In Leeds, museum experts and volunteers are embarking on a fascinating endeavor to document a captivating array of historic headwear, including a magnificent collection of vintage miniature millinery. Crafted by the skilled Leeds hatter John Craig in the early 1900s, these exquisite replicas of hats, some so small they can fit in the palm…
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Spring has blossomed at Temple Newsam’s Home Farm, heralding the arrival of charming new additions, with more eagerly anticipated. Ensure you don’t miss the opportunity to witness the playful piglets, lambs, and kids during the Easter season. Temple Newsam’s farm stands as one of Europe’s largest rare breed centers, boasting a diverse population of…
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More than 125 years ago, the Lord Mayor of Leeds Mr and Mrs Alf Cooke threw an extravagant fancy dress ball to celebrate their silver wedding anniversary. The exclusive guest list included 190 local children, who all arrived at the party dressing up in an incredible variety of storybook themed costumes. Today, a fabulous…
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One of Marvel Comics icon Stan Lee’s most successful creations, costumed crime-fighter Spider-Man is also one of the world’s most recognisable super heroes. In 1992, 30 years after Peter Parker’s alter ego slung his first web, Marvel released a special anniversary edition of The Spectacular Spider-Man, featuring eye-catching holographic cover art. An edition of…
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Fairy tale fans will come face to face with the big bad wolf at a new exhibition exploring the remarkable history of the world’s best-loved storybooks. The imposing timber wolf is among a huge selection of objects going on display at Kirkstall’s Abbey House Museum this weekend illustrating the origins of popular children’s tales including…
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A new super-powered museum display in Leeds will give visitors the chance to explore the colourful world of iconic costumed crimefighters. Abbey House Museum’s Comics Unmasked starts this weekend and features exciting objects on loan from the public including Marvel and DC comics, graphic novels and figurines of famous characters Iron Man, The Hulk, The…
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A spectacularly colourful feature of Temple Newsam House’s beautiful picture gallery, this lavish floral suite is usually covered to protect it from the sun. The stunning collection of chairs and sofas was commissioned more than 300 years ago and supplied to Temple Newsam by James Pascall, a noted guilder, carver and frame maker. Each…
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The beloved four-legged friends of some of Leeds’s most prominent aristocrats are immortalised in this historic pet cemetery. The dogs once lived a life of luxury as faithful companions to Sir Alvary and Lady Gascoigne, the last private owners of stunning Lotherton Hall in Aberford. Lady Gascoigne, a devoted dog lover, took her dogs…
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Singers from across the city are being invited to make music history as part of Leeds City Museum’s new community choir. Starting this month, the museum will be asking singers of all abilities to come along and make their voices heard at a series of free sessions. Aimed at giving people the chance to…
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Colourful new artwork has gone on display in Leeds aimed at challenging people’s perception of wheelchairs. The eye-catching creations at Leeds City Museum feature two wheelchairs decorated by Broomfield South Specialist Inclusive Learning Centre, Green Meadows Specialist School and West Oaks Specialist School students in association with Can Do Programme and artist Sally Barker.…
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A heart-breaking reminder of the human cost of war, these historic letters were written by a Leeds soldier serving on the front lines just before Christmas 100 years ago. Currently on display at Leeds City Museum, the letters were penned by Private Leonard Wragby, who sent them home from France in 1917, during the…
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Historic fancy dress photos with a flamboyant fairy tale theme will revealed during an exciting new exhibition in Leeds next month. And experts are asking for help to tell the stories behind some of the incredible costumed characters who posed for the pictures more than 125 years ago. The amazing album of images were captured…
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She was one fifth of the iconic British pop combo that stormed the charts worldwide and sparked the unstoppable Girl Power phenomenon. Now a doll of Leeds’s very own Scary Spice Mel B is on display as part of an exhibition looking back at people’s favourite memories of growing up in Leeds. Originally formed in…
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Although it’s now safely back in its case at Leeds City Museum, this huge Tibetan yak has had quite a month. The gigantic stuffed mammal is the biggest object in the museum’s collection, measuring almost three metres long. But when curators recently discovered moth larvae in the 160-year-old animal’s case, they didn’t let the size…
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The sudden departure of fathers and husbands changed the dynamic of thousands of families in wartime Leeds. While soldiers were off fighting on the front lines of the First World War, their wives and children struggled to adapt to a very different life at home, stepping into new jobs and going off to school…
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This fearsome-looking curved sword was once wielded by a local police officer during the infamous Leeds Gas Riots. The sword, currently on display at Kirkstall’s Abbey House Museum, is believed to originally date from around 1850 and belonged to a member of the Leeds City Police, who were responsible for policing Leeds from 1836…
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Carved by a soldier in memory of his fallen comrades, this small, simple plaque tells a powerful story about the lives of soldiers in the First World War. The plaque is made out of chalk and is believed to have been fashioned by Private N.Nelson, a serviceman who fought in the trenches during the…
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Surprised passers-by watched as a huge Tibetan yak slowly emerged from Leeds City Museum yesterday. The impressive stuffed mammal, which measures almost three metres long, was carefully manoeuvred out of the museum on Millennium Square and into a waiting truck before being whisked away for important conservation work. Routine monitoring by the museum team…
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Creative youngsters in Leeds can travel 125,000 years into the past to bring the city’s prehistoric hippo and its fossilised friends back to life. An exciting new competition at Leeds City Museum is giving children aged between five and 12 the unique opportunity to write a short adventure story and draw a picture of the…
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For soldiers fighting in the First World War, Christmas in the trenches was a time to think about the families and loved ones they had left behind at home. Many creative servicemen would use whatever materials they had to hand to stay in touch, which is why this biscuit became a colourful festive postcard.…
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A sword which once belonged to a real life Sharpe, who worked his way up through the ranks more than 200 years ago, has gone on display at Leeds City Museum. The historic cavalry blade was once held by Leeds soldier Captain William Jackson, and was presented to him by the loyal soldiers he commanded in 1800…
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A dedicated group of young history-lovers who curated a moving exhibition exploring the impact of the First World War have won a prestigious award. Leeds Museums and Galleries’ Preservative Party, a group of young volunteer curators, scooped the Marsh Award for Museum Learning for the Yorkshire region at a special ceremony at London’s British…
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