Description

On the last Friday of the month, the Leeds Library Lunchtime Lecture Series is an opportunity for you to hear from notable people of Leeds. Those who have played or are continuing to play a significant part in making Leeds the great city it is today, talking about the issues and subjects in which they are expert.  

Perfect for inquisitive minds, these lectures are a great way to do something different with your lunchbreak, and learn more about Leeds people, their specialisms and enthusiasms. Lectures will last for 45 minutes with 15 minutes at the end for questions and open discussion. You can also eat your lunch while you listen!  

In the first in the series, President of The Leeds Library and previously Director of Leeds Civic Trust, Dr Kevin Grady, will describe how he reconstructed the intriguing life of his forebears in the riverside slums of Victorian Newcastle and Gateshead. As a wonderful example of how to bring to life ancestors from family history, this illustrated lecture will also depict the spectacular River Tyne waterfront at the height of its fame and prosperity.  

About the speaker – Dr Kevin Grady is an expert on the history and development of Leeds. He is a well-known lecturer and writer about the city. He has written many books including co-authoring The Illustrated History of Leeds, the first modern comprehensive study on the city’s history; A History of Kirkgate from Earliest Times to 1800; The Story of Leeds’ First Street (2016) and The Remarkable History of Hunslet (2022).  

In 2014 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Leeds Beckett University in recognition of his ‘Service to the City of Leeds’, and in 2017 Leeds City Council presented him with the ‘Leeds Award’ in recognition of ‘his outstanding contribution to the heritage and regeneration of the City of Leeds’.  

A note about accessibility – Unfortunately, our Grade II* listed building is not currently fully accessible. We have a stair lift from the ground floor foyer to the first floor but are unable to install a through-floor lift due to the building’s historic status. Please email us on enquiries@theleedslibrary.org.uk if you have any questions around access, and we will do everything that we can to accommodate you.  

The Leeds Library is committed to making its building and collections accessible to everyone in our current capital building works project The Next Chapter Project. To find out more, please visit the website HERE.