Inside Abbey House: how can the museum's future be secured?
On a tour of the attraction, Arif enthused over "the inter-generational interaction", as grandparents and grandchildren enjoyed the museum's half-term activities. "As soon as you walk in, it is like you're in a different world," she says, standing on the cobbles of 'The Streets' - a replica Leeds streetscape from the 1880s, complete with an apothecary, ironmongers and a pub."Every time I come here, I feel as though I have gone through a time capsule".
As part of this year's Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations, lanterns and snakes are strung from the rafters of the antique shops.The Year of the Snake exhibition runs until the end of half-term and an influx of families are enjoying the themed decorations which adorn the Victorian streetscape."It is really lovely to see the inter-generational interaction here, children with grandmas and grandpas; we just need little bit more of that," says, Arif, the executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture.
The closure of the museum was put forward as part of efforts to save money at the cash-strapped council.But Arif says the proposal was met with the "strongest response in her memory", with around 10,000 people getting in touch to oppose the move."Going forward, what more can we do that can help with footfall?" she wonders."My hope is that the passion we saw in the consultation is replicated in numbers [visiting]."Pressures still remain; I think it is getting people through the door that can justify keeping it open."
Beyond 'The Streets' authentic Victorian-era stores, whose wares include Burmantofts pottery and traditional tobacco, the museum offers a glimpse into the sometimes grim realities of life in a Victorian home.Sarah Allen, learning and access officer at the museum, believes it is this insight which makes the museum unique among Leeds' many cultural attractions."This is a museum of everyday life," she says, walking under windows strung with laundry."It is really important we keep everyday working-class people's stories alive."Most people do not live in a stately home, most people are not lucky enough to have an amazing array of Chippendale furniture, but most people do have a grandma who had a bath in front of the fire. "
Among the visitors enjoying the museum is Pennie Keech."It is lovely," says the grandmother-of-two: "A completely different set of new things to see - so worthwhile coming," she effuses.Her husband, Andrew, has been coming to the museum for the past 70 years: "I like the toys - a lot of it goes back to my youth."On the upper level of the museum, doll-houses and teddies adorn the walls.This year a 'storytime' exhibition displaying children's books dating back more than 200 years is also on show."It makes me feel nostalgic," says Andrew.
Originally, the core of the heritage building served as the inner gatehouse to Kirkstall Abbey.But following Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries, it was repurposed into a farmhouse - a home for the owners of nearby Kirkstall Forge and a lodging for judges.Before the coronavirus pandemic, it was subsequently used as a cafe, but with plummeting visitor numbers to the museum, the cafe was moved across the A65 and into the Abbey itself.Dianne Riding thinks a cafe should be reinstated - and in one of many members of the public to pass on their suggestions to the council."We have passed on all sorts of ideas," she says, sipping a coffee under the arches of the Cistercian monastery."Developing the Norman Hall for events, a daytime café or an evening venue for food and drink... I would like to see it thriving," the former teacher says.Ms Riding was one of the 150 campaigners who fought for the museum's future during a protest last month."It means a lot to the people of Leeds: 10,000 people returned the consultation forms, there was a petition which 5,000 people signed."We should not ever lose our culture."Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Is this the world's most scenic swimming pool?
In 1909, a meeting was called by the local surf club of Sydney 's northern suburb Mona Vale. The motion: to build a natural swimming pool on a headland south of Bongin Bongin Bay (yes, its real name). Carved out to measure 100ft by 60ft, it was fed by freshwater through the soft-shale ocean ledge. At high tide, when seawater spilled in, it looked as if it was floating in the sea. By 1915, the first swimmers had taken the plunge, but not until the 1930s did it look as it does in this drone snap taken in 2018 by Canadian photographer Adam Vradenburg, 39. As part of a Depression-era employment scheme, men in Sydney were put to work upgrading the city's 30-plus ocean pools. In Mona Vale, they reinforced the concrete and created a shallower basin for toddlers. The timing was perfect. Allied soldiers stationed nearby during the Second World War beat the blazing heat with frequent dips. These days, as well as hosting free swimming and teaching clubs, with its stunning Pacific views it has another claim to fame: as one of Sydney's most snapped spots on Instagram.
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Daily Record
Still time to have your say on future of Overtoun Park bandstand
The B-listed structure was destroyed by fire in June 2024. The people of Rutherglen are having their say about the future of the B-listed Overtoun Park bandstand. And the majority of those who have responded so far have made clear their hopes that the historic structure can once again emerge as 'a revitalised and sustainable landmark'. Destroyed by fire in June 2024, the Victorian bandstand is to be restored and repaired thanks to a £300,000 budget commitment by South Lanarkshire Council. As part of a detailed update report on the project, this week's Community and Enterprise Resources Committee was given a timeline which could see the bandstand returned to its former glory in time for the Royal Burgh's 900th anniversary celebrations in 2026. The report also outlined an intention to submit an application to Historic Environment Scotland for a grant of up to a further £100,000. Explained chair of the committee, Councillor Robert Brown: 'While the council has committed £300,000 toward the project, the scale of work required to repair the damage, including specialist materials and conservation expertise, is expected to exceed that amount. 'Council officers will need to work closely with heritage experts and conservation specialists to guide the repair process, with detailed assessments being carried out to identify and retain all historically significant elements. 'Additional funding will, therefore, be necessary to deliver a project that not only meets the conservation standards required to protect and preserve the structure's character and heritage but also realises the community's aspirations for it. 'Both the council and Rutherglen 900 (the group organising the celebration marking the town's 900th year as royal burgh) are keen to see the Bandstand restored – but we also regard it as important that it is used as an active performance and events area by the community.' The public consultation exercise was launched in June and will remain open until Friday, August 29, to ensure as many local people as possible can take part. Paper copies can be completed at Rutherglen Town Hall and Rutherglen Library, where a QR code giving access to an online version can also be scanned. The survey can also be accessed via the council website. Comments and views submitted will be taken into account as officers and heritage professionals draw up the final restoration plan.
BBC News
3 days ago
- BBC News
Leeds parents 'consumed' by struggle to find school transport
Parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) have said their summer has been "consumed" by trying to arrange school transport for the new this year, Leeds City Council announced that SEND students aged over 16 would no longer be provided with a free school transport after the authority decided to cut the service to save £800, pupils have instead been awarded a personal travel allowance or a bus pass, but other parents said they may have to cut their working hours to drive their children to school or college. Councillor Helen Hayden, who oversees children's services in the city, said it was a "decision no-one wanted to make" but the service was not sustainable at its current level. Richard is a single father who looks after his daughter Poppy, 16. She has Down's syndrome, autism and complex learning needs, and for the past five years Leeds City Council has provided transport from their home in Otley to John Jamieson, a specialist inclusive learning centre in east Leeds. This support has meant he could work full-time to provide for his family. In June, following the local authority's decision to only provide home to school transport to young people with SEND in "exceptional circumstances", Poppy's case was assessed. Leeds City Council offered to provide some financial assistance but Richard said it meant he would still have to drive her himself. "It would mean I would get to work at 10:00 and have to leave at 14:30, which would impact the family - and the business I work for, it just isn't viable and has consequences."He has appealed against the decision but does not believe he will get an answer until after schools go back in September, which means he will have to drive Poppy and "catch up on work in the evening, which will impact on my life".Richard believes the council's policy is "hurting lots of people", adding: "Instead of spending the summer holidays with our children, we're having to spend the holiday trying to find out if we'll get transport to school in September." Rachel Ashton has found herself in a similar situation. Her daughter Bella has learning difficulties, autism and the learning age of a five-year-old. Bella has had a place on council transport from her home in Horsforth to Boston Spa since she was 11 and her parents have paid a contribution of £300 a month as well. However, now she is 16 the family have been told she is "no longer eligible".Ms Ashton said that because she and her husband both work, they can't drive her there themselves, and she can't give up her job because the family need her income. She added: "She can't do a journey alone, she will need an escort and the quotes we have for an escort are £25,000 a year, which is not sustainable". The family have already appealed Leeds City Council's decision once, but it was rejected and they are preparing a second Ashton said: "This means Bella will not be able to start her post-16 education in September, so she will be out of education." According to campaign group Save Our School Transport, more than 1,000 children will be affected by the policy Harley-Roberts is part of the campaign group hoping to reverse the authority's decision. Her daughter has also turned Harley-Roberts is the service manager for Sunshine and Smiles, a Down's syndrome support network in Leeds. She accepts that helping children to travel independently is "fantastic" for students who are able to, but for a "large number of young people it is just not viable".She said a number of parents who are part of the campaign are in a similar position to Richard and may have to cut the number of hours they Harley-Roberts cited the statutory guidance around transport and said the "transport provided has to be reasonable and take into account all relevant matters".She added that some parents in the group believed the alternatives offered to them were not reasonable.A review is due in the autumn on how the policy is impacting families, but she feared this was "too little too late". Hayden, the council's executive member for children and families, said continuing to offer "discretionary" transport for over-16s was no longer financially added that the policy was being implemented based on the needs of children, rather than the ability of parents to take them to their educational said that there was no definitive list of the "exceptional circumstances" that would entitle families to continue receiving travel assistance as the council wanted to keep the criteria "as flexible as possible".Hayden also explained that the appeals process was paused in July because the authority had made some changes to it. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
