Social History

An ornate frame with a painting of a Victorian Woman

Diary of a Victorian Teenager

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Have you ever watched a period drama and wondered what was really going on in the minds of teenagers at that time? Steph and Kath open the amazing Lotherton archives to share some of the secrets hidden inside, and explore what life was like…
A wide brown leather belt with engraved silver plaques, depicting lions and boxers in a boxing ring

Boxer’s Belt

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Curator Catherine investigates the mysterious origins of a boxer's belt in the Leeds Museums and Galleries collection.

Poppy Wingate: Temple Newsam’s Golfing Pioneer

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Poppy Wingate was England’s first professional woman golfer, and she began her career right here at Temple Newsam.
A black and white photograph of tall buildings in Victorian Leeds

Football Works

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Curator Lucy Moore examines one leaflet from our social history collection and reveals a little known corner of Leeds’ sporting past.
A sepia photograph of a captain in the army

Captain James Walker Foreman

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Leeds-born Captain James Walker Foreman flew 637 hours on the front line in World War One, and survived a bullet wound from below.
1906 Ordinance survey map (published 1908)

Skating in Edwardian Leeds

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In 1909, there were 5 skating rinks in Leeds. Using historic maps, Catherine Robins has found out exactly where they were and what became of the buildings after they closed.