A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FRIENDS OF LEEDS CITY MUSEUMS
John Pearson
April 2012
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THE BEGINNING
The FLCM was inaugurated on 23 April 1971, St George’s Day. The available minutes of
the Society do not refer to the reasons for or the stimulus behind setting up the Society,
since they start only in January 1971. However, it is clear that a Steering Committee was
set up, possibly in 1970, with the aim of exploring the feasibility of setting up the Friends.
For instance, in January 1971, a meeting of this Committee received information from
Friends and similar societies in Bolton, Manchester, Leicester, Scunthorpe, Bournemouth
and Bristol as well as from the British Museum Society.
Comments were made at this meeting that the proposed work of the Friends might parallel
that of the Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society, but it was made clear that the Friends
would be a separate society and that the Lit and Phil would benefit from activities of the
Friends. Basil Sheldon was elected as Chairman of the Steering Committee, with James
Beer as Hon Secretary and W Jameson as Hon Treasurer. Proposed membership fees
were 10s to 2 guineas for adults and 5s to £1 for ‘young people’. It was estimated that it
would cost £15-20 to set up the Society. It was suggested that meetings should take place
at least once per month in autumn/winter, excursions being held in the summer months. It
was suggested that the Society be called ‘Friends of Leeds City and Abbey House
Museums’.
A meeting in March 1971 proposed the aims and activities of the Friends:

To support and assist the Leeds Museums and promote their use and enjoyment by
the public

The organisation and promotion of meetings, lectures and social functions

Activities should not be ‘too academic’ but in a lighter vein to provide pleasure and
enjoyment for all members

Subscriptions to be kept as low as possible
This meeting referred to the inauguration meeting of 23 April, which would be held in the City
Art Gallery Lecture Theatre and then in the City Museum. Refreshments would be served
and there would be a film showing the working of the museum ‘from every possible angle’. A
hand-written note on the back of a letter inviting people to this meeting, written by a member
of the Steering Committee refers to ‘ways we can help’, including:

Any engineer who can help strip down a steam engine

We can dig (sic)

Or collect items from attics, junk shops, etc

Activities to include films; lectures (‘by specialists who know their job’); classes (eg
on antiques); excursions (eg down a coal mine); ‘but it must never become dull’.
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Although, hopefully, this last aim has been fulfilled, it is interesting how the range of activities
has changed over the years.
The final meeting of the Steering Committee took place on 15 April 1971, to prepare for the
launch of the Friends. It was recorded that ‘somebody from the body of the hall should
propose and another second’ the formation of the Friends, then propose and second a
Chairman (ie Basil Sheldon) and that the Steering Committee should form the Committee of
the new Society. It was suggested that 3 or 4 people should be at the meeting with cheque
books at the ready to collect subscriptions from new members.
The proposed Constitution was approved, including reference to the Objects of the Society:

The advancement of education in the work of the Museums and their activities

To support and assist the Leeds Museums and to promote their use and enjoyment
by the public

To help in the collection of specimens

To support exhibitions, lectures and outdoor activities arranged by the Leeds
Museums and the Society

To organise meetings and events for the purpose of interesting more people in the
Museums

To assist in raising funds for the purchase of specimens for the Leeds Museums
Unfortunately, there are no minutes available for the inaugural meeting, although it was
noted that it was held ‘before a large audience’.
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YEAR-BY-YEAR EVENTS
1971-2
6 Committee meetings were held this year. The Society was invited to the Los Amigos
Congress in Barcelona in June 1972. It was decided that the expense was not justified, but
the success of the Society in gaining publicity was noted.
The Christmas function was held at Abbey House Museum, but restriction on numbers
meant that not all who wanted to attend could do so. The Lord Mayor of Leeds (Ald J T V
Watson) was present. The Victorian theme of the function was noted: ‘the variety of
costumes worn considerably enhanced the success of the evening.’
Membership was stated to be 300, a remarkable figure for a newly-formed Society. No
acquisitions were made during this year.
Lady Harewood was offered and accepted the post of President.
1972-3
5 Committee meetings were held.
Again, not all who wanted to attend the Christmas function at Abbey House Museum could
do so due to restriction on numbers. The event was a success, although it posted a small
loss. A discussion took place on the necessity for attending in Victorian costume given the
cost of hire.
A proposed study tour to Madrid was discussed.
Membership stood at 340.
No acquisitions were made.
It was reported that a British Friends of Museums had been set up and it was expected that
European ties would follow.
1973-4
An overall small loss was made on Trips. The overall balance of the Society was around
£527, ‘a considerable sum’, enough to purchase an object to present to the City Museum. It
was agreed that the Society should purchase a vintage car. This was put out to appeal, but
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as only £53 was raised, the idea was abandoned, although this led to the idea that an extra
charge should be added to the cost of Trips to help pay for acquisitions.
Disappointment was expressed at the relatively low attendance at lectures (80, ie 20% of the
membership). It was agreed to produce larger programme cards with details of lectures and
smaller membership cards for entry to the lectures – non-members would pay 10p/lecture.
Among the members of Leeds City Council appointed as members of the Executive
Committee was Councillor Mrs Nash.
It was agreed to contribute £1 to the Association of Friends of Museums to keep the Lord
and Lady Clapham dolls in Britain.
The Christmas function was again a success and included a Punch and Judy show.
Reference was made to a possible 1-2 week visit to Greece or Czechoslovakia.
1974-5
6 Committee meetings were held.
Membership stood at 252.
(few copies of minutes available).
1975-6
6 Committee meetings were held.
Attendances at lectures were very high. Visitors’ charges were raised to 20p and charges to
all for coffee covered costs. Membership was 273.
The Society was still looking for something suitable to purchase for the Museum: a barrel
organ for Abbey House Museum (est. cost £600-700) was considered, but this did not
proceed.
A weekend trip to Bath was suggested. This eventually took place in October 1976, was
fully booked and excellently received.
The return journey from a visit to Durham proved eventful: the coach broke down and visitors
were rescued by another coach company and a police car.
A Halloween party was suggested to be held at Abbey House Museum, to include a buffet
meal, fortune telling, apple bobbing and a talk on witchcraft. Although the attendance (74)
was regarded as low and the event made a slight loss, it was regarded as being a success.
However, it did not seem to have been repeated.
1976-7
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7 Committee meetings were held.
Again, good attendances were reported at lectures.
The annual function took place in January; a Valentine’s Day event was suggested for 1978.
Membership was around 200; it was reported that the maximum would be 300-350. This
figure was well down on that for 1975-6, so that only £80 could be transferred to the deposit
account. As a result the membership fee was raised to £1-50 and the fee for non-member
attendees at lectures to 25p. The overall theme for the year was how to increase
membership. Ideas put forward included:

Members to invite friends to lectures

Posters/notices in Colleges of Further Education

Notices to be sent to the Education department, aimed at teaching staff

Publicity in the Yorkshire Evening Post and on Radio Leeds
(It is interesting that the emphasis, in terms of events, was on lectures rather than on Trips).
There was still no suitable object to purchase, 6 years after the foundation of the Society.
The first weekend trip (to Bath) took place.
1977-8
6 Committee meetings were held.
The Society was represented at the British Association of Friends at Ironbridge.
The Society presented a tankard and goblet to Leeds City Museum to commemorate Jubilee
Year; however, there is no indication in the minutes of cost or a description. The Society
was asked to approve a spend of up to £200 at Sotheby’s on items from New Guinea to fill a
gap in the Museum’s collection.
The annual function was arranged for Monk Fryston Hall as a Jubilee dinner and was
described as being very enjoyable. A coach was arranged from the Civic Hall.
Membership was 234, slightly up on the previous year.
A proposed weekend trip to Norwich was cancelled due to lack of numbers.
It was suggested at the AGM that members might like to be corporate members of the newly
established English National Opera Company at the Grand Theatre.
1978-9
7 Committee meetings were held.
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It was reported that the Duke of Gloucester had agreed to become Patron of the British
Association of Friends of Museums (BAFM). The Society was represented at two meetings
of the BAFM.
A ‘tribal gift’ was bought from Sotherby’s, for £137-50, but it was stated what it exactly was!
Concern was expressed at the low number of Trips (2) scheduled for the year. A weekend
in London and a visit abroad were suggested, as well as publicising details of events and
Trips in the Yorkshire Evening Post.
The annual dinner was again held at Monk Fryston Hall; it was agreed that, in future, a
speaker should be included as part of this event.
There were still concerns about the relatively low level of membership and yet more
discussions on how to increase it.
Discussions took place on the title of the Society: whether to include the Industrial Museum
or to have 2 separate sets of Friends.
There were still concerns about the low number of items bought for the Museum: it was
agreed to ask the Museum for suggestions for items the Friends could buy, to be labelled as
having been funded by them.
Lectures were not well attended; as a result, the Society appointed a publicity officer. It was
noted that all the speakers were from the Leeds area.
1979-80
The Society reported an overall loss (~ £45) on the year, mainly resulting from the lecture
programme and reduced membership. As a result, discussions took place on raising the
subscription fee, although this was subsequently held at its current level, since it was felt that
a fee increase would deter members still further. Another recruitment campaign was also
suggested, together with either curtailing the number of events or making them selffinancing. There was some improvement to attendances at lectures.
A Chinese gong was purchased for the Museum for £380. A suggestion to purchase a
helicopter for the Industrial Museum was rejected as not being suitable.
The annual dinner was held at Abbey House Museum. Since it would not be available for
functions after 1980, it was decided that the Lawnswood Arms would be the next venue.
Financial support was given to the Congress of the World Federation of Friends of
Museums, to be held in Birmingham in 1981.
1980-1
7 Committee meetings were held.
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A £400 contribution was made towards the purchase of items for Leeds City Museum: a
dinosaur egg, some dinosaur droppings (presumably fossilised) and a fossilised dinosaur
bone.
The membership level was steady; publicity leaflets had been distributed.
(no AGM details available, so information sketchy for this year).
1981-2
5 Committee meetings were held.
Discussions took place about several possible purchases for the Museum:

A strength testing machine (from Sotheby’s)

Restoration of the grandfather time-keeping punch clock at the Industrial Museum

A cinema projector for the Industrial Museum

A sword which had belonged to the Leeds Pals

The miniature railway from Golden Acre Park (on sale at Blackpool; discounted as it
would likely be subjected to vandalism
However, the annual accounts did not show evidence of any purchases.
The annual dinner was moved to April.
The Society had a stall at the Kirkstall Festival and made a small profit from it.
Student membership was agreed at 50p.
It was agreed that the Friends would organise refreshments at the opening of Armley Mills.
1982-3
6 Committee meetings were held.
Specially commissioned Kirkstall Abbey plates were offered for sale to members and
provided a profit for the Society.
It was agreed to loan £337 to Armley Mills for the purchase of second hand rail track.
The first notion of allowing Friends free entry to museums was made; by early 1983, this was
applied to Abbey House museum and Armley Mills.
It was agreed to fund (£200) the cost of a model of Leeds Theatre Royal which had been
obtained at auction.
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Problems with regarding the organisation of the annual dinner meant that it was cancelled
this year.
It was suggested that some meetings should be held in afternoons (apparently, prior to this,
all meetings were held in the evening) since many members did not want to venture into the
city centre at night.
It was noted that Kirkstall Brewery had been purchased by Leeds City Council with the
intention of converting it into a brewery museum.
1983-4
5 Committee meetings were held. One was held at Sovereign Street: after the meeting,
members toured the building to see some of the ‘vast collection’ of objects unable to be
displayed in the Museum.
The purchase of a dinosaur skeleton for the eventual move of the Museum into the old
Education Buildings was discussed, as was the possibility of contributing to the removal of
the Royal Coat of Arms from the old County Court in Albion Place and its re-erection in the
streets at Abbey House Museum (cost ~ £300-400). The purchase of a 1936 Fowler’s of
Leeds locomotive (‘Jack’?) was approved; a grant of £375 was made, matched by a grant
from the Science Museum. It was hoped to have it running by the end of June 1984, to be
marked by a ‘gala occasion’.
The first week-long trip (to the European Parliament and Baden-Baden) took place.
1984-5
5 Committee meetings were held.
Attendances at lectures were stated to be very disappointing. The trial of having afternoon
events was deemed to be a success.
It was agreed that the Friends would provide food at Armley Mills for a Christmas party for
forty physically handicapped children.
It was agreed to purchase audio equipment for recording an oral history of the Museum for
its archives at a cost of ~£700.
1985-6
Discussions took place about the Friends rescuing the Victorian summer house at Elmete
Hall. Permission was obtained top remove it to Armley Mills. The Parks Department were
persuaded to move it, but nothing had happened by January 1987.
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A quote (£993-50 from the Friends and £203 from the Steadman Trust) had been received
and accepted for the transfer of the Royal Coat of Arms (ex- County Court) to Abbey House
Museum.
It was agreed to purchase railway models from the Steadman Trust collection for Armley
Mills: it was suggested that the Science Museum might contribute half the total.
Following an approach by the Leeds Arts Collection Fund (ACF), joint activities with the
Friends were suggested.
It was agreed to produce and purchase greetings cards and wrapping paper, the profits of
the sales of which would contribute to Society funds. 30,000 greetings cards were
produced, 15,000 of which were sold to the Museum (at a profit of over 50%).
1986-7
The Friends were represented at the AGM of the Association of Friends of Museums.
The first joint meeting with the ACF was held. Further collaboration was mooted, but little
seemed to have happened.
1987-8
It was agreed to sell the Royal Coat of Arms for installation in the new Law Courts.
It was suggested that a recipe book be produced, relating to different periopds of the
Museum’s exhibits, for sale to the public.
A highly successful ‘Christmas morning’ was held at Abbey House Museum.
Kirkstall Abbey tankards were designed/purchased for sale to the public.
1988-9
5 Committee meetings were held.
It was suggested that 1 outing per month should take place. A proposed week’s trip to
Germany was cancelled due to lack of interest.
The National Westminster Bank were asked for and provided sponsorship (£1,000) towards
the production of a book: ‘Of curiosities and rare things’, to be produced by the Society for its
exhibition, related to Museums Year, 1989. 1,000 copies were produced, the content
centring on the history of Leeds City Museum, ‘curator by curator’. Not too many were sold
to the public; members were offered copies at a reduced price.
The Christmas morning was repeated and was again a success.
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1989-90
6 Committee meetings were held.
The Friends were represented at the British Museums association conference at York.
It was suggested that a register of members’ interests be set up, in order to make maximum
use of members’ contacts and skills for the Society.
It was also suggested that an occasional newsletter be produced for members, highlighting
Museum events and Society activities, visits and lectures. It was agreed that a mock issue
be produced for further discussion, although this took a little time to accomplish as there was
‘little to report’. The first newsletter was produced in September 1990.
A Victorian Christmas evening was arranged. A summer social event was suggested, as
well as a dinner to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Society.
Although it had been agreed informally as early as 1980, the AGM (16 May 1990) agreed the
change of name of the Society from ‘Friends of Leeds City and Abbey House Museums
Society’ to ‘Friends of the Leeds City Museums’.
It was reported that members regularly gave voluntary help at Abbey House Museum, in the
form of care of the costume collection, organising and labelling ‘ephemeral’ material and
photography of the mechanical musical instruments and Burmantofts pottery.
The Committee was associated with the launch of a special exhibition to commemorate 170
years of Leeds Museums; it was opened by Bamber Gascoigne.
1990-1
For the 20th anniversary event, a theatre and dinner trip to London was suggested, but not
followed up. Instead, a formal lunch at the Civic Hall was proposed, with the Lord Mayor as
special guest.
A sub-committee was established to review the Constitution of the Friends, particularly with
regard to any anomalies. The proposed amendments were agreed in October 1990.
It was agreed to offer life membership to those with 20 years continuous service to the
Friends.
A Christmas function at Abbey House Museum was agreed upon.
A Committee member had prepared a catalogue of board and card games; it was agreed to
ask Waddington’s for sponsorship of its publication, but no further mention of this is made in
the minutes.
It was agreed to seek donors with regard to the possible purchase of a ~1690 Leeds-Made
grandfather clock (by John Williamson), the earliest known Leeds clock; however, this was
not proceeded with.
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The Friends agreed to contribute to the cost of buying the Marmion Estate collection of
Burmantofts and Leeds pottery, which was for sale. A Committee member, attending the
Northern Antique Dealers’ Fair at Harrogate, bought a steel tobacco box, engraved with the
name of William Williams, Clothmaker, of Hunslet, 1730. The cost (£500) was reimbursed
by the Friends and the object presented to the City Museum.
News of the formation of Friends of Kirkstall Abbey (FKA) was announced and it was agreed
to accept FKA’s offer of a Friends representative on their committee. Some reservations
were expressed with regard to the formation of FKA, including that it was felt not to be
‘helpful, necessary or appropriate’. However, it was agreed that liaison should be
maintained with FKA
A request was received from the City Museum asking for volunteers to help with the natural
history collection at the museum stores.
1991-2
5 Committee meetings were held.
This was the most significant year so far for the Friends, in terms of donations to Leeds
Museums. In addition to the contribution to the purchase of Burmantofts pottery (see
above), a further 5 donations were made, the most significant being contributions to a
painting of old Leeds from Beeston Hill by Fielding of Halifax and to a water colour by
Eldridge of an officer in the Leeds volunteers.
Plans were approved by Leeds Leisure Services Committee to convert the old Chorley &
Pickersgill premises (Cookridge Street) for the Museum. The Chairman and Hon secretary
wrote to the Yorkshire Evening Post on the occasion of the announcement that the Royal
Armouries would be coming to Leeds to ask that better premises be found for the City
Museum, so that more items could be displayed.
Support was agreed for the purchase of a new computer for the Hon Secretary, whose old
one had become inoperable.
Several complaints were received regarding the trip to Bavaria; both the coach company and
ferry company were blamed.
It was agreed to institute the office of vice-chairman of the Friends.
The subscription rate was raised to £5. An ‘inconclusive’ discussion took place concerning
junior membership.
Mr A M North was elected Hon treasurer.
1992-3
Leeds City Council were asked to provide publicity for the Friends via notice boards at the
entrances to the museums. A Friends publicity poster was also suggested.
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After discussion regarding the most suitable venue for lectures, the Friends’ own room in the
City Museum was agreed upon.
It was agreed to support the purchase of one of two 20th century Greek costumes for display
at the City Museum. A £1,000 grant for the purchase was received from the Victoria and
Albert Museum.
It was agreed that small and suitable items from the Museums’ collections, purchased with
funding from the Friends, should be displayed at AGMs.
Following the chairman’s letter to the Yorkshire Evening Post, the paper published an article
on the Sovereign Street store, highlighting the shortage of display space at the current
Museum premises.
It was reported that ‘Messrs Clover’ (at Kirkstall) offered to provide catering equipment for
the new café at Abbey House.
Members were asked if they could provide items manufactured in Leeds or artefacts relating
to Leeds manufacturers for an exhibition ’Made in Leeds’ at Abbey House Museum.
It was agreed that the Friends should be represented at the Leeds museums stand at the
Leeds Show.
A request was made to Leeds City Council for a grant for the Friends, given that one had
been provided for the Art collection Fund. This was turned down on the basis of the
Council’s financial problems.
A book of Leeds photographs (‘Images of Leeds, 1850-1960’), produced by the chairman (P
Brears), provided £1 for Friends’ funds for each copy sold.
1993-4
A sub-committee was set up to review the Constitution and Rules. Some minor
amendments were made and 3 categories of membership were defined: individual, family,
and corporate.
A fund-raising sub-committee had been set up and arranged a series of events, including
social functions and musical evenings.
Funds were provided for the purchase of an early 20th century Greek Sarakatsani (nomadic
shepherd tribe) costume and of a 20th century Nigerian costume, for the City Museum.
A competition was set up for members to design a new logo for the Friends.
A complaint from a member about the poor state of the toilets in the City Art Gallery was
published in a Newsletter.
The AGM welcomed the establishment of the Royal Armouries in Leeds, with financial
backing from the City Council, but asked the Council to ensure that suitable and appropriate
new premises would be provided for the City Museum.
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1994-5
7 Committee meetings were held.
A conference was arranged by Leeds Civic Trust and the Leeds Philosophical and Literary
Society regarding opportunities for developing the museums of Leeds. Concern was
expressed that the Friends were not invited and it was decided that the chairman and vicechairman should attend. The meeting expressed its wish that the Leeds business
community could provide funding towards a brand new City Museum site.
The merger of the Museums and Art Gallery Services of the Council was reported.
The chairman rescued and restored an old wheelchair for use by visitors to Armley Mills.
The Curator at Abbey House formally thanked the group of Friends who photographed and
recorded details of the costume collection at the Museum and for those Friends who
provided refreshments for visiting parties.
The Friends offered help relating to the centenary celebrations of the opening of Kirkstall
Abbey to the public.
1995-6
6 Committee meetings were held.
A teddy bears picnic, one of the fund-raising events, was recorded as ‘not a success’.
There was a discussion concerning the presence of a member of Leeds City Council Cultural
Services Committee at a Committee meeting: it was agreed that this fitted in with
Constitution and was a valid invitation.
Funding towards a Victorian Garden at Armley Mills was agreed, together with the provision
of a sundial in memory of a late former Hon Secretary, Charles Crossley, who also edited at
least the first fifteen issues of the Newsletter. Friends members were invited to the formal
opening of the garden.
The Friends silver jubilee lunch was held at the Mansion, Roundhay Park.
A report was presented on the development of Abbey House. The Museum was to
concentrate on the ‘streets’, toys and games and as a gateway to encourage visits to
Kirkstall Abbey. The provision of a café was included. Lottery Funding to the tune of £1.5
million was obtained.
A report on the provision of a new city museum estimated its cost as £40 million.
1996-7
6 Committee meetings were held.
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The document ‘The Future for Leeds Museums 1997-2000’ was presented to a meeting. A
questionnaire was circulated to members asking opinions on the format of the new City
Museum. Well over 100 members replied; the inclusion of ‘the history and people of Leeds’
and a café were the most popular responses, while ‘insects’ and ‘coins and medals’ were the
least popular items for display. It was felt strongly that the museum should not be in an old,
refurbished building, but should be purpose-built and should have research and educational
functions.
A report received referred to concerns about security at Kirkstall Abbey, the need for
conservation to prevent further damage and the first suggestion of the establishment of a
visitor centre.
Free entry to galleries and museums for Friends members was confirmed.
Members continued to contribute to the Leisure Services stand at the Leeds Show.
A further visit was made to the Sovereign Street store.
In light of some visits making a loss, a cancellation fee for visits was agreed to.
The safe storage of Friends records was discussed and a lockable cupboard was offered by
the City Museums Service.
1997-8
6 Committee meetings were held.
It was suggested that a new membership leaflet should be produced, in colour.
It was reported that, since the city is looking for a new museum site, there was a ban on new
acquisitions and donated gifts. The Friends were to be consulted concerning any
developments. A Newsletter reported that £1.5 million had been obtained from the Heritage
Lottery Fund towards the redevelopment of Abbey House Museum.
The Friends agreed to donate at least £10,000 to the Abbey House redevelopment fund and
members offered to pack exhibits prior to the work starting. The City Council received
£10,000 in later 2000.
It was reported that £1-50 had been credited to funds for ‘crystal ball gazing’ at the Show.
The Committee were shown the 1820 silver tankard, paid for by the Friends. The tankard is
engraved with the portico of the Mixed Cloth Hall and inscribed to the Leeds merchant and
writer, J Biscoff Esq. Funding was allocated to the production of a set of replica Victorian
costumes for Armley Mills.
The annual subscription for individual members was raised to £8.
1998-9
15
6 Committee meetings were held this year.
Problems arose at the AGM. The Chairman and Hon Secretary resigned and there were no
nominations, so the year began with only one elected officer (Mr A M North). The situation
had been resolved by November, when Mr D Townsley stood in as acting Chairman.
It was noted that a new footbridge from Cardigan Fields allowed easier access to Armley
Mills and that the engine shed at Armley was now open.
It was reported that the Council were looking at 2 possible sites for the new City Museum:
the Municipal Buildings (eventually rejected) and Quarry Hill (likely to be too expensive; likely
cost £20 million). The idea was mooted to provide a Heritage Resource Centre (precursor of
the Discovery Centre), as a storage for Museum collections and room for conservators and
curators. It was further reported that the Museum was soon to close for work to be carried
out for it to comply with fire safety regulations: alternative temporary sites were suggested,
including a Heritage Centre in Yeadon. A letter from the Friends’ chairman was sent to the
chairman of the Council’s Cultural Services Committee criticising the delay in providing a
high quality, permanent museum for Leeds. The Friends’ representatives on the Museums
Working Group gave regular updates on meetings, including the first mention of the Leeds
Institute Building as a possible site for the Museum.
Bulbs were planted in memory of Charles Crossley: the sundial idea was not approved by
the curator at Armley Mills.
It was agreed to hold £7,000 as part of the Reta Howard Foundation grant (for funding
educational projects) to Leeds Museums and Galleries, since the money had to be paid
through registered charities.
It was reported that notice boards at Kirkstall Abbey had been vandalised; it was agreed to
fund replacements.
1999-2000
It was agreed to request a Friends’ notice board at Abbey House Museum once it had reopened.
A number of donations were made to the Museums Service, including the restoration of a
harp at Lotherton Hall, the conservation of a wedding dress at Abbey House Museum and
the repair of a cinema double love-seat and the water wheel at Armley Mills. It was also
agreed to contribute to a blue plaque to mark the original site of the City Museum.
Trips were numerous and well supported; however, a discussion took place on whether they
were social events or fund-raising activities. No conclusion was reached other that they
should not incur and financial loss. Likewise, the purpose of overseas visits was raised:
social events, opportunities to visit overseas museums or a cheap holiday!
Membership numbers continued to be high, although there was an inconclusive discussion
as to whether a smaller number might be more manageable.
16
One of the Committee meetings was held at Yeadon, followed by a tour of the new Museum
resource Centre. In view of the shortage of Committee members, a request for members to
join was included in a newsletter: the Friends operated for some months without permanent
Hon Secretary or Chairman.
Further meetings of the Museums Working Party concerned what the new Museum should
focus on (history of Leeds; science). It was agreed to contribute to the funding of a paper to
be produced which summarised these suggestions. A report received at the AGM first
suggested a sire near the Royal Armouries for the new Resource Centre; this was confirmed
later on in the year. The report also said that a base for the administration of the Friends
would be available at the newly opened Abbey House and asked if members could
occasionally ‘man’ the admission desks. The chairman was invited to visit Abbey House just
prior to its re-opening.
2000-1
Members were informed that there were now 3 optional sites for the new City Museum:
Clarence Road, Quarry Hill and the Civic Theatre; Clarence Road was chosen as the site for
a Resource Centre. The redeveloped Abbey House was opened in January 2001.
The Friends were represented at a conference of the British Association of Friends of
Museums at York.
Support was agreed for an exhibition at Armley Mills: ‘Building Sights’. The Friends donated
nearly £20,000 to the Museums Service during this year: Committee meeting minutes record
that it had been suggested that “some elements in the museum fraternity considered the
friends a ‘soft touch', although this was strongly refuted.
It was noted that there was a drop in attendances at lectures.
2001-2
A number of donations were made to the Museums Service, including contributions towards
the repair of a pianola at Armley Mills, the production of a plaque to mark the original site of
the City Museum, the Going, Going, Gone’ exhibition at Leeds Central Library and the
provision of a bench for the ‘streets’ at Abbey House.
The chairman attended a presentation on the proposed new City Museum and had made a
number of interesting suggestions to the Museum/Resource Development Officer, most of
which were eventually accepted.
Notification was received from Leeds City Council that it was preparing a bid for Heritage
Lottery Funding for the new City Museum and it was asking for the Friends’ support for the
bid: this was duly provided. Likewise, a Council bid for conservation and amenity
improvements at Kirkstall Abbey was supported by the Friends.
2002-3
17
The British Association of Friends of Museums held its AGM in Leeds: the Friends provided
support for the event.
The Friends were represented on a steering committee (along with Leeds Civic Trust, Leeds
Philosophical and Literary Society and the City Architect) to develop the new Museum. This
included visiting other museums, which provided information on desirable and unwelcome
styles and approaches.
No lectures were arranged during this year, as a result of poor attendances the previous
year. After over thirty years of lectures, there were no further ones. To compensate, the
programme of trips was extended.
Contributions were made towards the repair of a Morgan Lowry clock at Abbey House and a
replacement wheelchair for use at Armley Mills.
2003-4
A contribution was made towards the purchase of 2 silver chalices, originally bought for
Leeds’ first congregational church.
The Friends were represented at a presentation by the architects and designers on the new
Museum and Resource Centre. A final visit was made to the Sovereign Street Store, prior to
the opening of the new Resource Centre.
Following a fall in membership to under 300 in 2000, the total had risen to nearly 400.
2004-5
A contribution of over £1,000 was promised for a display cabinet for new acquisitions.
The new Head of the Museum Service stated that the new Museum should open at the end
of 2007 and explained the problems associated with siting a museum in a listed building
which had not been purpose-built. For instance, English Heritage would not want an exterior
sign denoting that the building was a museum.
2005-6
The Head of the Museum service revived the regular meetings with the ‘Four Societies’:
FLCM (represented by the chairman), Leeds Civic Trust, Thoresby Society and the
Philosophical and Literary Society. This was of particular importance, given the planning of
the new City Museum. The City Council announced that the Carriage Works Theatre would
soon open in the old Electric Press building, meaning that work on the new Museum could
proceed in the Leeds Institute/Civic Theatre. However, concern was later expressed that
liaison between the Museum Service and the Four Societies was not as it should be and that
there were misgivings about the proposed design and types of exhibition to be held in the
18
new Museum. These were resolved subsequently: it was regarded as essential to have a
chronological history of the city in the Leeds Gallery.
Following a relatively poor attendance at the previous year’s AGM, the change of venue to
the Art Gallery produced a marked increase in attendance.
Gifts to the Museums service included nearly £1,400 for a display cabinet at Abbey House
and a contribution of over £500 towards the purchase of a collection of Leeds creamware,
for display at the new Museum.
2006-7
Worries were expressed that there were vacancies on the Executive Committee, which could
cause problems of meetings not being quorate. Subsequently, 3 members were co-opted
onto the Committee.
Despite the fact that the 2006 AGM had been held in the prestigious venue of the Civic Hall,
there was concern that numbers of members attending were still falling and of the lack of
younger members in general. Initiatives were suggested to increase publicity about the
Friends. It was thought that the fall in membership had contributed to the lack of support for
trips, one of which had to be cancelled as a result. It was agreed that the subscription of
new members joining the Friends after 1 September would cover all the next year.
It was reported that the new Museum was behind schedule, but that it was expected that the
Discovery Centre would open at Easter 2007. The Chairman and Vice-President reported
favourably on a tour they had had (along with representatives of the other members of the
Four Societies) of the new Museum. There were concerns raised about the place of industry
in the new Museum and about the City Council’s commitment to Armley Mills, where visitor
numbers were low. A letter of reassurance on the future of the Museum was received from
the Head of Leeds Heritage Service.
It was agreed to support the repair of the locomotive ‘Jack’ at Armley Mills: up to £12,000
was promised. In the event, over £15,000 was donated, although this was not paid until
2008: no donations were made to the Museums Service during this year.
2007-8
The bank balance of the Friends continued to be healthy and the Hon Treasurer commented
that not enough money was being spent. However, over £1,300 was donated for
conservation work on items (engravings, prints, posters) to be displayed in the new Museum.
Fears were expressed at the relatively low level of membership of the Friends and the
possible effect of this on trips. There were also, at this stage, 5 vacancies on the Executive
Committee.
19
Concern was expressed about the Leeds Gallery in the City Museum: it was felt that there
was too little emphasis on the recent history of Leeds, on heavy industry, transport
innovation or on the textile, clothing and locomotive industries and that the whole
underplayed the success of the city. The chairman met the Head of Leeds Heritage Service
to discuss this.
Around 100 members visited the newly opened Discovery Centre and were impressed with
the building and contents. The 2 Vice-Presidents visited the nearly-completed City Museum
and were impressed with what they saw. Particularly gratifying was the fact that the
Museum incorporated some alterations that had been suggested by the Vice-Presidents on
an earlier visit. Around 100 members enjoyed a private preview of the Museum.
2008-9
It was reported that half a million people had visited Leeds museums and galleries in the
previous year, despite the closure of the Art Gallery for 3 months and that good progress
was being made in fitting out the new City Museum. Members were invited to a special
preview prior to the opening in September. Visitor numbers for the current year showed
another healthy increase.
Over £15,000 was provided towards the overdue restoration of the engine ‘Jack’ at Armley
Mills, while other donations included the purchase of an oil painting of Briggate (1873-80,
signed ‘R Cooke’ and showing a man herding sheep past a horse-drawn tram), the
restoration of a Broadwood piano at Temple Newsam and the re-siting of a 3,000 year old
cup and ring stone from Temple Newsam to its original site in Horsforth. A request was
made related to the purchase of a Zandra Rhodes dress, but this had already been sold.
The proposed visit to Townley Hall Christmas flower festival was abandoned due to a heavy
snow fall.
2009-10
It was reported that the new City Museum had won the ‘Readers’ award for best museum
and had come first in the RICS pro-Yorkshire awards: there had been close to 1 million
visitors to Leeds museums and galleries in the previous year. The Museum itself had nearly
doubled its target number of visitors, while the number of school children visiting increased
by one-third.
A grant of over £1,900 was awarded for the conservation of various works on paper
(including a view of Leeds; an isometric view of the Royal Agricultural Show, held in Leeds; a
western panoramic view of Leeds; a south east prospect of Leeds; a portrait of John
Harrison). Further support was given for the restoration of an 18th century silk brocade dress.
More controversial was an award to commission a special hat (by Phillip Treacy), which
contained wild bird feathers. Other grants related to re-framing medals at Lotherton Hall and
to providing new signage at Armley Mills, although this took some time to complete (nearly
10 months), as the Committee were not happy with the originally proposed designs.
20
The Friends mounted an exhibition of activities to celebrate the first anniversary of the
opening of the new City Museum.
2010-11
It was agreed that a FLCM website should be established.
Funds were provided for the purchase of a 1875 men’s dressing jacket to supplement the
Museum and Galleries’ collection. £5,000 was promised as a contribution to the restoration
of the music Room at Lotherton Hall. Work was due to begin in 2012. A similar sum was
provided towards the purchase of the exciting Anglo Saxon gold hoard. Money (well over
£4,000) in the Friends’ account relating to the Rita Lila Howard Fund (which had been held,
unused, for many years) was transferred to fund an educational exhibition on textiles at
Armley Mills. Funding was also provided towards the conservation of more works on paper
at Abbey House and and for the purchase at auction of a dress collection by Worth.
2011-12
The Friends reached a significant milestone in its history, in passing the £100,000 mark in
gifts to the Museums service. Most of this went on objects and collections; however, other
important contributions were made towards conservation and more mundane, yet significant
grants were made (amongst others) for signage and a wheelchair.
A number of grants were made, including £2,500 for Worth couture gowns, over £1,000 for
conservation and framing of posters at Abbey House and, perhaps, most significantly,
£7,500 towards the restoration of the drawing room at Lotherton Hall and £5,000 towards the
purchase of the Saxon hoard of treasure.
It was reported that well over the Leeds museums had received well over one million visitors
during the past year, including nearly 50,000 school children and that the city had done
exceptionally well in terms of obtaining financial support from the Government and the Arts
Council.
21
4
TRIPS AND LECTURES
1971-2
Trips:

Crich

Fountains Abbey
1972-3
Trips:

Hadrian’s Wall

Pilkington Glass Museum, Knowsley Safari Park

Stoke on Trent Pottery, Hall Green Museum, Jodrell Bank
Lectures

History of the wool trade in York

Sage of the Wasa (an old Swedish warship)

Heraldry

Coin collecting
22

Film night and lecture on Japan

Norman invasion of England (1066)

Pottery
1973-4
Trips:

Rievaulx Abbey, Ryedale Folk Museum

Chester

York Minster

London (Chinese exhibition)
Lectures:

Canals

Witchcraft

Old Leeds pottery

Musical boxes and gramophones

30,000 miles by catamaran

Old Leeds

Wild life in the West Riding

Folk songs and dialects

Treen

Stained glass of York Minster

Sandal Castle

Costume and fashion

Recreating the past
1974-5
Trips:

Sandal Castle
23

Beamish Hall, Bowes Museum

Aire and Calder canal cruise (originally to be on the Leeds and Liverpool canal, but
this had too little water present)
Lectures:

Wildlife in danger

Iceland

Joseph Priestley – Yorkshireman and scientist

The next 20,000 miles: travels on the Rehu Moana catamaran

Fakes and forgeries

Animal, vegetable, mineral (identification by Museum staff of objects brought by
members)

Mainly about diamonds

Aspects of ethnography
1975-6
Trips:

Bradford Industrial Museum

Haddon Hall, Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet

Durham Cathedral, the Gulbenkian Museum
Lectures:

The story of the gramophone

The antique dealer

The Leeds parks, past, present and future

An archaeologist views his evidence

Ancient Egypt

Birds and bird gardens

The medieval English castle
1976-7
24
Trips:

Conisborough Castle, Roche Abbey

Sledmere House, Burton Constable Hall

Castleton, Lyme Park

Bath (weekend)
Lectures:

Unusual objects from the Museum’s collections

Yorkshire food

Schliemann at Mycenae

Mount Everest – south-west face

The supernatural

Alaska

The Industrial Museum
1977-8
Trips:

Gainsborough Old Hall, Lincoln Cathedral

The new Museum of Industry and Science ( Armley)

Rufford Old Hall, Smithells Hall, Hall I’the Wood
Lectures:

Unusual jewellery

Yorkshire food

English medieval cathedrals and abbeys

Costume

Birds in antiquity

East African safari

The Shetland Isles
25
1978-9
Trips:

Chatsworth House, Cannon Hall Museum

Ironbridge Gorge Museum
Lectures:

Simple methods of cleaning and restoring pottery, pewter, silver etc

Home amusements in the last century

Ceramics at Temple Newsam and Lotherton Hall

The Central American jungle and the Arizona desert

The natural history of Leeds

Geology

Dinosaurs
1979-80
Trips:

Burghley House

Haughton Towers, Townley House

Lotherton Hall

Beverley, Beningbrough Hall
Lectures:

Whitby jet

Shop signs of old England

Stycas (sic)

Folk life
1980-1
Trips:
26

Tatton Park, Jodrell Bank

Beamish open air museum

Bramham Park

Evening visit to Leeds Civic Hall
Lectures:

Jungles of Central America

History of Bramham Park

Japan, old and new

Coaching days of England

And puppy dogs tails

Gemstone sites of Britain

All that glitters
1981-2
Trips:

Nottingham, Wollaton Hall

Erddig
Lectures and films:

Film: the edge of evolution

Film: the curious history of money

A history of Meanwood

A naturalist in Siberia

behind the iron curtain

Christmas customs

Nineteenth century Leeds

The clothing industry in Leeds
1982-3
27
Trips:

York, including the Viking exhibitions

Liverpool’s museums
Lectures:

No details given
1983-4
Trips:

Hull

Styal Hall

Temple Newsam

Glasgow - Burrell Collection (weekend)

European Parliament and Baden Baden (week)
Lectures:

No details given
1984-5
Trips:

Stoke on Trent, Gladstone Pottery Museum

Liverpool International Garden Festival

Fountains Abbey

Wakefield: archives at County Hall

Amsterdam (week)
1985-6
Trips:
28

Ely, Cambridge

Leeds Civic Hall (evening visits)

Dunham Massey, Smithells Hall, Hall I’th Wood

London (weekend)
1986-7
Trips:

Stoke Garden Festival

Wigan Pier

Cusworth Hall

Northumberland: Wallington Hall, Berwick, Bamburgh Castle, Kielder, Raby Castle
(weekend)

Rheims, Antwerp, Waterloo, Epernay, Troyes (week)
1987-8
Trips:

Shibden Hall

Castlefield Museum (Manchester), Silk Museum (Macclesfield)

Beck Isle Museum, Pickering, Hutton-le-Hole

Burton-on-Trent, Sudbury Hall

Kelham Island Museums

Hadrian’s Wall

Harrogate Pump Room

Terracotta warriors exhibition (London)

Norwich (weekend)
29
1988-9
Trips:

Telford and Ironbridge (weekend)

Pocklington, Sledmere House, Burnby Hall

Carlisle (2 trips; via Settle and Carlisle railway)

Granadaland (Manchester)

Glasgow Garden Festival, Edinburgh, Melrose, Stirling, Bannockburn, Dunfermline
(weekend)

Dortmund, Siegen (week)
Lectures:

Busman’s holiday

English folk art

Social life in 18th Century Leeds

16th and 17th Century plasterwork in the Leeds area

Caphouse colliery – the development of the Yorkshire Mining Museum

A hundred years of the City Art Galleries

Himalaya 2 -Bhutan
1989-90
Trips:

Caphouse Mining Museum

East Riddlesden Hall

Fountains Abbey, Newby Hall

Beverley

Holmfirth

Bradford Industrial Museum

Bronte Parsonage
30

Catalyst Museum (Widnes), Liverpool Dock Development

Hereford, Worcester (weekend)

Colmar (Alsace; week)
Lectures:

A Nile journey

The museums of Ryedale
1990-1
Trips:

Nottingham

Whitby

Rufford Old Hall, Harris Museum (Preston)

Gateshead Garden Festival

Kedlestone Hall, Sudbury

Normanby Country Park and Hall, Scunthorpe Museum, Gainsborough Old Hall

Hull museums

Halifax museums

York museums

Bradford National Museum of Photography

Thwaite Mills

Isle of Man (weekend)

Normandy (week)
Lectures:

The museums of Calderdale

From the music box to the gramophone

A Nile journey

Thwaite Mills
31

The traditional food of Leeds

The museums of Ryedale

Pottery

The Mercer – Harrogate’s new art gallery
1991-2
Trips:

Sledmere, Wharram Percy

Peak District, Chatsworth

Museum of North Craven Life, Settle, Skipton Castle, Pateley Bridge,

Aldborough, Duncombe Park, Rievaulx Abbey

Leicester, Rutland

Lincoln

Bradford Colour Museum

Beamish open-air museum

Kirkstall Abbey

Tyneside (weekend)

Bavaria (week)

Portugal (week)
Lectures:

Mechanical musical instruments at Abbey House

Mainly diamonds

The king’s feasts

Natsef Amun, Priest of Thebes

The return of the Junin: bringing back a major Leeds locomotive from the Chilean
desert

The Mercer: Harrogate’s new art gallery
32

The campaigns of a Leeds suffragette

Phonographs at Armley Mills

Digging up the past

Armley’s greatest industry: the story of Leeds Forge

Half as old as time
1992-3
Trips:

Chester, Grosvenor Museum

Towneley Hall, Gawthorpe Hall, Padiham

Stoke on Trent

Derby, Calke Abbey

Doncaster, Conisborough Castle, Roche Abbey

Durham

Congleton, Macclesfield Silk Museums

Lowry Centre, Granada TV studio

Mercer Gallery, Harrogate

Wedgwood Centre, Stoke-on-Trent

Wakefield

St John’s Church (Leeds)

Cardiff, Ebbw Vale Garden Festival (weekend)
Lectures:

Cathedrals of England Wales

Half as old as time

Celtic art and buildings

The York Merchant Adventurers Guild

The work of the Leeds Civic Trust

Architecture in my sketchbook
33

The pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela

A history of food and cookery in Leeds
1993-4
Trips:

Peterborough, Wisbech

Windermere, Beatrix Potter Museum

Erddig

Grimsby and Barton-on-Humber Fisheries Centre

Hull, Burton Constable

Eden Camp

Pilkington Glass Museum, Port Sunlight

Grantham: Belton House, Woolsthorpe Manor

Temple Newsam House

Leeds Brewery Museum

Bruges, Amsterdam (week)
Lectures:

The future of archaeology in West Yorkshire

Old York

Leeds pottery

Heraldry in Leeds

Historic railways

Land of the midnight sun

A history of Leeds markets
1994-5
Trips:
34

Eden Camp

South Shields, Sunderland museums

Pickering, north Yorkshire moors

Port Sunlight, Birkenhead

Richmond, Hawes

Stamford, Burghley House

Quarry Bank Mill

Lotherton Hall

Chatsworth House, Buxton

Harrogate

Norwich (weekend)

Winchester, Bournemouth (week)

Madrid (week)
Lectures:

The Leeds museums collections – do they deserve a new Museum?

Resplendent isle – a tour of Sri Lanka

The Royal Armouries development in Leeds

A short visit to China

The embroideries in York Minster

Old and new in York
1995-6
Trips:

Leicester

Boston (Lincs)

Carlisle (by rail)

Stafford, Shugborough

Gawsworth Hall, Macclesfield
35

Boston

Saltaire

Sion House

Leicester

Sion Hill Hall

York Minster, Assembly Rooms

Temple Newsam

Kirkstall Abbey Centenary

Red House, Gomersal; Bagshaw Museum

Bath, Bristol (weekend)

Madrid (week)
Lectures:

The history of Roundhay Park

Victorian magic lantern slide show

The history of the LGI

The future of Leeds museums and galleries

Reflections on stained glass

European museums

Thackray Medical Museum
1996-7
Trips:

Harlaxton Manor

Dalemain: Penrith

Smithells Hall

Brodsworth Hall

Moravian settlement, Fulneck

Abbeydale
36

Bolling Hall, Cartwright Hall

Ripon

York Railway Museum

Royal Armouries

Thwaites Mill

Bolton

Halifax museums

Shadwell Lane synagogue, Leeds

Leeds Parish Church

Yards and alleyways of Leeds walk

Durham (weekend)

Loire valley (week)
Lectures:

The millennium tapestry

Bhutan

Old Leeds

Genealogy

Daimler special cars and royal transport 1896-1960

Byzantine and Crusader Cyprus
1997-8
Trips:

Hawes, Masham

Liverpool museums

Arley Hall, Gawsthorpe Hall

Bramham Hall and park

Burton on Trent, Sudbury Hall
37

Lost village of Lotherton

Crich Tramway Museum, Cromford Mill

Lichfield

Dean Clough, Halifax

Thackray Medical Museum

Haworth, Saltaire, Guiseley Parish Church

Cannon Hall

Edinburgh, Melrose, Stirling, Glasgow (weekend)

Berlin, Prague (week)
Lectures:

The statues and oddities of Leeds

Silver and the country house

The museums and culture of Malaysia and Singapore

Ladakh

Kirkstall Abbey and its artists

Small necessities of life: fans and fashion accessories
1998-9
Trips:

Grassington, Pateley Bridge

Leighton Hall, Carnforth

Rievaulx Abbey, Byland Abbey

Newby Hall and gardens

Pontefract

Sheffield

Lotherton Hall silver
38

Broughton Hall, Skipton

Castlefield (Manchester)

Horsforth, Bramhope, Ilkley Museum

Herriott Museum, Thirsk

Burton Constable Hall

Wakefield

Leeds riverside walks

Telford (weekend)

Strasbourg, Lille (week)
Lectures:

Coins – they don’t have to be round

Lotherton Hall – a house and its history

New initiatives for the multicultural gallery at the City Museum

St Anne’s Cathedral, Leeds

Roundhay Park and its history

Acid faced virgins
1999-2000
Trips:

Ferens Gallery, Trinity House, Guildhall: Hull

Beverley, Burton Constable Hall

Sunderland Glass Museum

Temple Newsam

Hull

Lotherton Hall

East Riddlesden Hall

Piece Hall, Parish Church: Halifax

Wakefield
39

Brownsholme Hall, Trough of Bowland

St Anne’s Cathedral: Leeds

Temple Newsam exhibition

Winchester (weekend)

London (weekend)

Dublin, Cork (week)
Lectures:

Plagues and potions

Harewood House

The great exodus – the evacuation of Leeds schoolchildren 1939-45

Stained glass

Children at work

A busman’s holiday to Istanbul
2000-1
Trips:

Rennishaw Hall: Sheffield

Bridlington, Burton Agnes Hall

Bowes Museum

Hemingbrough Minster, Selby Abbey

Sutton-on-the-Forest

Chester

Hardwick Hall

Wallsend

Selby Masonic collection, York

Lowry Centre
Lectures:

Leeds role in the industrial field during WWII
40

The history of the Jewish community in Leeds

The Bayeux Tapestry

Forest of Leeds

Housekeeping in the Victorian way
2001-2
Trips:

Chester

Hardwick Hall

Nostell Priory

Roman Wall

Selby Masonic Collection

Sheffield Millennium Galleries

Lowry Centre
Lectures:

Abbey House – Life after the Lottery

The representation of men and women in advertising and at work

Pressings on paper of ancient Egyptian carvings
2002-3
Trips:

Temple Newsam Conservation Centre

Yeadon Resource Centre

The Lowry

Castle Howard

Hadrian’s Wall

Lincoln

Oakwell Hall
41

Whitby

Nottingham, Cusworth Hall

Cliffe Castle
2003-4
Trips:

Lancaster

Lyme Park

Coxwold, Newburgh Priory, Helmsley

Rutland Water, Barnsdale Gardens

Burnby Hall Gardens, Pocklington

Standedge canal (cruise)

Sandringham

Leventhorpe wine tasting

The Deep, museums (Hull)

Chatsworth House Christmas

Abbey House

Canon Hall, Conisborough, Roche Abbey

Fairfax House (York)

Shibden Hall

Lake District (3 days)
2004-5
Trips:

Bolling Hall, Bradford Industrial Museum

Richmond, Kiplin Hall

Abbey House costumes
42

Thwaite Mills

Scarborough + castle

Yorkshire lavender, Scampston Hall

Epworth, Normanby Hall

Thorpe Perrow

Liverpool museums + galleries

Saltaire

Clarke Hall Christmas

Ely, Cambridge (weekend)
2005-6
Trips:

Newby Hall + Gardens

Sledmere House, Burton Constable

Carlisle, Tullie House Museum (by train)

Accrington, Haworth Art Gallery, Towneley Hall Country House

Durham: castle, cathedral

Pennine boat cruise (Christmas)

Abbey House Museum Christmas

Tissington Hall

Great Malvern (4 days)

Melrose, Jedburgh, Mallerstain, Berwick (weekend)
2006-7
Trips:

Wensleydale rail trip
43

Hovingham Hall, Kilburn

Stoneyhurst Public School, Hoghton Tower

Beamish Open Air Museum

Rossendale valley, Gawthorpe Hall (by train)

Northumberland (weekend)
2007-8
Trips:

Southwell Minster and Workhouse

Dunham Massey

Bridlington old town and Priory, Sewerby Hall

Markenfield Hall

Fountains Abbey

Deene Park

North York Moors railway, Whitby

Southwell Cathedral

Burghley House, Stamford

Nidderdale

Kedleston Hall, Bakewell

Leeds Discovery Centre

Wales (weekend)

Dorset (weekend)

Longleat, Baddesley Clinton, Packwood House, Cannons Ashby (weekend)
2008-9
Trips:

Arley Hall, Stapeley Water Gardens

Middleham Castle, Richmond Castle
44

Belvoir Castle

Moreton Hall

Coxwold, Ampleforth Abbey

Liverpool waterfront, Speke Hall

Arley Hall

Belvoir Castle

Tatton Park

Snowdonia (weekend)
2009-10
Trips:

Renishaw Hall, Clifton Park Museum

Sedbergh, Dent

Ashbourne, Calke Abbey

Anderton Boat Lift, Llangollen railway

Beverley

Muncaster Castle, Ravenglass

Thirsk, Mount Grace Priory

Imperial War Museum (Salford), Theatre Organ Heritage (Eccles)

Harris Museum and Art Gallery (Preston), Samlesbury Hall

Leeds Library
2010-11
Trips:

Cholmondley House and Gardens

Lichfield

Elton Hall

Helmsley, Rievaulx Abbey

Capesthorne Hall
45

Ellesmere Port Canal Boat Museum, Port Sunlight, Lady Lever Art Gallery

Croxteth Hall

Discovery Centre (John Harrison clock)
2011-2
Trips:

Lamport Hall, Cottesbrooke Hall

Crich Tramway Museum, Cromford Mill

Raby Castle, Barnard Castle

Newstead Abbey

Burton Constable, Hull museums

Wirral museums
2012-3
Trips:

Norton Priory

Boughton Hall, Sulgrave Manor

Wensleydale Railway, Hawes, Gayle Mill

Hardwick Hall

Donnington Hall, Lincoln Cathedral

Ripley Castle (by own transport)

Belton Hall

Macclesfield Silk Museums

Castle Howard Christmas
46
5
MEMBERSHIP NUMBERS (note that these are not always recorded accurately in
minutes)
1971-2
~300
1973-4
340
1974-5
252
1975-6
273
1976-7
~200
47
1977-8
234
1978-9
161
1979-80
135
1980-1
131
1981-2
160
1982-3
123
1983-4
158
1984-5
155
1985-6
206
1986-7
232
1987-8
272
1988-9
331
1989-90
322
1990-1
416
1991-2
468
1992-3
488
1993-4
~500
1994-5
~500
1995-6
419
1996-7
461
1997-8
418
1998-9
385
1999-2000
329
2003-4
385
2004-5
365
48
6
ACQUISITIONS AND SERVICES FUNDED BY THE FLCM
(AHM = Abbey House Museum; AM = Armley Mills; KA = Kirkstall Abbey; LAG = Leeds
Art Gallery; LCM = Leeds City Museum; LH = Lotherton Hall; TN = Temple Newsam;
[x]=cumulative total)
1977-8
Tankard and goblet (LCM)
-
1978-9
49
Tribal gift - New Guinea (LCM)
137-50
______
137-50
380
___
380
1979-80
Chinese gong (LCM)
[517-50]
1980-1
Dinosaur artefacts (LCM)
400
___
400 [917-50]
1982-3
Rail track (loan; AM)
Model of Leeds Theatre Royal (AHM)
(337)
200
___
200
[1,117-50]
1981-2
Loan re 2nd hand rail track (AM)
Model of Leeds Theatre Royal (AHM)
337-05
200
______
537-05 [1,654-55]
1983-4
Fowler’s locomotive (‘Jack’)? (AM)
375
___
375
[2,029-55]
1984-5
Audio equipment (LCM)
-
1985-6
Transfer of Royal Coat of Arms (AHM)
Railway models (AM)
993-50
947
_______
1,940-50
[3,970-05]
1988-9
Bhutan costumes (LCM)
188-46
______
188-46 [4,158-51]
1989-90
Direction signs (AHM)
1,361
_____
1,361 [5,519-51]
1990-1
50
Steel tobacco box: ‘William Williams, Hunslet 1730’ (LCM)
500
‘other’
208
___
708
[6,227-51]
1991-2
Beetle cabinets (LCM)
720
Beetle identification/cataloguing (LCM)
297-91
Print of old Leeds (Fielding; 1790; LAG)
5,250
Watercolour of Leeds Volunteers (Armitage; LAG) 1,250
Burmantofts Pottery: Marmion collection (AHM) 4,250
Conservation of bronze Burmese gong (LCM)
416
[Projector remote control (LCM)
154-52]
________
12,338-4 [18,565-94]
1992-3
Burmantofts pottery moulds, catalogues (AHM)
Photograph Albums
Coin cabinets
Magazines
Plate – Leeds Independent Order of the Ark
Baines costumes
850
289
512
50
135
?
_____
2,836 [21,401-94]
1993-4
Bacon slicer (19th century; German; LCM)
123
20th century Sarakatsani (Greece) costumes & jewellery (LCM)
2,050
20th century Nigerian costume (LCM)
100
____
2,273
[23,674-94]
1994-5
Modern African textiles/costumes (LCM)
Consultancy re developing ‘streets’ (AHM)
Catalogue re lichen collection (LCM)
110
200
?
___
310
[23,984-94]
1995-6
Litter bin (AHM)
Creation of Victorian garden (AM)
Display albums (AHM)
300
1,500
100
51
____
1,900
[25,884-94]
1996-7
Slide transparencies for museum staff use (all)
Monk’s outfits (AHM)
Donation to Leeds Millennium Tapestry (LAG)
700
24-22
200
_____
924-22
[26,809-16]
1997-8
Lightfoot costumes (AM)
George III silver tankard (TN)
Medieval tile replicas (?)
200
850
360
_____
1,410 [28,219-16]
1998-9
Notice boards (KA)
Kneelers: Leeds Parish Church
Lightfoot costumes (AM)
860
25
300
____
1,185
[29,404-16]
1999-2000
Wedding dress conservation (AHM)
Repair/re-upholstery: cinema love-seat (AM)
Repair to water wheel (AM)
Erard harp restoration (LH)
Restoration of 2 pianos (LH)
Bulbs/plaque (C Crossley; AM)
Signs (KA)
Slides: children at work (AM)
Leaflets – Museums Working Party
250
620
850
2,074
258
264
112-40
500
_______
4,928-40
[34,332-56]
2000-1
Restoration of two pianos at Lotherton Hall (LH)
2,131
“
“ Erard Harp “
“
“ (LH)
850
1802 Leeds Creamware mug (LH)
559
“Building Sights” Exhibition (AM)
5,500
Redevelopment of Abbey House (AH)
10,000
2001-2
Restoration of Steck pianola (AM)
“Going-going gone” Exhibition (AM)
Slides recording Egyptian Mouldings (paper)
1,145
1,300
518
52
______
19,040 [53,372-56]
Purchase of bench for Abbey House street (AHM)
Grant to conserve and repair significant items in
Museum collection (LCM)
Cost of slides
Plaque to commemorate site of original Leeds
Museum
550
624
89-90
200
_____
4,427 [57,799-46]
2002-3
Replacement wheelchair for use at AM
Repair of Morgan Lowry Clock (AHM)
199
550
___
749
[58,548-46]
2003-4
Egyptian books
(FLCM filing cabinet: AHM
169
69-33)
___
918
[58,717-46]
_____
2,067
[60,784-46]
_____
1,965
[62,749-46]
2004-5
Restoration of ceramics (AHM)
Purchase of silver chalices (LCM)
Egyptology Books
Catalogue of oil paintings (Leeds Collection)
648
750
169
500
2005-6
Plants for Mill Manager’s garden (AM)
Contribution to purchase of new cinema
projector (AM)
265
1,700
2006-7
Display Cabinet (AHM)
1,357-58
Contribution to purchase of important collection of
Leeds Creamware (LCM)
530
_______
1,888-58
[64,637-04]
2007-2008
Conservation of items to be displayed at
new Leeds Museum (LCM)
1,310
53
____
1,310
[65,947-04]
2008-2009
Restoration of Jack Engine (AM)
15,582
19th century painting of Briggate (R Cooke; LCM)
600
Leeds Rifles Regimental silver (AHM)
115-50
Contribution towards restoration of grand piano (LH)
1,000
Grant re opening of new City Museum
150
Re-siting of cup and ring stone (Horsforth)
500
(gift from Leeds Rotary Club – restoration of Leeds
Savage Club chair
500)
________
17,947-50
[83,894-54]
2009-2010
Reframing of medals (LH)
3,000
Conservation of prints (LCM; AHM)
1,906
Contribution to purchase of Phillip Treacy hat (LH)
250
Restoration of 18th century silk brocade dress (LCM) 750
______
5,906 [89,800-54]
2010-2011
McLintock dressing jacket (1875; TN)
Signage at Armley Mills (AM)
350
2,427-38
_______
2,777-38
[91,577-92]
2011-2012
Worth couture gowns
Leeds Music Festival Medals
Conservation and framing of posters (AHM)
West Yorkshire Saxon Gold Hoard (LCM)
Silver Snuff Box (AHM/LCM)
Contribution: restoration of Lotherton Hall
Drawing Room (LH)
Bronty golf club
2,500
125
1,075
5,000
90
7,500
125
______
16,415
[107,992-92]
2012-3
Gold post-medieval seal matrix (LCM)
Watercolour: ‘View of Leeds from Woodhouse Ridge’ –
Atkinson Grimshaw (LAG)
Drawing: ‘Industrial landscape’ – Jacob Kramer (LAG)
200
500
500
____
1,200 [109,192-92]
54
55