Civic Trust puts its best foot forward to unveil city history

Leeds Civic Trust has organised five guided evening walks that offer the opportunity to see the centre of Leeds in a new light.

The walks lasting one-and-a-half hours each are followed by supper at the Trust’s Heritage and Design Centre in the Calls.

Georgian Leeds is the subject of the first walk on Tuesday May 11.

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It will explore Leeds at the time of the gentlemen woollen merchants – when the city was the woollen cloth marketing centre of the West Riding.

The famous cloth halls, merchant houses of Park Square and its associated streets and Georgian churches and chapels will all feature.

On Thursday May 20, those taking part in the second event will get the chance to learn about Victorian Leeds, exploring the great Victorian buildings and streets of the city centre – the Corn Exchange, Boar Lane, City Square, Park Row, the Town Hall, Municipal Buildings, Leeds Institute, the Victorian arcades and the City Market.

Edwardian Leeds is the subject of the walk on Tuesday May 25– looking at a period in history when Leeds city centre was transformed in the late 19th century and above all in the first decade of the 20th century. About one-fifth of the city centre was rebuilt in flamboyant style, producing some of the greatest buildings including Kirkgate Market, the County Arcade, City Square and much of Vicar Lane, Briggate, Duncan Street, East Parade.

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On Wednesday June 16, the Leeds waterfront will be examined – introducing people to that fine heritage, as well as the major changes that are taking place in that area month-by-month.

The final walk of the series takes place on Tuesday June 22 – and looks at the musical associations of the city centre. Splendid balls were held in the Georgian Assembly Rooms. The Singing Room at the Scarbrough Hotel tried out acts for City Varieties and Franz Liszt gave a virtuoso performance at the Music Hall in Albion Street.

Trust director Kevin Grady said: “These guided supper walks are a real eye-opener revealing both the fascinating history of our city, and introducing people to the rapid change which it is undergoing.”

The Trust’s guided supper walks each begin at 7pm but places need to be booked in advance by calling 0113 243 9594. They each cost £9 per person including supper.

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