Welcome to our website
We hope you enjoy looking at our website, which we created in Autumn 2015 to provide information about the history of East Keswick, and about the East Keswick Local History Group. The website is in the course of being developed, with new content being added.
East Keswick is a village 10 miles north east of Leeds, in West Yorkshire, England. Its history dates back to the Doomsday Book.
The Local History Group undertakes research into the history of East Keswick and the surrounding area. It has around 50 members and meets regularly in the village. We also have a couple of outside meetings each year. New members are always welcome.
East Keswick is a village 10 miles north east of Leeds, in West Yorkshire, England. Its history dates back to the Doomsday Book.
The Local History Group undertakes research into the history of East Keswick and the surrounding area. It has around 50 members and meets regularly in the village. We also have a couple of outside meetings each year. New members are always welcome.
Our meetings
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Everyone is welcome to attend our meetings, which are mostly free to members, and £5 to non members.
Unless otherwise stated, meetings are at 8pm, but will change to 7:30pm from March 2025, in the Verity Room of East Keswick Village Hall (School Lane, East Kewsick, Leeds LS17 9DA).
2025 Meeting/Events Programme (New)
Thursday 23rd January, 8pm: "The Forgotten war" - The Civil War in Yorkshire 1642-1643. Most accounts of the English Civil War tend to concentrate on the southern counties between Oxford and London with perhaps a passing reference to the "Battle of Adwalton" near Bradford and of course to the decisive battle on Marston Moor.
This talk looks at the start of the Civil War and argues that the war started in Yorkshire with Charles coming to the North to claim his arsenal in Hull. The talk then describes the engagements between the Royalists and the Parliamentarians in mainly West and East Yorkshire culminating in the Battle of Adwalton. Speaker: Mike Turpin
Thursday 20th March, 8pm: "The Commonwealth War Graves Commission". A talk about the history and ongoing work of the CGWC who look after memorials all over the world including some in East Keswick. Speaker Brian Joyce
Thursday 15 May, 7:30pm: “What the Papers Said!” A glimpse into two centuries of East Keswick life as reported by the national and local press. Margaret Moseley's illustrated talk is about articles found in newpapers and magazines from 1740-1930. Amongst other stories, hear more about: “Attempted Burglary and Noble Resistance of an Octogenarian...East Keswick...The house where the outrage was committed is occupied by Mr F. Shires, farmer, a man of 80 years who resides alone.” The Leeds Intelligencer, May 17, 1845
Members only Event: Thursday 17th July - visit to Ripon Workhouse and Prison Museums.
10-25 Meet at the Workhouse HG4 1LE
10-30 Guided Tour of the Workhouse
11-45 Walk to Prison
12-00 Guided Tour of the Prison
13-15 Finish
There is an optional tour of the Courthouse we could arrange after a lunch break (plenty of places nearby) if people are interested.
Price £13 for the Workhouse and Prison. Extra £3 for the Courthouse
Email us at [email protected] if you would like to come along and let us know if you would be interested in the additional visit to the Courthouse.
Event: Sunday 14th September 2pm - Guided Village walks
Friday 19th September 2pm - Guided Village walks
Starting from the Village Hall we will help you explore the village, which was recorded in the Domesday survey, and its growth as a rural farming and artisan community.
We will talk about the 200 years of the Harewood Lascelles family owning large parts of the village and surrounding farmland.
We will discuss how the village continued to grow from the middle of the 19th century, as commuters were attracted by the healthy environment and improved transport links and how both World Wars exacted a particularly heavy toll on the local young men.
We will also share stories about some notable residents, including the Moon family who founded a Yorkshire wide Grocery empire that thrived for 100 years and the Laurence family who ran two boarding schools and trained Methodist missionaries.
Although there was significant house building in the 1970s and 80s a large part of the village is subject to conservation status meaning that the heart of the village retains many older buildings which illustrate its history.
Thursday 25 Sept, 7:30pm: AGM & "Hidden Beneath Our Feet: The Story of Sewerage in Leeds". David Sellers spent nearly 30 years as a Chartered Civil Engineer designing sewer systems for Leeds. His illustrated talk brings to light some milestones from the cholera epidemic of the 1830s to the environmental controversies of the present day.
Thursday 6th Nov, 7:30pm: "History of Hull" - tbc
Thursday 11th Dec, 7:30pm: - "Witchcraft in 16th and 17th century Yorkshire" by Dave Weldrake. This talk contrasts the image of the witch as presented by demonologists in Early Modern England with the reality of what witches were actually accused of. It attempts to distinguish fact from fiction and to show that witchcraft in this period was less a matter of Devil worship and more one of neighbourhood quarrels.
Dave Weldrake is a former chairman of the Yorkshire branch of the Council for British Archaeology and was for nearly 25 years the Education and Outreach Coordinator for the West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service.
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Past Meetings in 2024
Thursday 25 Jan : “Smeaton of Austhorpe" - A talk by Bob and Jacki Lawrence. This power-point presentation looks at the personal and professional life of local man, John Smeaton, known as the Father of Civil Engineering. Known mainly for designing and building the Eddystone lighthouse, a monolithic achievement in its time, we also look at many of his other works including bridges, canals and other types of infrastructure. We discuss his legacy which has resonated into the 21st century, even being recognized by NASA. Beginning with his childhood interests at Austhorpe, we examine how his achievements inspired many of the later 19th century engineers and helped shaped the industrial revolution .
Thursday 14th March: "Gentleman Jack: A Slideshow introduction to Anne Lister 1791-1840" by David Glover, president of the Halifax Antiquarian society. In 2019, the tale of a girl from Halifax hit our TV screens in Gentleman Jack. In this presentation, David offers a general account of Anne’s life, full of wonderful slides. Her background, birth and upbringing are described, along with her famous Diaries, her Lesbian affaires, her grand designs for Shibden, and her travels. Finally, her distant death, and the return of her body to Yorkshire, not forgetting the mystery of her lost tombstone.
Thursday 16th May: "Living History" a talk by Ian Leadley. Recollections of events in Wetherby from WWII and after.
Event: East Keswick Village Walk
Tuesday 11th June 6-30 pm for two hours
Starting from the Village Hall members of East Keswick Local History Group will help you explore the village, which was recorded in the Domesday survey, and its growth as a rural farming and artisan community. Learn how over half the village became part of the Harewood estate until the 1950s and how the village prospered as commuters were attracted by the healthy environment and improved transport links. Despite significant house building from the 1970s a large part of the village is subject to conservation status meaning that the heart of the village retains many older buildings which illustrate its history.
We will also share stories about some notable residents, including the Moon family who founded a Yorkshire wide Grocery empire that thrived for 100 years and the Laurence family who ran two boarding schools.
Numbers are limited so please e-mail [email protected] to reserve your place
Event: A visit to Leeds Discovery Centre
Wednesday 24th July. 2 hour visit. Time TBC £11.25 per person
A Tea and Talk visit including a curator-led talk on "The Archaeological collections of Leeds" followed by tea and refreshments and then a behind the scenes guided tour discussing the history of museum collections in Leeds and an introduction to the collections stored on site which include over a million objects.
Thursday 26th September: "Boston Spa. From hamlet to Georgian spa" an illustrated talk by Lesley Newnham
This is a look at the development of Boston Spa from a cluster of cottages to thriving Spa over a relatively short space of time using the blue plaques in the village as a discovery trail.
Thursday 7th November, 8pm: "Berenblum and the Bari Bombs" an illustrated talk by Andy Wilson (Yorkshire Cancer research)
How tragic incidents in both World Wars and the research of Isaac Berenblum in Leeds, contributed to the discovery of Chemotherapy.
Thursday 12th December, 8pm: John Hartley (1839-1915), the most prolific of 19th century Yorkshire dialect writers - Yorkshire Dialect society.
Past Meetings in 2023
Thursday 26 Jan : "Getting Around Town: Transport in Leeds c.1800-now" talk by Patrick Bourne who is Assistant Community Curator at Abbey House Museum in Leeds
Thursday 23 March : “A Lofty story” – A talk by Carol-Anne Pask.
Having a new roof fitted led to a hidden treasure trove of documents being unearthed in the attic.
The documents relate to Scarcroft during WW2 and include records of the air wardens amongst other things. They provide an amazing insight into the life in the village at the time.
Thursday 11 May : "The Lost Historic Houses of Hunslet" a talk by Steve Burt. Steve is an eminent Leeds local historian who gave our inaugural talk on the history of Roundhay Park in July 2001 and we are thrilled he has agreed to come back to talk to us again.
Thursday 28 Sept : AGM - Followed by "The Walls of York" an illustrated talk by David Taylor.
Thursday 2 Nov : “The History of Leeds /Bradford Airport” An illustrated talk by Ken Cothliff, local aviation historian, author and the official archivist for Leeds/Bradford airport.
Thursday 7 Dec : "My childhood memories of East Keswick and Howarth Timber". An illustrated talk by Nigel Wainman.
Link to more Past Programme Meetings and Events
Everyone is welcome to attend our meetings, which are mostly free to members, and £5 to non members.
Unless otherwise stated, meetings are at 8pm, but will change to 7:30pm from March 2025, in the Verity Room of East Keswick Village Hall (School Lane, East Kewsick, Leeds LS17 9DA).
2025 Meeting/Events Programme (New)
Thursday 23rd January, 8pm: "The Forgotten war" - The Civil War in Yorkshire 1642-1643. Most accounts of the English Civil War tend to concentrate on the southern counties between Oxford and London with perhaps a passing reference to the "Battle of Adwalton" near Bradford and of course to the decisive battle on Marston Moor.
This talk looks at the start of the Civil War and argues that the war started in Yorkshire with Charles coming to the North to claim his arsenal in Hull. The talk then describes the engagements between the Royalists and the Parliamentarians in mainly West and East Yorkshire culminating in the Battle of Adwalton. Speaker: Mike Turpin
Thursday 20th March, 8pm: "The Commonwealth War Graves Commission". A talk about the history and ongoing work of the CGWC who look after memorials all over the world including some in East Keswick. Speaker Brian Joyce
Thursday 15 May, 7:30pm: “What the Papers Said!” A glimpse into two centuries of East Keswick life as reported by the national and local press. Margaret Moseley's illustrated talk is about articles found in newpapers and magazines from 1740-1930. Amongst other stories, hear more about: “Attempted Burglary and Noble Resistance of an Octogenarian...East Keswick...The house where the outrage was committed is occupied by Mr F. Shires, farmer, a man of 80 years who resides alone.” The Leeds Intelligencer, May 17, 1845
Members only Event: Thursday 17th July - visit to Ripon Workhouse and Prison Museums.
10-25 Meet at the Workhouse HG4 1LE
10-30 Guided Tour of the Workhouse
11-45 Walk to Prison
12-00 Guided Tour of the Prison
13-15 Finish
There is an optional tour of the Courthouse we could arrange after a lunch break (plenty of places nearby) if people are interested.
Price £13 for the Workhouse and Prison. Extra £3 for the Courthouse
Email us at [email protected] if you would like to come along and let us know if you would be interested in the additional visit to the Courthouse.
Event: Sunday 14th September 2pm - Guided Village walks
Friday 19th September 2pm - Guided Village walks
Starting from the Village Hall we will help you explore the village, which was recorded in the Domesday survey, and its growth as a rural farming and artisan community.
We will talk about the 200 years of the Harewood Lascelles family owning large parts of the village and surrounding farmland.
We will discuss how the village continued to grow from the middle of the 19th century, as commuters were attracted by the healthy environment and improved transport links and how both World Wars exacted a particularly heavy toll on the local young men.
We will also share stories about some notable residents, including the Moon family who founded a Yorkshire wide Grocery empire that thrived for 100 years and the Laurence family who ran two boarding schools and trained Methodist missionaries.
Although there was significant house building in the 1970s and 80s a large part of the village is subject to conservation status meaning that the heart of the village retains many older buildings which illustrate its history.
Thursday 25 Sept, 7:30pm: AGM & "Hidden Beneath Our Feet: The Story of Sewerage in Leeds". David Sellers spent nearly 30 years as a Chartered Civil Engineer designing sewer systems for Leeds. His illustrated talk brings to light some milestones from the cholera epidemic of the 1830s to the environmental controversies of the present day.
Thursday 6th Nov, 7:30pm: "History of Hull" - tbc
Thursday 11th Dec, 7:30pm: - "Witchcraft in 16th and 17th century Yorkshire" by Dave Weldrake. This talk contrasts the image of the witch as presented by demonologists in Early Modern England with the reality of what witches were actually accused of. It attempts to distinguish fact from fiction and to show that witchcraft in this period was less a matter of Devil worship and more one of neighbourhood quarrels.
Dave Weldrake is a former chairman of the Yorkshire branch of the Council for British Archaeology and was for nearly 25 years the Education and Outreach Coordinator for the West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service.
****************************************************
Past Meetings in 2024
Thursday 25 Jan : “Smeaton of Austhorpe" - A talk by Bob and Jacki Lawrence. This power-point presentation looks at the personal and professional life of local man, John Smeaton, known as the Father of Civil Engineering. Known mainly for designing and building the Eddystone lighthouse, a monolithic achievement in its time, we also look at many of his other works including bridges, canals and other types of infrastructure. We discuss his legacy which has resonated into the 21st century, even being recognized by NASA. Beginning with his childhood interests at Austhorpe, we examine how his achievements inspired many of the later 19th century engineers and helped shaped the industrial revolution .
Thursday 14th March: "Gentleman Jack: A Slideshow introduction to Anne Lister 1791-1840" by David Glover, president of the Halifax Antiquarian society. In 2019, the tale of a girl from Halifax hit our TV screens in Gentleman Jack. In this presentation, David offers a general account of Anne’s life, full of wonderful slides. Her background, birth and upbringing are described, along with her famous Diaries, her Lesbian affaires, her grand designs for Shibden, and her travels. Finally, her distant death, and the return of her body to Yorkshire, not forgetting the mystery of her lost tombstone.
Thursday 16th May: "Living History" a talk by Ian Leadley. Recollections of events in Wetherby from WWII and after.
Event: East Keswick Village Walk
Tuesday 11th June 6-30 pm for two hours
Starting from the Village Hall members of East Keswick Local History Group will help you explore the village, which was recorded in the Domesday survey, and its growth as a rural farming and artisan community. Learn how over half the village became part of the Harewood estate until the 1950s and how the village prospered as commuters were attracted by the healthy environment and improved transport links. Despite significant house building from the 1970s a large part of the village is subject to conservation status meaning that the heart of the village retains many older buildings which illustrate its history.
We will also share stories about some notable residents, including the Moon family who founded a Yorkshire wide Grocery empire that thrived for 100 years and the Laurence family who ran two boarding schools.
Numbers are limited so please e-mail [email protected] to reserve your place
Event: A visit to Leeds Discovery Centre
Wednesday 24th July. 2 hour visit. Time TBC £11.25 per person
A Tea and Talk visit including a curator-led talk on "The Archaeological collections of Leeds" followed by tea and refreshments and then a behind the scenes guided tour discussing the history of museum collections in Leeds and an introduction to the collections stored on site which include over a million objects.
Thursday 26th September: "Boston Spa. From hamlet to Georgian spa" an illustrated talk by Lesley Newnham
This is a look at the development of Boston Spa from a cluster of cottages to thriving Spa over a relatively short space of time using the blue plaques in the village as a discovery trail.
Thursday 7th November, 8pm: "Berenblum and the Bari Bombs" an illustrated talk by Andy Wilson (Yorkshire Cancer research)
How tragic incidents in both World Wars and the research of Isaac Berenblum in Leeds, contributed to the discovery of Chemotherapy.
Thursday 12th December, 8pm: John Hartley (1839-1915), the most prolific of 19th century Yorkshire dialect writers - Yorkshire Dialect society.
Past Meetings in 2023
Thursday 26 Jan : "Getting Around Town: Transport in Leeds c.1800-now" talk by Patrick Bourne who is Assistant Community Curator at Abbey House Museum in Leeds
Thursday 23 March : “A Lofty story” – A talk by Carol-Anne Pask.
Having a new roof fitted led to a hidden treasure trove of documents being unearthed in the attic.
The documents relate to Scarcroft during WW2 and include records of the air wardens amongst other things. They provide an amazing insight into the life in the village at the time.
Thursday 11 May : "The Lost Historic Houses of Hunslet" a talk by Steve Burt. Steve is an eminent Leeds local historian who gave our inaugural talk on the history of Roundhay Park in July 2001 and we are thrilled he has agreed to come back to talk to us again.
Thursday 28 Sept : AGM - Followed by "The Walls of York" an illustrated talk by David Taylor.
Thursday 2 Nov : “The History of Leeds /Bradford Airport” An illustrated talk by Ken Cothliff, local aviation historian, author and the official archivist for Leeds/Bradford airport.
Thursday 7 Dec : "My childhood memories of East Keswick and Howarth Timber". An illustrated talk by Nigel Wainman.
Link to more Past Programme Meetings and Events
Membership
You don’t have to be actively involved in researching local history to become a member. If you have an interest in the history of East Keswick and the surrounding area you should find our programme interesting. For an annual subscription (currently £10) members will receive a newsletter, and entrance to most meetings will be free.
Contact Liz Parr, Secretary, email: [email protected]
You don’t have to be actively involved in researching local history to become a member. If you have an interest in the history of East Keswick and the surrounding area you should find our programme interesting. For an annual subscription (currently £10) members will receive a newsletter, and entrance to most meetings will be free.
Contact Liz Parr, Secretary, email: [email protected]