Heritage Open Days 2020 - Leeds in focus as festival goes online for first time

Heritage Open Days is the country's largest free heritage festival with more than 5,000 events held annually.

This year's celebrations run from Friday, September 11, until Sunday, September 20, and are going digital for the first time.

And with more than 50 events happening across Leeds there promises to be something for everyone and all enjoyed from the comfort of your own home.

Leeds Civic Trust is the local coordinator for the city and has been amazed at the response of volunteers, local historians, creatives and guides who have overcome the challenges posed during these last few months to devise an exciting, thoughtful and imaginative programme of events.

Meleri Roberts, Leeds Civic Trust's development and engagement manager, said: "As Loiners, we have a rich story to share, and Heritage Open Days is an opportunity like no other to explore and showcase our city.

"Each Heritage Open Days event is free, and has been carefully designed, researched, and lovingly curated by a passionate and dedicated team of volunteers, we can't thank them enough for keeping this year's show on the road."

Highlights include:

* Take a virtual walk along the city's Aire & Calder Navigation and discover how public art is livening up our towpaths, as tour guide, Roderic Parker invites you to explore the history and continued legacy of the city's waterways.

* Or perhaps maps are more your thing? Instagram's @workerslunchtime will turn the city's billposter spots into the largest open air gallery in Britain as you are invited to explore large scale maps of the city's past and not-so-present.

* Go time traveling and discover the atmospheric and murky gas lit streets of the 1830's, as Dr Kevin Grady takes you on a virtual tour of our city on the cusp of Queen Victoria's reign.

* Come back to the present day with a calming and mindful ten minutes with the beautiful sounds of the Leeds Festival Chorus, or relax with a soothing poetry recital in the care of Trio Literati.

* If you are interested in industrial or social history, Dr Emma Storrs talk will transport you to the noisy and unsanitary factories and mills of the 19th century as she investigates child health with her 'Factories and Fevers' talk.

* For those of us with a sense of sartorial elegance, you may fancy finding out more about Montague Burton, as Jackie Lawrence brings to life his incredible journey, fleeing the anti-Semitic Russian Pogroms and rising to own one of Leeds's most successful tailoring businesses, employing thousands.

* Did you know that in the 1930's 4,000 men were employed as miners? Former Liberal MP, Michael Meadowcroft traces back the often forgotten mining heritage of Leeds, in his live illustrated talk.

For details on these free events visit: www.heritageopendays.org.uk **************

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Laura Collins