Author: Clive

The film begins over 3,000 years ago with a local Bronze Age site. It then visits our local Roman road, followed by the events of 1066. We then find out about the major families, the lives of locals in Medieval times & the importance of Kirkstall Abbey & Esholt Priory to the people in this area. 

Sheep and textiles then changed everything culminating in the Industrial Revolution, many factories – and the population grew rapidly.

Finally, we reach modern times (2002).   Since then, there have been many changes and the amount may surprise you.

As far as I am aware this film is the only one ever made about Aireborough.

After the interval (no ice-creams I’m afraid, just tea/coffee & biscuits) we hope to premier a short film about Thwaites Watermill in South Leeds.  Sadly, this important industrial museum was closed by Leeds City Council last spring to save some money.   A member of our Rawdon Local History Group visited the mill on its last day, and made a film about the mill and its history. 

I attach the ACS publicity poster. We have put copies in local libraries.

It would be much appreciated if you are able to put details on social media sites and please pass these details on to anyone who might be interested.

New members and observers are especially welcome as we continue with the vision of ‘Making Aireborough a better place to live’.  Aireborough Civic Society has been doing just that for over 50 years – it was set up in 1972.

This is our 5th community meeting of the year. This month Dr. David Hopes, Head of Leeds City Council Museums & Art Galleries Department will be our guest.   He will be telling us about a new Heritage Framework for Leeds.   It will also be an opportunity to find out future plans for our museums – a very important part of our heritage and great places to take visitors to.   Coincidentally Leeds has just been awarded nearly one million pounds to support its museums.

There will also be an update on the launch of a ‘Friends of Micklefield Park’ group since our last meeting and on this months planting of Yeadon High Street with flowers and bulbs for next Spring. 

 Some of our local councillors will also be at the meeting and they will be reporting on other local issues and there will be an opportunity to those attending to talk about interests and concerns. 

Have you been on television?  Mastermind, University Challenge, Blockbusters, Weakest Link, Bargain Hunt, Generation Game, Blankety Blank?
If you haven’t – find out what it is like?  If you have, you can compare your experience with Malcolm’s!
The next ACS talk takes place at 7.30pm on Tuesday 30th September at Rawdon Library.Malcolm Johnson will be joining us again to tell us about his experience learning to drive in the TV series ‘The Undriveables:   The title ”Famous for 12 Minutes”.

It is guaranteed to be an entertaining evening, so let your friends know.

Aireborough Civic Society has its next Community Meeting, on 29^th July, Next Tuesday 7.30pm at Rawdon Library (the library Aireborough Civic Society helped save from closure in 2012!).  

New members and observers are especially welcome as we continue with the vision of ‘Making Aireborough a better place to live’.  Aireborough Civic Society has been doing just that for over 50 years – it was set up in 1972.

This is our third community meeting of the year. We shall be discussing improving our local parks and green spaces. A representative from Leeds City Council Parks Department will be present as well as some of our local councillors.  They will be reporting on other local issues.  

We shall also be looking at the very important next Local Plan for Leeds as the consultation has started and continues until September 15th.

The Leeds Local Plan is a set of documents outlining planning policies that guide development in the Leeds district, including the amount and location of housing, industry, and services. It is a legal framework aiming for sustainable growth and development, and is reviewed every five years. Currently, Leeds City Council is consulting on a new Local Plan, covering the period 2022-2042, with a consultation period running until September 15, 2025.

The previous plan almost led to house building on 4 important Green Belt sites, and failed to deal with our congestion issues, so it is important that the Civic Society and as many residents as possible are involved.

Dear Members & Friends, The History of Harrogate as a Spa – THURSDAY 26th June, 7.30pm at Rawdon Community Library

This month our special guest speaker is Paul Jennings giving an illustrated talk about the Spa History of Harrogate.  I heard Paul give this talk earlier in the year and found it thoroughly enlightening and entertaining.  Over the years we have visited Harrogate many times but had never realised how important the Spa waters were in the growth and development of the town we see today.   
NB  This talk is on a Thursday (not our normal day) 26^th June.
The spa was a popular destination for the wealthy and elite of Victorian England. Notable figures included Charles Dicken who visited in 1858 Tsarina Alexandra of Russia, wife of Nicholas II, visited the Royal Pump Room in 1911. The spa town also attracted royalty like Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood.

“World Famous Monuments”

                  A journey around the world. A Talk by Eric Jackson