What's happening in Beeston, Belle Isle, Cottingley, Holbeck, Hunslet, Middleton and Stourton
The Friends of Middleton Park are marking Leeds 400 by hosting a free guided walk in Middleton Park on Sunday (20 September 2026) exploring the parks link to coal mining, railways and the Industrial Revolution. Middleton park is the home of the historic Middleton Colliery – supplying Leeds with the
Situated between Middleton and Belle Isle is a large hill at the base of which the Gosforth Colliery was situated. A tunnel had been driven under the hill, originally 1400 yards long before the steam engine was installed, then a vertical shaft of 80 yards deep then another 700 yards
In the 1830’s there was a movement towards social reform, especially towards the employment of children in the burgeoning industry of the early industrial revolution. In 1833 Parliament enacted the Factory Act which prevented the employment of children under nine from working in textile mills. Following this was a campaign
Holbeck resident Steve Peacock has been part of the Middleton Life local history project. With help from our new community reporters’ website he’s written this overview on the days when trams trundled through south Leeds: I have been interested in the local history of Leeds for many years now and,