences are there in the history of the two partner cities?

To help us answer these questions, we have invited Chris Hindle, who is Chair of the Thoresby Society and Dr Henrike Bolte of the Dortmund City Archives to give a short overview of the important stages in the history of the two cities. Afterwards everyone will have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss the similarities and differences in the way the two partner cities have developed over the centuries.

Charles Watson (1771-1836), ‘Yorkshire’s leading architect’ and his work in Leeds

In this illustrated talk, Christopher Webster reveals why Watson, once regarded as Yorkshire’s leading architect, deserves to be far better known today.

It was Howard Colvin, probably the country’s most important writer on the British architects of this period, who published the praise for Watson, quoted in the title. Another eminent writer assessed him as having ‘almost a monopoly of architectural work in Yorkshire’. He did, indeed, produce a succession of fine buildings including mansions, public buildings, churches and chapels. In Leeds, his commissions included two outstanding chapels, designs for Lotherton Hall and Parlington Hall, and some important, large-scale, housing schemes. At least one of the detached villas in what is now the University campus can be confidently attributed to him. And some of his designs are of national importance.

Why is he not better known? Watson was quiet and kept out of the limelight. For many years, he had as a partner J.P. Pritchett, a surveyor, who increasingly became the ‘public face’ of the practice. Several writers over the past 75 years have, without any convincing evidence, sought to promote Pritchett’s role in the practice to the extent that Watson has been almost air-brushed from history. The forthcoming book on Watson will re-establish him in his rightful place as the county’s principal architect. It is a remarkable story and a cautionary tale for would-be historians!

1875: The Inauguration of the Yorkshire College of Science and the formation of the University of Leeds

Professor John Taylor traces the journey from the Yorkshire College of Science to the University of Leeds, exploring the origins of higher education in Leeds.

This lecture will examine the background to the opening of the Yorkshire College of Science in 1874 and its formal inauguration in 1875. In particular, it will highlight both national movements in higher education and local priorities. The lecture will continue by tracking the development of the Yorkshire College (no longer “of Science”) in the establishment of the Victoria University and, from 1887, as a constituent college of that University. The lecture will conclude by considering the breakup of the Victoria University, resulting in the creation of the University of Leeds in 1904.

Professor John Taylor
Visiting Professor, Educational Research, School of Social Sciences, Lancaster University

John is a historian by background, with a first degree and doctorate from the University of Southampton. He initially pursued a career in university management, first at the University of Leeds where his affection for the University and the city was first nurtured. His management career ended with a highly successful period as Director of Strategy and Planning at the University of Southampton. He then embarked upon a second career in higher education, as an academic teaching and researching the management of universities, leading to professorial appointments in the Universities of Southampton, Liverpool and Lancaster. Finally, he returned to his roots as a historian, this time as a historian of higher education. His interests lie especially in the development of universities in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, including highly praised work on the impact of the First World War and on the Victoria University.

Slavery, Empire, and Leeds

Slavery, Empire, and Leeds by Danny Friar

This talk is based on a guided walking tour given by Danny Friar in September for Heritage Open Days 2026. This virtual walk explores the themes of slavery and empire and their impact on Leeds and everyday people. Virtually travelling through the city centre, this talk will reveal hidden histories, forgotten people and secret stories from Leeds’s past.

Factories and Fevers: Child health in the 19th century

Death and disease were common in the 19th century in industrial Leeds due to many factors: overcrowding, poor conditions in the factories and mills and the many infectious diseases that were rife at the time. Children were particularly vulnerable. In this talk by Dr Emma Storr, University of Leeds, she will discuss some of the measures taken to improve working conditions for everyone in the textile industries as well as the role played by physicians such as Charles Thackrah and others which led to early public health interventions and a gradual decline in mortality and morbidity.

Thorne’s of Leeds: From Mustard to Toffees

In the early 1980s Andrew Littlewood bought in Chesterfield an old tin and this led to him researching the story of Thorne’s toffee. Quaker Henry Thorne started business as a mustard miller and began experimenting with cocoa production, opening a works on Lady Lane, in Leeds. Contemporary with confectionery royalty Cadbury and Rowntree, Henry started to market his own cocoa and his business grew, but poor fortune meant Thorne’s never became the national name achieved by their competitors. Thorne’s is a story of business personalities rather than family achievement. Who were these people and why was that Thorne’s tin in Chesterfield? And what of the products – mustard, chicory, cocoa, drinking and eating chocolate, sweets and toffee? Andrew tells the story of his research and the fascinating history he has discovered of Henry Thorne and Company.

York and Leeds: how are these two Yorkshire urban centres linked and what accounts for the differences in the way they have evolved over the centuries?

Geography is at the root of answering these questions about differential urban development. Rachael Unsworth’s presentation will draw out the main lines of argument and raise some questions about sources and their interpretation.

The changing face of Leeds Markets – From Briggate to Kirkgate

Ever wondered why Leeds received its first Royal Charter in 1626? Join us on 25th November (1-2pm) as Alex Pearson explores the importance of Leeds markets on the creation of the 1626 Charter. We’ll delve into the open air-market on Briggate, the rise of the Cloth Halls, and the endlessly evolving Kirkgate Market.

The Bilbroughs of Beech Grove Terrace: A middle class Victorian family, household and dwelling place

Author Catherine Wright discusses the local, family and social history of middle-class Victorian Leeds through the day-to-day lives of the Bilbrough family and household.

Members evening

Haunted Hero: The World of W. F. Harvey, presented by Ross Horsley.
Leeds-born author William Fryer Harvey lived through events more terrifying than any of his horror stories. This talk gives a short overview of his extraordinary life and an introduction to his weird fiction.

A Brief History of the Histories of Leeds presented by Antony Ramm
As important as what happened in Leeds’ past is the story of who told those histories – and how, and why. In this short talk, librarian Antony Ramm offers a brief overview of ‘the history of the histories of Leeds’ – the key texts, and the personalities who wrote them.

The Infirmary Cases of Victorian and Edwardian Leeds: Making the Papers

Ronnie Walsh provides an insight into the background of interesting historical medical cases uncovered in the Surgeon Ledgers of The Leeds Infirmary.

The growth and development of Freemasonry in Leeds and its role in the civic life of the city

Andy Gilliland’s illustrated talk focuses on the early years of Freemasonry in Leeds, featuring some of the characters instrumental in creating the city in which we live today.

Leeds and the Motoring Age, 1896-1930

The AGM followed by a lecture: the President, Chris Hindle, will explore the early development of motor vehicles in Leeds from 1896 to 1930, particularly looking at manufacture, retail, leisure and highway development.