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Step Into the Industrial Age at Armley Mills
Step Into the Industrial Age at Armley Mills
Armley Mills, once the largest woollen mill in the world, is now home to Leeds Industrial Museum. Set beside the River Aire, this historic site tells the story of Leeds’ rise as a centre of textiles, engineering, and film. Inside, you’ll find giant spinning machines, powerful steam engines, recreated Victorian streets, and even one of the smallest working cinemas in the world.
On our visit, we will explore different galleries and workshops. You’ll discover how cloth was made, how steam power changed the world, and how early cinema brought stories to life. Along the way, look into fascinating stories about the workers, inventors, and pioneers who shaped Leeds’ industrial past. There will be time to look around, ask questions, and imagine life during the Industrial Revolution.
The Timetable for the Trip
The Timetable for the Trip
0:00 – Meet at CES Leeds’s common room for a welcome and safety briefing by Activity Leaders.
0:05 – Depart CES Leeds and travel by a public bus to Armley Mills.
0:30 – Arrive at Armley Mills. The group gathers outside the entrance. Activity Leader gives an introduction to the museum.
0:35– Begin the visit in the Textile Galleries (spinning & weaving machines).
0:50 – Move to the Steam Engines and Engineering Hall.
1:20 – Explore the Victorian Streets and Workshops.
1:40 – Visit the 1920s Picture Palace cinema and learn about Leeds’ film history.
2:00 – Regroup in front of the entrance. Prepare for departure; students gather belongings and use restrooms if needed.
2:10 – Leave Armley Mills and begin the return journey by a public bus.
2:30– Arrive back at CES Leeds.
Textile Galleries 🧵
Textile Galleries 🧵
Discover how Leeds led the way in the wool and textile industries. From spinning wheels to giant looms, you’ll see the machines that once filled the mill with noise and activity.
Look out for: The huge spinning mules and weaving looms in action.
Fun fact: At its peak, Armley Mills employed hundreds of workers and produced cloth sold all over the world!
Steam Engines and Engineering
Steam Engines and Engineering
Step into the power house of the Industrial Revolution. The museum’s collection of working steam engines shows how coal and steam transformed factories, transport, and daily life.
Look out for: The enormous 1904 steam engine that once powered the mill.
Fun fact: Leeds was famous for engineering — it produced locomotives exported as far as India and South America.
Cinema and Film 🎥
Cinema and Film 🎥
Explore one of the oldest cinemas in Leeds, recreated inside the museum. Learn how the city helped shape early film technology and enjoy screenings in the cosy 1920s-style Picture Palace.
Look out for: Vintage film posters and the working cinema projector.
Fun fact: The museum’s cinema is believed to be the smallest working cinema in the world!
Victorian Leeds
Victorian Leeds
Wander through recreated Victorian streets and workshops, showing the everyday lives of people during the industrial era. Peek into small shops, homes, and workplaces.
Look out for: The Victorian schoolroom and cobbled street scenes.
Fun fact: Children as young as 8 once worked in mills like Armley, often for more than 12 hours a day.
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