Kirkstall Culture
Abbey House Museum Indulge in Performance History
A great day out for all the family, the Abbey House Museum offers visitors the chance to step back in time and indulge in some 19th century retail therapy. The Stephen Harding Gate is a recreation of a Victorian high street, where you can wander through the streets, shops and residential areas, experiencing life as a Victorian. The ground floor of the museum even includes a life-size model of a Victorian Pub and a poorer residential district called Abbey Fold which explores life and death in that era. On ‘special event’ days you can see people in traditional Victorian costume wandering the streets. Additionally, upstairs, galleries feature the history of Kirkstall Abbey, Childhood, and Leeds Social History, as well as temporary exhibitions. Abbey House’s 2012 exhibition celebrates the glory of sporting success and performing arts, focussing on Leeds stars and performers. Exhibits range from Olympic medals to ventriloquist dummies, rugby shirts to theatre costumes.
FullCircle
Bespoke Design Emporium FullCircle Bespoke Design Emporium is an art gallery, creative outlet, studio and event space hidden just off the Kirkstall Road at Aire Place Mills. They describe themselves as “Purveyors of fine lifestyle paraphernalia” but essentially it is an unusual open plan space where you can enjoy and purchase design classics and collectibles in an amongst a working area. There’s a cafe, small bistro and take out service with Wifi and lighting and prop hire. Their events in the past have featured artists from the local Universities, club music nights, original toys and apparel from the Hang Gang and even live Jazz during their Sunday Roast. They also do Life Drawing classes, a cookery school and community horticulture swapshop!
Facebook is full of recommendations for this place:
“ Creativity drips from the walls. Everything is perfectly positioned & in the wrong place.” “ Lovely place, lovely food, lovely people. A hidden gem in Kirkstall, a must visit for everyone.”
Most interestingly, they hosted an event called Sneaky Experience which was a homage to Alfred Hitchcock and his film ‘Rear Window’. The event saw vintage 78 DJs, actors recreating scenes from the film, a beautiful dancer and everyone dressed in vintage Hollywood glamour, bringing the 1954 classic to life with the eccentricity that FullCircle have come to be known. I have not made it down yet but it sounds so intriguing, this has now become a must visit for next month! Visit them online at: www.fullcircleleeds.com or pop down yourself!
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