Thank you Heritage Lottery Fund!

Head teacher Gill Young is delighted at the outcome of the school's funding bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund:

“This project gives our students a unique opportunity to learn new skills and get actively involved in researching and preserving local history. Burley is a very interesting and historic place. As you can see from the photos, our school building is itself a local landmark and dates back to the 1870’s. 

Burley is a very diverse area reflecting the fact that many people from the Caribbean and Asian subcontinent came to live here in the 1950s and 1960s to work in local mills, with new communities arriving more recently from Eastern Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe. We hope that local residents will come forward to be interviewed and bring their memorabilia to show the children.”

Burley's rich heritage

Burley was shaped by the Industrial Revolution as the rapid growth of mills and other industrial buildings along the river Aire led to an influx of workers who settled in the area. The area, which is characterised by densely packed, red brick Victorian terraced houses, has become home to communities and people from many different parts of the world. 

Introduction to Burley Champions

With funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, children from Rosebank Primary School in Leeds are going to make an oral history film, interviewing older people with memories of old Burley. 

The project will capture the history of the area through their lived experiences and stories. A group of pupils (the Burley Champions) are being trained to do oral history interviews, asking questions about the area and how it has changed. 

The film will promote the history of Burley locally and worldwide!  There will be a film premiere at the historic Hyde Park Picture House and DVD’s of the film will be distributed to all the families in school and local organisations with an interest in the history of Burley. 

Information from the project will also be featured on a world famous history website, History Pin (www.historypin.com).

Post up your memories of Burley here and share your old photos and stories with us!