Check this page for changes or additions to our programme throughout the year

Unless otherwise stated meetings begin at 7.45pm in the  Verity Room of East Keswick Village Hall.

About the Group

East Keswick Local History Group was formed in 2001.  In addition to our regular meetings we hope to publish the results of further research and we are building up an archive of local source material.

Who can join?

You don’t have to be actively involved in researching local history. If you have an interest in the history of East Keswick and the surrounding area you should find our programme interesting. For an annual subscription (currently £10) members will receive a newsletter, and entrance to most meetings will be free.  Non members pay a small fee at each meeting.

Sunday 7th February: a meeting organised by the Leeds Vernacular Buildings Group.Following that Group’s involvement in our own Buildings Day School last April  they  were keen to return to the village for one of their meetings.  Margaret Moseley will provide an introduction to the buildings in our landscape and there will be a short report following up on the recording carried out last April. There will also be an opportunity to learn of some recent recording carried out by the Group throughout Yorkshire. The event will run from 12.15 – 7.30pm  with   ample refreshments  and finishing with a social. Participants will need to book either for the whole session with food or just the talks. Contact Liz Parr on 572867 (e mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   )  by 18^th January.  

**Thursday 11 February:  "Plains and Prospects: a biography of the Harewood Estate c1698-1813" - a talk by Tim Taglioglu, who led our guided tour around Harewood Estate last July.

**Thursday 15 April: "Heritage Leeds - disaster averted".  A talk by Dr Kevin Grady, Director of the Leeds Civic Trust.

Tuesday 22 June  a visit to Bramham House.  We will be having a guided tour of the House, which will start at 2pm.  The price is £10 per person.  If you're interested in coming along, please contact Liz Parr (tel 572867)

 **Thursday 30 September: Annual General Meeting, followed by presentations on parts of the Group's archives.

**Thursday 4 November: to be confirmed

**Thursday 16 December: Christmas meeting             

  ** 7.45pm in the Verity Room, East Keswick Village Hall

Several of our members are interested in the historic landscape and a small group have been involved in field walking. There are also untapped sources relating to the 19th century social history of the village.  If you are interested in these or any other topics contact the secretary.

East Keswick Local History Archive

We are obtaining copies of documents from local and national record offices including parish registers, census material, rentals and surveys. (For full details of the records we hold contact the email address below). We also have maps, aerial photographs and accounts of days gone by from older residents. Some of our material, including books on the history of the surrounding area, can be borrowed by local members. We are always interested to hear from anyone who might be able to add to our collection or anyone who can send us information, (e.g. old photographs, or deeds of houses and land).

Ongoing activities

The discovery of a 19th C manuscript in the vestry has proved a very interesting resource. It includes a local census dated 1816 as well as boundary surveys and other records relating to the years before and after the enclosure awards of 1801.  A preliminary survey of the landscape of Ox Close has revealed a pattern of terraces which warrant further investigation and as part of our interest in the development of our rural landscape we are considering a survey of some of our older buildings.

East Keswick Millennium Book

Our group was set up as a result of work done to produce The East Keswick Millennium Book  (ed. A Batty) in 2000.  All copies have now been sold but are available in local libraries and might be found second hand.

Heritage Trail

A colour brochure describing two routes around the village was published in September 2004. This project, designed to increase enjoyment and awareness of our rural heritage, was supported by the Countryside Agency and includes two information boards within the village.  Copies of the brochure can be obtained from Andy Batty, 6 Keswick Grange, East Keswick LS17 9BX and the village shop.

Liz Parr, secretary, email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it