Heritage Open Days, Headingley, 2023

Headingley Methodist Church, 1845

Explore our Heritage Headingley is taking part again in the annual national Heritage Open Days. Every September thousands of volunteers across England organise events to celebrate our fantastic history and culture. It's a chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – all of which are free to explore. Further information on all of them can be found on the Heritage Open Days website, at www.heritageopendays.org.uk or click on the individual places or events in Headingley below.

Saturday 9 September: Open 10.00-13.30 Organ recitals at 10.30, 11.15 and 12.15
Headingley Methodist Church Open Days
Headingley Methodist Church, 1-3 Chapel Street, Headingley, Leeds LS6 3HZ
You are welcome to visit the oldest church building in Headingley. See the lovely church and developing wild-life friendly garden, listen to favourite hymns played on our organ and enjoy home-made refreshments.
No booking required

Saturday & Sunday, 9 & 10 September: both 1400-1600
St Chad’s Church, Far Headingley, Leeds, Heritage Open Day
St Chad's Church, Otley Road, Far Headingley, Leeds LS16 5JT
Fascinating Grade II church with interesting building, organ, stained glass windows and grounds.
No booking required

Sunday 10 September: 1100-1830
St Michael and All Angels’ Headingley Parish Church Open Day
St. Michaels Church, St. Michaels Road, Leeds LS6 3AW
The Heritage Open Day offers the opportunity to explore the church building, learn more about its history and that of Headingley, as well as listen to beautiful organ music. Refreshments will also be available.
No booking required

Sunday 10 September: 14.30
A walk around the Headingley Hill and Hyde Park Conservation Areas.
Hyde Park Pub, 2 Headingley Lane, Leeds LS6 2AS
Discover the fascinating character and history of the buildings, places and people who lived in Headingley Hill and Hyde Park in the company of Tony Ray, a retired Town Planner.
Booking required

Spenfield, 1875

Monday 11 September: 10.00, 11.00, 12.00
Spenfield: ‘the finest surviving suite of Victorian domestic rooms in Leeds’.
Otley Road, West Park, Leeds LS16 5BX
A rare opportunity to visit the communal areas of this magnificent grade 2* listed house in Far Headingley, including the exquisite Peacock Room.
Booking required

Tuesday 12 September: 13.00
The Hollies - a Meanwood story
The Meanwood Institute, 92 Green Road, Meanwood, Leeds LS6 4LD
Join local historian Peter Smithson on a walk through The Hollies and discover the Park's fascinating history from the early 19th century to the present day.
Booking required

Tuesday 12 September: 14:00-16:00
Can’t see the wood for the trees – A creative writing class at Queenswood
Leeds Beckett University, Queenswood Hall, Beckett Park, Leeds LS6 3QZ
A fun and friendly creative writing class on setting and story led by published writer Ali Harper.
Booking required

Tuesday 12 September: 1800-2000
A Gothic Revival – The Story of Left Bank
Left Bank Leeds, Cardigan Road, Leeds LS6 1LJ
Join us to explore the history of our beautiful Grade II* former church building, now known as Left Bank, a cultural creative venue in Hyde Park, Leeds. Hear about the life of St.Margaret's of Antioch Church in the 1900s and its new life now.
Booking required

Thursday 14 September: 1000 & 1130
Welcome to Hinsley Hall - the Diocese of Leeds Pastoral Centre
Hinsley Hall, 62 Headingley Lane, Leeds LS6 2BX
Discover the history of this landmark building on a tour of parts of the building and grounds including the Chapel, the Old Refectory and Graveyard.
Booking required

Friday 15 September: 10.00, 11.00, 12.00, 13.00
Castle Grove Masonic Hall
Castle Grove Masonic Hall, Moor Road, Headingley, Leeds LS6 4BP
Join a guided tour of Castle Grove Masonic Hall, a magnificent villa in Far Headingley.
Booking required

Saturday 16 September: Open 10.00-13.30 Organ recitals 10.30, 11.15 and 12.15
Headingley Methodist Church Open Days
Headingley Methodist Church, 1-3 Chapel Street, Headingley, Leeds, LS6 3HZ
You are welcome to visit the oldest church building in Headingley. See the lovely church and developing wild-life friendly garden, listen to favourite hymns played on our organ and enjoy home-made refreshments.
No booking required

Saturday 16 September: 1300-1700
Lutheran Church in Leeds Tour
St. Luke’s Lutheran Church House Trust Ltd, 9 Alma Road, Leeds LS6 2AH
Come and visit one of the few Lutheran Churches in the UK! Situated within a historical house designed by Cuthbert Brodrick. Learn more about this Church and House in Headingley.
No booking required

Saturday 16 September: 1400
Woodhouse Ridge -  a woodland walking talk
Woodhouse Ridge, Opposite 56 Ridge Terrace, Headingley, Leeds LS6 2DA
We will walk around the (now) largely wooded Woodhouse Ridge, exploring aspects of its diverse history, finding out about its glory days, using old postcards and maps to help illuminate the manicured ornamental park character it once flaunted.
No booking required

Sunday 17 September: 14.00
Creating Twentieth Century Headingley.
Hyde Park pub, 2 Headingley Lane, Leeds LS6 2AS
Join Janet Douglas on a walk discovering some of the interesting and distinguished 20th century buildings in this popular Leeds suburb.
Booking required

Headingley St Columba United Reformed Church, 1966

Of course, there’s plenty of heritage on view in and around Headingley, all the year round. And much of this heritage is explored on the HeadingleyLeeds website. The galleries for Historic Headingley show our rich and interesting past. Parks in the Past show the origins of our greenspaces. Historic Places and Places Today examine many intriguing locations, including the Stadium, the Zoo, the Headingley Campus, the Lodges, as well as historic travel, through ginnels and by omnibus and train. The Walks page suggests some interesting historic rambles in and around Headingley.

Richard Tyler
Editor, HeadingleyLeeds website
info@headingleyleeds.com