Here is a surprise: the official archive of Leeds City Council is not in the city centre at all — it sits in Morley. The Leeds office of the West Yorkshire Archive Service preserves more than 800 years of the city’s documentary memory, from the 12th century to today.
Inside are parish registers for tracing family history, deeds, maps and plans, photographs, council and court records — the raw material behind books like the histories on this site. The online catalogue alone has over a million entries, and browsing it is free.
Visits are by appointment only. The search room opens Tuesday to Thursday, 9.30am–4pm. You must book at least a week ahead and pre-order the documents you want to see — originals are fetched from the strongrooms for your visit. Visiting is free, and there is free parking outside.
📍 Nepshaw Lane South, Morley, Leeds LS27 7JQ — Google Maps
Book: 0113 535 3010 · leeds@wyjs.org.uk
Catalogue and details: West Yorkshire Archive Service