Exhibitions at Leeds Industrial Museum

Explore our textile gallery as it displays the vital processes of woollen cloth production for which Leeds became famous, preserving both the machines and the atmosphere of a local mill at the turn of the century.

A vast area of the textile gallery is taken up by two enormous woollen spinning mules, that are an impressive throwback to Leeds’s industrial past. The pair of spectacular machines were both manufactured by Platt Brothers and Co in Oldham and date from 1871 and 1904, when they were used to spin textile fibres into yarn. The older of the two is thought to be the oldest of its kind anywhere in the world while the 1904 model is still fully operational and is regularly demonstrated in the museum.

Armley Mills was once the largest woollen mill in the world, exporting its goods to North and South America, Europe and the Far East.

Celebrating the creative industries in Leeds, this space is home to moving image cameras, photography equipment, locally manufactured and used historic projectors and an impressive range of printing presses.

Leeds was home to some of the best-known printing companies and skilled printing engineers in Britain. Louis Le Prince, credited as the 'Father of Cinematography', built and used what is thought to be the first motion picture capturing camera in Leeds during 1888. Find out more about Louis Le Prince.

Discover how Leeds helped to launch high street fashion through pioneers including John Barran, Joseph Hepworth and Montague Burton.

Barran came up with the revolutionary idea of off the peg, ready-made clothing. Burton, founded in Leeds, offered a full suit, which was a new concept in the 1950s, and Burton Menswear is still sells menswear today.

Explore the blooming blossoms of the colour garden, our volunteer co-ordinated space filled with flowers used to create traditional dyes.

Turn right at the museum entrance and follow the cobbled pathway to discover our old cottage garden, The Colour Garden.

The Colour Garden