SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/n ... .jpLeeds's most prestigious historic buildings are to throw open their doors to the public in a celebration of the city's heritage.The annual weekend of Heritage Open Days will this year run from Thursday to Sunday, September 9 to 12.Heritage Open Days is a nationwide initiative, but Leeds stages one of the largest series of events outside London, with more than 70 participating venues.More details at the above link including a full list of events already confirmed - apparently there may be more to come. The list is already sizeable and includes one or two places I've either never heard of, or expected them to organize a tour round.Details can also be found on the national Heritage Open Days website: www.heritageopendays.org.uk

Thanks for the update Ravey. I shall have to have a good old study of that. It's a shame the Merrion Odeon won't play ball on those open days anymore, but there looks a lot of other good places open as well

Just letting you all knowWortley history Society are opening there doors on Sept 11th 9am - 5pm at Whingate Methodist Church, Whingate, Armley. some great archives, boards with brilliant pictures of around Armley, Wortley, and all local history.

Just bumping this up

weenie wrote: Just bumping this up bumping it up again!Nice to meet you weenie at the open day - there was a ton of interesting material about Wortley. It would be great to get all this paper material scanned into a computer and put onto a web site for future generations.

Leeds Hippo wrote: weenie wrote: Just bumping this up bumping it up again!Nice to meet you weenie at the open day - there was a ton of interesting material about Wortley. It would be great to get all this paper material scanned into a computer and put onto a web site for future generations. It was nice to meet you too Leeds Hippo, it sure will be, i will mention it to the gang at the next meeting.

We went to Ledston Hall yesterday, & what an imposing building it as you go up the drive, with its gate-house.Sadly, as is usually the case, close-up it's a very tired building.Looking in a few windows revealed an equally sorry interior, with seeming only one flat of the (present) 5 occupied.However, we did overhear a groundsman telling another visitor that there's planning permission applied for to turn it into apartments/flatsThen we went onto 'Clarke Hall' (Wakefield), which is Council run as an education centrehttp://www.wakefield.gov.uk/CultureAndLeisure/ ... 90441Today; we went over to Leeds Grand Theatre for the 'behind the scenes' tour, very interesting!!Complete with a call at the 'Garden Gate' on the way homeI was outvoted but wanted to go to; - The 'Round-House' on Wellington Road - Temple Works

RichT wrote: We went to Ledston Hall yesterday, & what an imposing building it as you go up the drive, with its gate-house.Sadly, as is usually the case, close-up it's a very tired building.Looking in a few windows revealed an equally sorry interior, with seeming only one flat of the (present) 5 occupied.However, we did overhear a groundsman telling another visitor that there's planning permission applied for to turn it into apartments/flatsThen we went onto 'Clarke Hall' (Wakefield), which is Council run as an education centrehttp://www.wakefield.gov.uk/CultureAndLeisure/ ... 90441Today; we went over to Leeds Grand Theatre for the 'behind the scenes' tour, very interesting!!Complete with a call at the 'Garden Gate' on the way homeI was outvoted but wanted to go to; - The 'Round-House' on Wellington Road - Temple Works I would have liked to have gone to a number of places but didn't have enough time to visit all of them. I think it would be better if the places that were opened to the public could spread the opening times over a few more weekends

Leeds Hippo wrote: I would have liked to have gone to a number of places but didn't have enough time to visit all of them. I think it would be better if the places that were opened to the public could spread the opening times over a few more weekends Damned right!!!Why can't the Council Leisure Department look into this??

I also spent this afternoon in the Grand Theatre and enjoyed it very much. The organisation was superb with willing guides everywhere you looked. It is quite breathtaking to be in the spotlight control box above the very top balcony and right inside the fabulous and beautiful ceiling. I also took advantage of a ride in the incredible lorry lift in Harrison Street - this conveys the loaded lorries complete and stops with the vehicle floors level with the loading platform for backstage, thereby obviating the need to manhandle all that heavy scenery etc up from street level. Tucked away in the Dress Circle bar was Mr. Peter Sandeman, the dedicated general manager of the City Varieties, and there was a wonderful slide display of the incredible restoration of "The Varts" which is progressing well and should be completed bu Summer next year.