Kirkstall Abbey

Just outside the west side of Leeds City Centre lays the ruins of a Cistercian monastery called Kirkstall Abbey.

The Abbey lays on the banks of the River Aire and was founded in 1152. The construction of the abbey took seventy five years. The abbey itself is a huge structure and although it is a ruin today you are still awe struck by its beauty and architecture.

From the time of its construction in 1152 the monastery housed many monks who practised their religion while also carrying out the many functions required to keep the monastery alive from cleaning to cooking.

Monks lived at the monastery for around four hundred years until the reign of King Henry VIII who passed a law causing the dissolution of all the monasteries in the United Kingdom. When this happened the roof was taken off the building for its lead and any items of value were looted to line the Royal purse.

After the dissolution of the monasteries Kirkstall Abbey was left to degrade over time until the nineteenth century when it was bought and handed to Leeds City Council who have owned it since.

The Abbey has a small giftshop and museum showing the items the monks would have used in their day to day lives running this amazing monastery.

It is free to visit Kirkstall Abbey and it is open at the following times:

April – September: Tue - Fri 10am - 5pm Sat – Sun 10am – 6pm
October – March Tues – Thurs, Sat – Sun 10am – 4pm

Address:
Kirkstall Abbey
Kirkstall
Leeds
LS5 3EH

Tel: 0113 2305492

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Museums in Leeds

Leeds has a rich and colourful history spanning thousands of years so to celebrate its history and the culture of the area Leeds has many wonderful museums. Below is just a small selection of what the city has to offer:

Armley Mills Leeds Industrial Museum

The Armley Mills Leeds Industrial Museum is located in Armley, Leeds in West Yorkshire, England.

In 1787 Armley Mills was the largest woollen mill in the world and was a possession of Colonel Thomas Lloyd. Seven years later a fire destroyed almost the whole building which was then re-built by Benjamin Gott, using fireproof materials.

In 1969 Leeds City Council bought the building and re-opened it as Leeds Industrial Museum, although the museum didn’t open until 1982.

Today Armley Mills Leeds Industrial Museum has a great collection of textile manufacturing equipment, steam locomotives and engines. It is also represented the history of cinema projections such as the first moving pictures and the silent movies.

Visitors are welcome from Tuesday to Saturday between 10am and 5pm and on Sundays from 1pm to 5pm. The Museum is also opened on Bank Holiday Mondays.

Address:
Armley Mills Leeds Industrial Museum
Canal Rd
Leeds
LS12 2QF
United Kingdom

Tel: 0113 263 7861

Royal Armouries Museum

The Royal Armouries Museum is located in Clarence Dock, Leeds. The museum is a national museum where every visitor can feel the atmosphere of all Ages of warfare.

The museum’s five galleries consist of a great number of arms, armour, military manuals, drill books, pamphlets, journals and magazines. Some of the items are dating from the time of Tudors, Stuart Kings and English Civil Wars.

Supporting the five galleries the Royal Armouries Museum has a library, two cinemas, offices, workshops and areas for horses and dramatic live action events.

The Museum is opened daily from 10am to 5pm.

Address:
Royal Armouries Museum
Clarence Rd
Leeds
LS10 1LW
United Kingdom

Tel: 0113 220 1888

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Horsforth Village Museum

Horsforth Village Museum is located in the large Horsforth village where in July 1998 the museum opened its gates to visitors for the first time.

The museum represents the personal history and aspects of life of the village. The character of the items is based on the Victorian, Georgian and Edwardian periods of time.

The museum is open on Saturdays from 10am to 4pm and on Sunday from 2pm to 5pm. It is closed from the middle of December to the end of March.

Address:
Horsforth Village Museum
5 The Green
Horsforth
Leeds
LS18 5JB
United Kingdom

Tel: 0113 281 9877

Abbey House Museum

Abbey House was a gatehouse for Kirkstall Abbey in the past, now it is the setting of Victorian Leeds complete with replica streets from Leeds Victorian past. The streets are constructed to recreate the life at the end of the 19th century in different areas of the city.

All items in the museum bring to life the feeling of the past time and also lets visitors feel the romantic history of the abbey.

The Abbey House Museum also hosts the Abbot Tea Rooms, a new childhood gallery along with many different activities for schools, families and small groups.

The museum is open for visitors from Tuesday to Friday between 10am and 5pm, on Saturdays from 12 noon to 5pm and on Sundays from 10am to 5pm.

Address:
Abbey House Museum
Abbey Road
Kirkstall
Leeds
LS5 3EH

Tel: 0113 230 5492

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Art Galleries in Leeds

Leeds is a city synonymous with great art and for this reason the city has many wonderful art galleries to enjoy, below is just a sample of some of the great galleries on offer.

Leeds Art Gallery

Leeds Art Gallery was founded in 1888 in the centre of Leeds on the Headrow. There is a large collection of British twentieth century art, of which paintings and sculptures dominate the gallery.

The gallery includes lots of water colour paintings, photography, debris art, stones and DVD works. Well known artists such as Henry Moore, Atkinson Grimshaw, Barbara Hepworth, Paula Rego, Georgina Starr and Bridget Riley have works of art that can be seen in the gallery.

The gallery is open daily from 10am to 8pm, on Wednesday from 12 noon to 8pm and on Sunday from 1pm to 5pm.

Address:

Calverley Street
Leeds
LS1 3AA
United Kingdom

Tel: 044 113 247 8256‎

Select Fine Art Gallery

Select Fine Art Gallery is located in Leeds, West Yorkshire in a nineteenth century warehouse.

The gallery is represented by original fine art on canvas and paper which is made by local, national and international artists. The gallery has created a real unique collection of works of art and really is worthy of a visit.

Address:
Number 22C
22 - 64 Mabgate.
Leeds
LS9 7DZ
West Yorkshire

Tel: 044 7897 505 062

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The Craft Centre and Design Gallery

The Craft Centre and Design Gallery was established in 1982 and has been a successful gallery for more than 20 years. The gallery is famous for its modern handcrafted contemporary design, including contemporary jewellery, applied art, ceramics, glass, textiles and limited edition prints.
Through the years many talented designers have displayed their work at the gallery, which provides two main exhibitions, one in Summer and one at Christmas.

Visitors are welcomed from Tuesday to Friday 10am - 5pm and on Saturday 10am - 4pm.

Address:
Central Library
Calverley St
Leeds
LS1
United Kingdom

Tel: 0044 113 247 8241

Henry Moore Institute

The Henry Moore Institute was established by the Henry Moore Foundation and as part of the Leeds City Art Gallery. Since 1993 it has been its own entity as a gallery and deservedly so..

The Henry Moore Institute consists of three large galleries which hold various ancient and modern sculptures. There are also a library, an archive and a research centre to encourage the study of sculpture.

The institute is open from Monday to Sunday 10am – 5.30pm and on Wednesdays from 10am – 9pm.

Address:
74 The Headrow
Leeds
West Yorkshire
LS1 3AH
United Kingdom

Tel: 01132 467 467

Artco Gallery

The Artco Gallery is a private gallery located in Leeds, England. It was established in 1997 and since then the gallery has proved to be a serious place for quality contemporary art. The gallery also provides art framing services and full access to numerous limited edition prints and posters.

Every piece of art in the gallery is the work of internationally famous artists whose talent and innovative ways of thinking attract more and more visitors as well as potential buyers.

The Artco gallery is open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and on Saturdays from 10am to 3pm.

Address:
No.1 Meanwood Close
Leeds
West Yorkshire
LS7 2JF
United Kingdom

Tel: 0113 2620056

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