Play, Publish, Progress: How Leeds Led the World
Self-publishing has always been an important part of print and, in its 400 years of existence, Leeds has played a leading role. Join us as we take a trip through the history of self-publishing in the city.
Without this history, much of the media we see today would have been very different. Self-publishing – from The Leeds Mercury to music and football fanzines – were the social media of their day, put Leeds on the map, and shaped the city we live in today.
Part of the Leeds Libraries’ Leeds400 programme
Want to know more about Leeds Libraries Local Studies resources, articles, events, and workshops? Subscribe for our monthly newsletter and have all our news direct to your inbox: https://s7umw.mjt.lu/wgt/s7umw/0svx/form?c=0d8dc434
More Events
Leodis: 400 Years of Leeds in the Leeds Libraries Collections
15th September 2026 - 11th November 2026
Discover 400 years of Leeds’ history through the inspiring collections of Leeds Libraries – from 17th century manuscripts to football fanzines, via rare maps, photographs,…
Folk Song in the North of England – Traditional Song Forum Autumn Conference with Leeds Libraries
10th October 2026 - 10th October 2026
Folk Song in the North of England – Traditional Song Forum Autumn Conference with Leeds Libraries Frank Kidson (1855-1926) was a key player in the…
Ralph and John Went to Church: Ralph Thoresby & John Lewis, the first recorded Black person in Leeds
7th October 2026 - 7th October 2026
On February 1 1708 a remarkable thing happened – Ralph and John went to church. Ralph was Ralph Thoresby, the Leeds antiquarian and diarist. John…
Piety and Profit: Contrasting Careers in Stained Glass
21st October 2026 - 21st October 2026
Victorian Leeds was home to a flourishing stained-glass industry, yet the men behind it were remarkably different. This talk by Samantha Yates explores the lives…
400 Years of Leeds, through the Collections Of Leeds Museums and Galleries
5th November 2026 - 5th November 2026
To celebrate Leeds 400, join Assistant Community Curator Pat Bourne, from Leeds Museums and Galleries, as he takes you through his personal choice of museum…
Alice Mann – The Radical Woman Who Beat The Establishment
23rd September 2026 - 23rd September 2026
From riots and radical politics to prison cells and printing presses, Alice Mann lived an extraordinary life. Widowed with nine children, she defied the authorities,…
Explore The Neighbourhood
Return to Oz (U)
Dorothy discovers she is back in the land of Oz, and finds the yellow brick road is now a pile of rubble, and the Emerald…
Learn MoreSparky Saturdays: Looking Good
Can you design a shop window that will wow the crowds? Learn what it takes to become an M&S Visual Merchandiser and create your own…
Learn MoreThe Stars are all Dirt by Isaac Whitney
The debut solo exhibition by Isaac Whitney, and an expansion of his figurative ink painting practice, from the page to large scale installation. After an…
Learn MoreRadio GaGa: The Ultimate Tribute to Queen
Have your finest hour, or two! As we bring you Radio GaGa. Get ready for an unforgettable night as Radio GaGa brings the ultimate live…
Learn MoreWinnie The Pooh (U)
Return to the Hundred Acre Wood in this heartwarming original movie and reunite with the beloved bear and his silly but steadfast friends for a…
Learn MoreJames McMurtry
A Lone Star sheriff hunts quail on horseback and keeps a secret second family. A mechanic lies among the spare parts on the floor of…
Learn More200 Degrees Coffee
200 Degrees are specialist coffee roasters that are unashamedly proud to be coffee geeks and proprietors of distinctive coffee shops. Anyone visiting their friendly venue…
Learn MoreSociable Folk
Sociable Folk is all things to most people, a breakfast bar, coffee shop, lunchtime cafe, informal meeting space and a night time watering hole. We…
Learn MoreSan Carlo Leeds
When it comes to fine dining in Leeds, San Carlo is undoubtedly one of the city’s star attractions. A classic Italian restaurant with an elegant…
Learn MoreEmba
Expect delicious food & drinks, great music and top notch service without any faff emba is a new gastrobar by chef Elizabeth Cottam. Hang out…
Learn MorePizzaLuxe
Pizzas made with deluxe ingredients. Yet not at deluxe prices. Fine flour. Fresh yeast. Slow-proving dough. Tomato sauce made in small batches. Toppings sources from…
Learn MoreThe Mill Kitchen and Bakery
Serving wholesome hot and cold food to go, or why not sit down inside or outside the Mill, in the heart of Farsley. Lunches are…
Learn MorePatrick Studios
Patrick Studios, a former social club (St. Patrick’s Social Club) for the neighbouring St Patrick’s Church, was redeveloped and transformed into the home of East…
Learn MoreLeeds Civic Trust
Stimulate interest in and care for the history and character of the city. Encourage high standards of design, architecture and town planning. Encourage the improvement…
Learn MoreHawksworth Community Hub and Library
Join for free and borrow books, eBooks, eAudio and more. We also provide help for people to get online and run events and activities for…
Learn MoreThe Mill Gallery
The Mill Gallery is an artist-run space fueled by fierce collaboration. We believe art belongs to everyone—artists and audiences alike. Our exhibitions are unapologetic spaces…
Learn MoreHolt Park Community Hub and Library
Join for free and borrow books, eBooks, eAudio and more. We also provide help for people to get online and run events and activities for…
Learn MoreThe Old Woollen
500-capacity venue in Farsley, presenting the finest music, comedy and performance. Run by Trouble at Mill Events, within Sunny Bank Mills, Farsley.
Learn MoreGotts Park Golf Course
Gotts Park Mansion House and home of Gotts Park Golf Club is situated 3 miles west of Leeds City centre and was formally known as…
Learn MoreWork Café, Leeds
Santander Work Café, Leeds is ‘more than a café, more than a bank…’ providing state of the art banking facilities, co-working spaces and meeting areas,…
Learn MoreThe Electric Press – The Switch Building
Home to Be At One, Catherine’s Place, Red Chilli, Revolution, Tavernaki and SAE/ICMP, the Electric Press provides drinking, dining and dancing options, a theatre, a…
Learn MoreClaypit Lane Pocket Park
Our Pocket Park is a one acre nature reserve off Granhams Road with a variety of native flowers in a central grassland area surrounded by…
Learn More