West Leeds residents are being given the chance to explore Leeds’ oldest purpose-built branch library.
On Saturday 10th September, budding historians can learn first-hand about the history and architecture of Armley Library, and discover the names of the library’s most famous frequenters.
Amongst the most famous users of the library is former Armley resident and much-loved author Alan Bennett, whose personal artefacts will be on display alongside historical maps and documents relating to the area.
Following the library exploration, a walking tour will take visitors through Armley, focusing on buildings on Town Street and Branch Road in particular.
This part of the day offers a great chance to assess how Armley has evolved over time, as well as visit many of the most significant buildings which have undergone renovations as part of a Heritage Lottery Funded regeneration scheme.
Councillors Mohammed Rafique (Executive Member for Employment, Enterprise and Opportunity) and Alison Lowe (Labour, Armley) have also paid tribute to the efforts of trainees who have worked on the restoration of heritage buildings in Armley and across the city.
Over the past three years, the Re-making Leeds project has funded heritage construction trainees, who have worked to preserve a number of pre-1919 and traditional buildings in Leeds.
Councillor Rafique said:
“The Heritage tour in Armley illustrates that there is a lot more to a library than books; they are the epicenter for knowledge and history and have more often than not played a pivotal role in the development of the wider community.”
Councillor Lowe said:
“I greatly encourage residents and all those with an interest in heritage and history to join in the walks and discover some of the hidden beauty of Armley.
“There is some phenomenal architecture in the town, which, with the great help of Re-making Leeds, has been restored and rejuvenated for future generations to enjoy.”
Pre-booking is required for the tour. More details here.