Artisans and Antiquarians

Warm autumnal sunshine filters through the windows into the reading room. Light illuminates a patch on a dark wooden table. Who has sa here before I wonder. The melodious voice of a busker enters the room, the sound carried down Commercial Street. The presence of historical men fills the room: a portrait of Ralph Thoresby. This room is also the meeting place for the Thoresby Society. White plaques detailing the achievements of Benjamin Gott and Thomas Ambler decorate the side of cabinets. Yet today the reading room is occupied by three women. One female member of the library is searching through the books in the Leeds Collection section, whilst another writes on her laptop beside me. To my right I see a collection of Leeds directories: Slater’s Directory, 1856, White’s Director 1853, Robinson’s Directory 1902-3, Stubb’s Directory, 1970 amongst many others; slivers of time encased in hardback covers. I pick up a copy of Gillbank Directory 1856 which describes Leeds as a market town and the centre of woollen manufacture in England. The directory refers to places which are still familiar landmarks in the city such as Cloth Hall Court and The Corn Exchange. The street directory also includes streets that are still part of the city: Hanover Square, Harehills Lane, Park Place and King Street. Various commercial enterprises are listed in the directory, some detailing former artisan skills: cutlers, drysalters, furriers and hackle and gill makers.

On top of one of the cabinets nearby a typewriter is on display, an object d'art rather than a working machine. I wonder what sorts of skills we take for granted now will become relics of a former age.