Old haunts feature in guided tours of Leeds’s rich history

Leeds tourist guide and local historian Ken Goor, of Morley, is taking the tours, which include a visit to Leeds Civic Hall on January 25; the city’s markets and arcades on February 15, and then the churches of Leeds on March 1 followed by a ghost walk on March 17 and then a tour of Leeds University on March 29.

Mr Goor said: “There is so much to see in our city.”

He said the night-time ghost walk on St Patrick’s Day would give a glimpse into the eerie side of Leeds with tales and legends of days gone by.

It leaves the Corn Exchange at 7.30pm and will look at myths and stories.

Mr Goor, who wrote Haunted Leeds, said: “The ghost walk will feature Charlie Peace, king of the burglars, reputed to haunt The Headrow’s old cells under the steps of Leeds Town Hall.”

He said the two-hour tour of Leeds Civic Hall would look at historical greats including former city leaders and take place inside the venue, so would be ideal for a winter’s day.

The walk on markets and arcades will include a stop at Kirkgate Market as well as Briggate which used to be two roads running alongside each other with a bustling market at its heart.