Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills

The mill dates from the 16th century and had expanded to become the world’s largest woollen mill by the end of the 18th century, complete with 18 fulling stocks and 50 looms. It continued to operate as a woollen mill up until 1971 and it was opened as a museum in 1982.

The mill’s location on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal meant that wool could be shipped to the mill directly from Botany Bay in Australia and Armley Mills was the first place in England to receive direct shipments of Australian wool.

What to see at Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills

The museum has exhibits on Leeds’ industrial heritage with displays on engineering and the textile and clothing industries. Much of its attraction lies in visiting the enormous mill complex with much of it set up with original industrial machinery to show what it would have been like during its Industrial Revolution heyday.

The museum’s Textile Gallery is set up to show the complete woollen manufacturing process from carding to pressing including spinning, weaving, cropping and cutting. This gallery includes the machinery (some of which is still in working condition) that would have been used in this and other textile mills during the 18th and 19th centuries.

The Tailoring Gallery highlights Leeds’ role in launching high street fashion brands.

Media in the Mill is a gallery that focuses on the creative industries in Leeds and it includes early moving image cameras and photography equipment as well as an impressive collection of printing presses.

The museum is also home to the Palace Picture House. This cosy 24-seat cinema is one of the world’s smallest 1920s-era cinemas.

The Power House gallery on the lower level is home to a large collection of steam engines.

The restored Manager’s Cottage is set up to depict how a mill manager would have lived during the Victorian era.

Visiting Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills

Leeds Industrial Museum is located at a former woollen mill wedged between the River Aire and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. It is around 2.8km (1¾ miles) west of the city centre and it is just a short walk to Cardigan Fields retail park.

You can get here, either by taking a bus to Cardigan Fields and then walking 6–7 minutes to the museum or you can take the half-hour walk from the city centre, with much of the walk alongside the Leeds and Liverpool Canal

The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday; it is closed on Mondays.

If you enjoyed this museum, you may also want to visit the Bradford Industrial Museum.