The history of Leeds will come under the spotlight every Wednesday in February when Leeds Civic Trust presents another series of lunchtime public lectures.
Civic Trust director, Dr Kevin Grady, presents another series of four half-hour 'Leeds in Your Lunch Hour' public lectures, from 1.15pm to 1.45pm, Wednesdays 2 to 23 February at Holy Trinity Church, Boar Lane. Dr Grady said:
"My lectures aim to tempt city centre workers to nip out of their offices to Holy Trinity Church at lunchtime to enjoy half an hour of the fascinating history of Leeds. The attendances at the lectures in the last four years have been truly astonishing, so while people clearly are still enjoying them, I will keep giving them."One of Leeds Civic Trust's key roles is to help protect the heritage of the city. Currently, the most important building at risk in the city is the First White Cloth Hall in Kirkgate. My third lecture will explain just why the building and its site is so important and what might be done to save it."
Lecture One: 'War, Plague and Trade' - Wednesday 2 February
This lecture tells the story of the turbulent history of Leeds in the seventeenth century. Remarkably, despite the ravages of the English Civil War and one-fifth of the town's population being killed by the terrible Plague of 1645, Leeds developed a large woollen cloth merchant community and became one of the most prosperous towns in England.
Lecture Two: 'The Wonder of His Age' - Wednesday, 9 February
This tells the story of John Harrison, the seventeenth century Leeds cloth merchant and benefactor. Harrison was the prime mover in the establishment of the Leeds Corporation but is best remembered today for his major benefactions. He re-endowed Leeds Grammar School building a new school house in Vicar Lane, built St John's Church, New Briggate, and built and endowed a set of almshouses next to St John's Church. These almshouses continue today as the sheltered homes run by the Harrison and Potter Trust on Lovell Park Road in the city centre and Raglan Road on the edge of Woodhouse Moor.
Lecture Three: 'Leeds' Most Important Building at Risk' - Wednesday, 16 February
This traces the history of the First White Cloth Hall built in Kirkgate in 1710-11. Demolition work in Kirkgate 3 months ago revealed the full extent of the surviving structure of this remarkable building. Its erection was the key to Leeds fighting off competition from Wakefield to become the outstanding marketing centre of the West Riding woollen cloth industry and the great city it is today.
Lecture four: 'The Lost 18th and 19th Century Churches and Chapels of Leeds City Centre - Wednesday, 23 February.
Figuring prominently in the lecture will be St Paul's Church, Park Square; the octagonal St James' Church, Kirkgate; the Million Act church, Christ Church on Meadow Lane; Brunswick Methodist Chapel and several more.
Entry is free to all lectures.
