A typewriter, pen and stack of books repeated

Literature in Leeds: Poetry, Plays and Prose

1 July - 6 March 2026
Abbey House Museum
Included in Admission

A community display celebrating Leeds writers, from historical fiction to thought-provoking poetry, and plays written for stage and screen. Featuring objects which have inspired the authors, and exploring some of the independent bookshops in the city and surrounding areas.

 

Bringing together loans from writers, from notebooks and word processors to items that have inspired them, to writing implements from our own collections, and objects related to themes in their works.

Contributors include historical crime fiction author Chris Nickson, whose books focus on Leeds history from the 17th to 19th centuries, and poet Clare Wigzell who draws on Kirkstall Abbey and its depictions by Romantic artists such as Turner. Khadijah Ibrahiim will contribute a poem on Sound System Culture in Leeds the 1970s and 1980s, and we also feature writer of short stories SJ Bradley, some of whose work will be represented by a Stone Chat from our collections. Writer and performer, Becky Cherriman, whose work touches on themes such as women’s history and industrial working conditions, novelist Jennifer Saint, who looks at Ancient Greece and the lives of ordinary women in those times. Screenwriter Lisa Holdsworth is featured, while we also pay tribute to the greats of living memory such as playwright and author Alan Bennett.

 

Corona Smith's Typewriter

Subject to opening hours.

Opening hours


 
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Events at Abbey House Museum

Chat and Craft: Cardboard Bunnies

Abbey House Museum
Thu 27 Mar 10:00 - 11:30

Chat and Craft: Sock Bunnies

Abbey House Museum
Thu 27 Mar 14:00 - 16:00

Make a Felt Flower Bouquet

Abbey House Museum
Fri 28 Mar 14:00 - 16:30
An old drawing of Abbey House Museum

1152 Club: Talks at Abbey House Museum

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Tue 1 Apr - Tue 5 Aug
A 19th century street in Leeds

Study Afternoon: Building 19th Century Leeds

Abbey House Museum
Thu 3 Apr and Thu 24 Apr
A felt bunny hidden amongst some pots at Abbey House Museum

Easter - Bunny Fun

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Sat 5 Apr 10:00 - Sun 20 Apr 17:00

Throwback Thursday: Our Kirkstall

Abbey House Museum
Thu 1 May 14:00 - 16:00

Study Afternoon: Kirkstall Lives

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Thu 8 May 13:30 - 16:30

Study Afternoon: Queen Victoria

Abbey House Museum
Thu 15 May 13:30 - 16:30
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Creativity and Wellbeing Week

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Tue 20 May and Wed 21 May

Mindfulness and Meditiations Workshops with Steve Hart

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Tue 20 May 14:30 - 16:15

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Thu 22 May 10:30 - 12:00
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Gnomes Galore

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Sat 24 May 10:00 - Sun 1 Jun 17:00

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Tue 3 Jun 10:00 - 11:15

Throwback Thursday: Kids' TV

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Thu 5 Jun 14:00 - 16:00

Throwback Thursday: Getting Around Town

Abbey House Museum
Thu 3 Jul 14:00 - 16:00