Briggate, one of the principal shopping streets in the city was first developed in 1207 when Maurice Paynel issued a charter in order to develop a new Leeds as opposed to the old vill on Kirkgate. In the background is the tower of Trinity Church. Robert Chantrell was called to design this when the original wooden spire was blown down in a hurricane in January 1837.
Over more than a century, the Society has built up a number of special collections, notably its archive, map and image collections, which have recently been re-catalogued to make them more accessible. These collections are housed in the Society’s library, based at the Leeds Library, 18 Commercial Street, Leeds LS1 6AL.