Exhibition to celebrate 400 years of Leeds

Leeds City Council is calling on residents to submit items for an upcoming display celebrating 400 years of the city.

Leeds 400, which opens in September, will commemorate 400 years since it was awarded its first City Charter by King Charles I.

Items wanted include photographs, stories, artwork or fanzines "which capture important moments and people or which hold a deep personal or community meaning", a council spokesperson said.

Antony Ramm, Leeds Central Library's special collections librarian, said: "What we'd really love is for people to share some of those personal moments and memories which define what Leeds really means to them so they can be part of celebrating this very special year."

The council said the exhibition would feature "heritage treasures" from the library's special collections, as well as images of Leeds captured by artists and photographers over the centuries.

Ramm said: "Leeds 400 is all about bringing the history and heritage of Leeds to life and commemorating one of the defining moments in the city's long story.

"But it's also about the many people, events and communities who, through the ages, have contributed to making Leeds such a unique and remarkable place in millions of small but significant ways."

Other items that will be part of the exhibition include a copy of Ralph Thoresby's Ducatus Leodiensis, known as the first written history of Leeds, as well as a microfilmed collection of material from the life and career of "pioneering" Leeds feminist Mary Gawthorpe, the council said.

More modern items will also join the collection, including tickets to gigs and football fanzines.

Councillor Asghar Khan, Leeds City Council's executive member for housing and hubs, said: "Leeds has been built by the many vibrant and diverse communities who have made the city their home over the centuries and by exploring and sharing their stories and memories, we can showcase exactly why this is such an incredible place."

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