Burt & Grady in Conversation
The Leeds Library, 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.
More information about Burt & Grady in Conversation tickets
Steven Burt and Kevin Grady’s The Illustrated History of Leeds was the first comprehensive history of the city, and has remained a must-read ever since. To mark the 30th anniversary of its publication, the authors of this meticulously-researched and lavishly illustrated book, in conversation with Michael Meadowcroft, will talk about how it came about and the fun and challenges they had in researching and writing it. They will also chat about subsequent publications and their fascinating roles in promoting interest in the history of Leeds and protecting its heritage. Their more recent joint publications include A History of Kirkgate from Earliest Times to 1800 (2016) and The Remarkable History of Hunslet (2022). This event is brought to you in partnership with The Thoresby Society. https://www.thoresby.org.uk/index.html Steven Burt’s lifelong interest in the history of Leeds and his contribution to education was formally acknowledged when he received an Honorary Doctorate of Education from Leeds Metropolitan University. He is former Museum Director of the Royal Armouries and Area Manager for Education Leeds, and played a major role in setting up the Thackray Museum of Medicine. He was a director of Leeds Sustainable Development Group and a Visiting Professor of History at the University of Huddersfield Dr Kevin Grady is very well known as a lecturer and writer about the history and development of Leeds. He was a lecturer in Economic History at Exeter and Leeds Universities before becoming Director of Leeds Civic Trust for almost thirty years. In 2014 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by Leeds Beckett University and in 2017 given the Leeds Award by Leeds City Council - both in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the heritage and regeneration of Leeds. He is the Patron of the Thoresby Society. Michael Meadowcroft was MP for Leeds West from 1983 to 1987, having first been elected as a member of Leeds City Council in 1968, leading the Liberal group for a large part of his time as a ward member. He was a trustee of the Electoral Reform Society and is a member of the society’s governing council.