Morley Community Archives

Home
United Kingdom
Morley
Morley Community Archives

Morley Community Archives is a voluntary, non-profit making organisation which is devoted to promoting the heritage of Morley, now a part of Leeds.

07/09/2025

MCA is hosting a Heritage Open Day in Morley Public Library on Saturday, September 13th from 10 am to 3:30 pm.
A variety of displays, including one on the area’s milestones, will be available, following the National Heritage Open Day theme of Architecture.
Computerised slide shows and talks will be on show in the Computer room.
Clive McManus will give two talks:
At 11 am a PowerPoint presentation showing off the wonderful stained glass and furniture in Morley Town Hall.
At 2 pm another PowerPoint presentation describing the Changing Architecture of Morley in Borough and later times.
Members of MCA and M&D Family History Group will be happy to deal with any queries you may have.

26/10/2024

Morley Community Archives has just finished a video which gives a virtual tour of Morley Town Hall.

Every aspect of the building is considered. It's a legacy statement for the real-time tours organised over the years by George Atkinson, Joe Tetley and ourselves.

Enclosed are shots taken from the film in the various parts of the building.

The Mayor for 2023-24, Cllr Susan McGarroch, gave an introduction to the video. She was very helpful throughout the whole shoot.

Morley Town Council provided helpful financial support for this project.

Clive McManus of MCA described the details with help for Alan Briggs.
Steve Thompson of Ledgarad Computing provided the complex and lengthy technical assistance.

The video is 44 minutes long. It can be accessed on YouTube at the following link:

https://youtu.be/KaS9igPUlfw

06/08/2024

MCA will lead a guided tour of Historic Central Morley on Sunday 25th August. Starting at 10:30am from the Town Hall, we will describe the buildings of this area and the people who lived and worked in them.
There is NO charge but places are limited to 30 to ensure a more compact and friendly group. Individuals can book up to TWO places.
We recommend reasonably sturdy footwear but there are no steep inclines.
The tour will take about TWO hours and you can book your place at the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/952805676427?aff=oddtdtcreator

29/06/2024

MCA was saddened to hear about the recent death of Ronnie Barraclough.
We have the highest regard for all the work that he did, over many years, researching, writing and talking about the Heritage of Morley and Churwell.
We're especially grateful for the care he took for David Atkinson and his wonderful archive. Ronnie and Peter Aldred played a large part in ensuring that David's archive was preserved and catalogued for Leeds Libraries.
His book on Morley Entertainers with David Reekie remains a classic reference book as does his study of the Morley Pavilion.
He gave his time freely on matters of Heritage. We're planning to make sure that his contributions will be remembered and be available for future study.

24/06/2024

Today at the Monday Club, Lorraine Smith told how she found an old Tudor document in her bookshop in Australia. In a determined way she found details of this, showing that it was a conveyance in Gildersome in 1583. MCA was able to help with further details. Then Lorraine found how the document arrived in Australia with descendants of Reuben Brown, a distinguished Morley figure in the late 19th Century. Ably assisted by her husband Neil, she gave a superb, detailed and funny talk which held the audience completely. Clive and Julie from MCA were happy to be present and later had a good chat with this intrepid couple who visited previously in 2015.

03/10/2023

Yesterday we received the sad news that our Life Member, Kath Richer, had died after a long illness.
Kath contributed a great deal to the technical and social development of MCA. Her knowledge of computer systems proved invaluable in setting up our photo archive and website. She was a keen and willing worker, helping MCA to put on a goodly number of public displays and entertainments. Her video of the Morley Fashion from the 19th Century to the 1960s remains a classic of its kind. Here is a photographic tribute to her.

18/09/2023

The Mayor, Cllr Susan McGarroch and Mayoress Cllr Christine Bell, invited three MCA members to attend when they welcomed two visitors, Ann (née Gissop) Connell and Frank Taylor to the Town Hall. Ann presented the Mayor with a photograph of the Opening of the Town Hall which was presented to her great-grandfather Miles Gissop in late 1899. At a time of national urgency during the Boer War, Miles told locals of the time when he and a group of Lancers had led a successful operation in the Zulu War of 1879. Morley was raising money for the dependents of reservists who were going to South Africa in numbers to support the beleagured troops there. We're told the talk raised £9 (now equal to near £950) and the town presented Mr Gissop with the signed photograph in thanks for his efforts. Ann was gratified when we at MCA could give her further information about the event and other family members.

19/08/2023

Our interesting and enjoyable time at the Leeds North 2023 Event at Gildersome.

02/07/2023

We were pleased to receive an invitation from Michelle Carter of Bamboo Bakehouse, inviting us to take part in the 'Paw-tea in the Park' - a fabulous event in Dartmouth Park. We loved seeing all the dogs parading around on their best behaviour and we were able to show and discuss some of the Park and how it came into being. Thanks so much Michelle for arranging a lovely day.

12/05/2023

Just 100 years ago today, early on a Saturday morning, a tram ran out of control on Churwell Hill with dreadful consequences.
The tram, 191 in the Leeds system, had left Bruntcliffe at 6:45am and was travelling to Meanwood in Leeds. It was practically full with around 50 passengers. Many were going to work with Ingles' Leather workers amongst them.
After the compulsory stop at Victoria Street on Churwell Hill at just after 7:05am, the braking system of the tram, which was not efficient, failed and the driver lost control. Others tried to help him without success. The tram veered off its rails and crashed into a wall, turning over on its side.
The locals rallied around with help as did people from the Leather works who had some medical equipment. Even so, many needed treatment in Leeds hospitals.
It was probably the worst accident in the history of the Leeds tram system. For Morley, only two disasters in Collieries during the 19th Century could compare with it: 7 people were killed, 8 had serious injuries and 40 had minor injuries.
We hope to give a fuller account at a later date.

17/12/2022

This post shows that a United Services Club was opened on High Street 100 years ago on 16-December-1922 for the benefit of all those who had served in the Great War. The Mayor, Joseph Harrop openeď club and was presented with a key to the premises. He also made the point that some of these men had not been able to get proper housing to continue with their lives.
We have put this post up because we would like to know what relation this original club, designed by the well-known local architects, T.A. Buttery and son, bears to the preent club, also on High Street.
And we also express our gratitude at this time for all those of the joint services who have sacrificed so much in the service of our country.

09/09/2022

Important announcements

We do grieve for the loss of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

However we feel it is still appropriate to continue with the Heritage Open Day at Morley Town Hall. Displays are already in place and the tours will take place at 10:30am and 2pm. The Mayor, Oliver Newton will be present and he will show tourists his Mayoral Parlour.

BUT: As a sign of respect, we have decided to CANCEL the Heritage Trail walk on Sunday 11-September. We hope this will not seriously inconvenience anyone but feel that this is an appropriate mark of respect.

Address

Morley Public Library, Commercial Street, Leeds
Morley

Website

http://www.morleyarchives.org.uk/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Morley Community Archives posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organisation

Send a message to Morley Community Archives:

Shortcuts

Want your organisation to be the top-listed Government Service in Morley?