Heritage Open Day: 400 Years of Leeds

Join us to discover stories of a city and its people, from the 1600s to the present day.

Drop in to find out about 400 years of Leeds’ histories. See the story of Leeds revealed by archives and objects held in Cultural Collections. From 17th century tokens, to modern media, explore the lives of people who have made Leeds what it is today.    

Coin-lovers will enjoy seeing tokens produced in Leeds. These were made to fill a gap in a national shortage of small change. The tokens are a fascinating insight into commerce in the city. They feature names, occupations and bears! 

Delve into Leeds' industrial history with archives of textile businesses. Learn about the day to day lives of the factory workers. 

And discover our rebellious past through alternative newspapers. Dive into details of grassroots community action and activism. A key part of what makes Leeds Leeds!

Heritage Open Days, England’s largest festival of history and culture, takes place between 11 – 20 September 2026. For information about Heritage Open Days and other events please visit their website.

Access Information 

Getting Here 

• This event is in Treasures of the Brotherton, in Parkinson Building. There is step-free access – see our Visit information for more details. 

Sensory 

• Treasures of the Brotherton is a dark gallery, but the room in which the event takes places is quite bright.

• Noise levels will depend on how many people are visiting at any time and talking to the Cultural Collections team. There will be no music or audio content played during the event.  

• You are welcome to borrow anything you like from the ACCESSories Hub in Treasures of the Brotherton during the event. Please remember to return the items before you leave. 

In the Room 

• In the room, there will be tables set up in a U-shape. The tables will have books, archives and objects displayed and staff and volunteers from Cultural Collections will be there to tell you about these items.

• There are stools that can be borrowed if you prefer to sit to look at the items

What to Expect 

• This is a drop-in event and numbers will vary as visitors arrive and leave at different times.

• You can move around the tables in any order and leave the room and return if you would like to at any time.

You can find more information about getting here, what to expect in our spaces, nearby facilities and additional access resources in the Visit information on our website. If you can't find what you're looking for or have any other questions, please email us at gallery@leeds.ac.uk and we'll be happy to help.