Armley Mills Industrial Museum, Leeds

There's a name you don't often see here...

I am professionally involved with the team at Armley now, and we would like to canvas interest in creation of a working group to practically assist in the care, maintenance and restoration of the important collection of rail and industrial relics on site.

I do not wish to go over the past, how things have got to where they are now, and neither is this a challenge to any of the existing partnerships or loans that Leeds Museum have built up.

This is a golden opportunity to make the most of the collection on site and take it forward in a positive and practical way, beginning with the clearing of the undergrowth around the outside collection items and assessment of future projects.

Some here I know have already expressed an interest to the museum, but I have now been asked to see how many folks would be willing to give some time to assisting, either on weekdays or weekends - and we will be in touch once we have an idea of numbers in perhaps a couple of weeks.

Many thanks
Anthony

 

This sounds like a very positive development. Shame I'm now living 200 miles away.

Richard

 

A positive development indeed. The collection couldn't be in better hands, and it will be very interesting to see what happens with the likes of 'Hodbarrow' and "the model" in the coming months and years.

 

Excellent, I have always loved the museum

 

Just to set the record straight - this isn't a takeover by NRM, I am only involved on an advisory (and bramblebashing) level. Administration, ownership etc remains in the hands of Leeds Museums and thanks to all who have so far responded.

 

A month on and there have been about 8-9 positive responses, thank you. I've passed details on to Nina Baptiste, Acting Curator at Armley, and you'll be hearing from her about the launch soon. We had a working day there today, with three NRM staff and a dozen Leeds Museums staff clearing the undergrowth around the objects in the storage yard. Things are happening.

 

Like Richard If I was still up in Leeds I'd be there. Great to hear things going forward.

Duncan

 

Lived down the road from there for a year whilst at University, would have loved the chance to volunteer there, good luck with the venture

 

Pardon me for Bumping an old thread, but how are things there now?

 

Anthony - I don't know if this is any help, but my brother was involved with a Young Curator project at Leeds Museum, they've done 2 exhibits there so far. His personal interest is in the ancients but I was wondering if you wanted me to ask him about contact details for who runs it if you want to do something similar?

 

Slightly off topic, but what's the plans for the Broad Gauge (?) Wheelsets at the mills? And is the location of the frames known? Pictorial evidence seems to suggest that the frames also arrived at the mills, but last time I went a couple of years ago the staff kindly took me to see the wheelsets, there was no sign of the frames. Has anyone ever measured them to ascertain if they are indeed still broadgauge, or were they regauged at some point in their life (they looked a bit closer to Standard gauge when I saw them, but that may have just been down to the way they were stored, sadly I didn't have a tapemeasure to check)?

 

I'm sure a fair few articles suggest it was, like this one for example...
GWR 2807 Articles

Regardless of the gauge however, what's the plans for it and where's the frames and motion at the moment as only the wheels were apparent last time I visited?

 

Thanks for the renewed interest. There's been a collections review and I would expect some announcements and progress soon.

There have been a few issues over the administration of the volunteer scheme and again, we hope that this is nearly sorted. Why not join us?

As for the OWW loco, the frames and motion are in the same store as the wheels, and there are plans to re-erect them in the reasonably near future given sufficient resources. As far as I am aware, it was never a broad gauge loco and the EB Wilson works list has it down as being standard gauge when built.

 

I stand corrected then, certainly the impression that was given from a few quarters was that the wheels were infact broadgauge, which if it was listed as Standard Gauge as built then this is infact not the case.

I'm glad the frames and motion are still in the same store and that at some point they will be reassembled , I must have missed them on my visit.

 

Yes, the frames and motion were behind you when you took those pics and the cylinders to the right.

 

Any progress on this, or are the bits still in store?

 

Yes, they've been on display in one piece since last July I'm pleased to say

 

Good news - I'll make sure to drop in and have a look next time I'm passing.