Industrial History

The Leeds industrial collections are largely based at Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills, and have been designated as of national and international significance.

The collections represent the industries of Leeds and the working life of Leeds people through the companies, products and personalities involved. The collections also aim to reflect the working life of Leeds people through their jobs and working environments.

The industrial collections comprise tools, machinery, industrial products, archive ephemera, photographs and other personal records, but do not include substantial company archives. Leeds Industrial Museum holds material from John Fowler & Co., Vickers PLC, A. Kershaw & Sons, Benjamin Gott, Burtons, Kirkstall Forge and the Hunslet Engine Co. and a wealth of other firms.

Several items from our collections are available to view online on our Google Arts & Culture page.

We continue to collect Leeds-related industrial material to reflect the “City of 1000 Trades”, including building up contemporary collections to reflect modern industry and manufacturing.

Collection Highlight – Cast Iron Middleton Railway Rack Rail by Gothard & Salt, Leeds, circa 1812.

The Middleton Railway is widely accepted as having run the world’s first commercially successful steam locomotives from 1812. These lightweight locos needed special ‘toothed’ or rack rail to provide enough grip for pulling heavy loads of coal.

The rail – apparently the last one of its kind – was donated by a Miss Maude, through Colonel Kitson Clark and the Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society in 1924.

In 1929 the Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer reported that Leeds City Council had granted Henry Ford, of the Ford Motor Co. fame, permission to make a copy of this rail for his new ‘Museum of Physical Science’ in Detroit. A cast of the rail was made and a copy given to Ford’s museum and three other museums in 1930.

ABBEY HOUSE MUSEUM

Opening Hours

Mon: closed
Tues – Fri: 10am – 5pm
Sat: 12 – 5pm
Sun: 10am – 5pm
Last admission: 4.30pm

Plan your visit

Address

Abbey Walk
Kirkstall
Leeds
LS5 3EH

Ticket Provider

Location

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LEEDS ART GALLERY

Opening Hours

Mon: Closed
Tues -Sat: 10am – 5pm
Sun: 11am – 3pm

Plan your visit

Address

The Headrow
Leeds
LS1 3AA

Location

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LEEDS CITY MUSEUM

Opening Hours

Mon: closed (11am – 5pm on bank holidays)
Tues – Fri: 10am – 5pm
Sat & Sun: 11am – 5pm

Plan your visit

Address

Leeds City Museum
Millennium Square
Leeds
LS2 8BH

Ticket Provider

Location

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LEEDS DISCOVERY CENTRE

Opening Hours

Visits by appointment/special event only.

Free public store tours are now available by booking in advance. Please call or email us.

Plan your visit

Address

Leeds Discovery Centre
Off Carlisle Road
Leeds
LS10 1LB

Location

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LEEDS INDUSTRIAL MUSEUM

Opening Hours

Mon: Closed (10am – 5pm on bank holiday Mondays)

Tues – Fri: 10am – 5pm

Sat – Sun: 12 – 5pm

Last admission one hour before closing.

Plan your visit

Address

Canal Road
Leeds
LS12 2QF

Location

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KIRKSTALL ABBEY

Opening Hours

Mon: closed (10am – 4pm on bank holidays)
Tues – Sun: 10am – 4.30pm
Last admission: 4pm

Plan your visit

Address

Abbey Road
Kirkstall
Leeds
LS5 3EH

Ticket Provider

Location

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LOTHERTON

Opening Hours

Open Daily

Estate opens: 7.30am
Hall: Open (Downstairs only) 10am-5pm
Wildlife World: 10am – 5pm
Estate closes: 7pm
Last entry 45 mins before estate closing time

Plan your visit

Address

Lotherton Lane
Aberford
Leeds
LS25 3EB

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Location

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