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ELHAS: Celebrating a decade of local history
It was in late 1997 that four local history enthusiasts met in Cross Gates Library and discussed ways to inform the local community about their heritage.
* Click here for latest Cross Gates news.
They felt that areas such as Cross Gates had been neglected by local historians over the years and wanted to put this right - and they certainly achieved their aim.
* Click here for more ELHAS news.
Just a few weeks later the East Leeds History and Archaeological Society was formed and with a membership of over 150 it is now one of the largest groups of its kind in the city.
President, David Owens, one of the original four, said that it had allowed a lot of people in east Leeds to discover things about the area and to feel proud of where they lived.
He claimed: "The great thing we feel we have achieved is to broaden local history so that its is not elitist and everybody feels they can get involved."
During the past 10 years ELHAS has published journals and booklets, held regular monthly meetings, organised trips to archaeological sites and museums in Yorkshire, run local history classes, put on displays,
given talks to community groups and been involved in a number of projects with Leeds museums.
Mr Owens said that the society's most memorable achievement had been in working with Leeds City Council to organise the building of a memorial to the workers who lost their lives in accidents at the First World War shell fitting factory at Barnbow - "something which was 80 or 90 years overdue".
The campaign was featured in a Channel Four documentary and a permanent exhibition about the factory is displayed at the East Leeds Heritage Centre - the former reading room at Cross Gates Library
which houses the society's exhibits.
Its latest exhibition is about the 1950s and, claimed Mr Owens, would allow people in their 60s and 70s the chance to show their grandchildren what kinds of toys they grew up with. This is being held at the Leeds Heritage Centre.
"The whole idea is to cross generations," he said. "We shall be bringing schools in and having projects around it."
To celebrate its 10th birthday the society held an open day in early February when visitors were able to see all the society's archives and publications.
Mr Owens also gave an informal talk about the history of the group and the area.
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Weather for Leeds
Wednesday 08 February 2012
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