Bradford Heritage Festival 2026

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  • Image of Bradford Beck with a small stone bridge across it. The image shows a blue sky and a green field

    Guided Walk with the Aire Rivers Trust / Friends of Bradford’s Becks

    FULLY BOOKED Join us for a guided walk of Bradford’s Becks. Along the way you will learn about the natural and industrial heritage of these becks, and hopefully see some special wildlife along the way. Meeting Point: FULLY BOOKED Walk is Free of Charge aireriverstrust.org.uk bradford-beck.org

  • Photograph of a museum or archive display about mauve dye. In the foreground, a framed portrait of a bearded Victorian man stands beside a small glass bottle labelled “Mauveine,” with strands of deep purple yarn draped around the frame. Soft bundles of wool roving in shades of lilac and purple are arranged on a table. Bookshelves and archival storage materials are visible in the background. The display highlights the history of the synthetic purple dye mauveine and its impact on the textile industry.

    From Archive to Aniline: 170 Years of Mauvine

    The SDC Textile Collection at the Society of Dyers and Colourists Perkin House Bradford BD1 2LU

    Join us at the SDC Textile Collection celebrating 170 years since William Henry Perkin’s discovery of mauvine. Explore historic textiles, chemical innovation, and the birth of synthetic colour, with opportunities to view additional treasures from the archive alongside displays, stories, and expert insights on display. Free drop in

    Free
  • Photograph of a woman sitting cross-legged on the floor inside a canvas tent, smiling while holding and playing a small wooden ukulele. She wears a white long-sleeved top under patterned dungarees with a leafy design and colourful knitted socks. Behind her, a low table holds a wicker basket, feathers, and other props. The warm, cream-coloured interior of the tent creates a cosy and informal atmosphere, suggesting a storytelling, music, or educational activity.

    Story Telling with Sophia Hatfield

    Bronte Parsonage Bronte Parsonage Museum, Church Street, Haworth

    Listen to Sophia Hatfield’s entertaining take on local stories and folklore – with music costume and props! ‘Drop in’ between the above times. Suitable for all ages. Free to Museum visitors

    Free
  • Exterior view of Bradford Playhouse, a theatre building on a city street in Bradford. The central façade is painted white with purple detailing around the lower level and roofline, creating a striking contrast with the historic stone buildings on either side. A black canopy extends over the main entrance, which is reached by a short flight of steps. Pink bunting is strung across the front of the building, and the overcast sky and quiet street create a subdued urban atmosphere.

    Bradford Playhouse Guided Tour

    Bradford Playhouse, 4-12 Chapel Street, Bradford, BD1 5DL

    Step inside our historic Art Deco building and uncover its story from the 1920s through to today. You’ll hear about the influence of Bradford-born writer J. B. Priestley and his belief in theatre that reflects real lives and communities.We’ll also explore the legacy of Esmé Church, a pioneering director, actor and teacher who led the […]

    Pay as you feel
  • Close-up photograph of a stained-glass window panel featuring a small wren perched beside a spider’s web with a tiny spider. The bird is illustrated in fine black linework with subtle brown and yellow colouring. The central diamond-shaped panel is bordered by blue, green, and yellow geometric stained-glass pieces, with raindrops visible on the glass and a blurred outdoor landscape in the background. The image highlights the delicate craftsmanship and nature-inspired design of the stained glass.

    Exploring Traditional Stained Glass Painting

    Studio 1, South Square Centre, Thornton, BD13 3LD

    This hands on workshop introduces the techniques of traditional stained glass painting used in medieval and historic stained glass. You will explore tracing, matting and shading with vitreous paint working directly onto glass. BOOKING IN ADVANCE is required for this CHARGED workshop. https://www.samanthayates.org/online/p/exploringtraditionalglasspainting

    £75
  • Exterior view of Bradford Playhouse, a theatre building on a city street in Bradford. The central façade is painted white with purple detailing around the lower level and roofline, creating a striking contrast with the historic stone buildings on either side. A black canopy extends over the main entrance, which is reached by a short flight of steps. Pink bunting is strung across the front of the building, and the overcast sky and quiet street create a subdued urban atmosphere.

    Bradford Playhouse Archive Session

    Bradford Playhouse, 4-12 Chapel Street, Bradford, BD1 5DL

    Stay on for a deeper dive into our archives, with original programmes, photographs, and stories from nearly a century of theatre-making. From early productions to the Playhouse we know today, it’s a chance to get properly stuck into the history – and the people – that built it. A lovely way to spend an afternoon […]

    Free
  • Sepia-toned historic photograph of Keighley Library in the 1950s. The large stone civic building stands on a street corner, featuring decorative Victorian architecture, arched entrances, and rows of diamond-shaped windows. A Union flag flies from the roof, while pedestrians walk along the pavements and cross the road in front of the library. Mature trees frame the scene, and road markings, traffic islands, and vintage street furniture reflect the mid-twentieth-century urban setting.

    A History of Keighley Library (Presentation)

    Keighley Local Studies Library, Keighley Library, North Street, Keighley, BD21 3SX

    An illustrated talk on the history of Keighley Library, the first Andrew Carnegie financed library in England, which opened in 1904 – taking place in the library itself. Free event, no need to book.

    Free
  • Illustrated poster promoting the Bradford Heritage Festival, organised by Bradford Heritage Connection. The design features stylised landmarks and symbols associated with Bradford’s history, including a tall Victorian clock tower, a domed building, a vintage bus, a textile wool skein, an industrial mill chimney, and an ink bottle with a quill pen. The artwork uses a palette of blues, oranges, and golds, with the text “Bradford Heritage Festival” prominently displayed in the centre and the festival dates, “13–19 July 2026,” shown at the bottom right. The background includes rolling hills and industrial silhouettes, reflecting Bradford’s cultural and industrial heritage.

    The Community Cookbook

    Bradford Local Studies Library, Margaret McMillan Tower, BD1 1NN

    Join us for a special celebration as we launch The Community Cookbook — a heart‑warming collection of recipes. Enjoy an afternoon of stories, community spirit and a talk from The Cinderella Club, and their work to bring free school meals to Bradford. This intimate event takes place at Bradford Local Studies Library. Due to limited capacity in […]

    Free
  • Historic black-and-white photograph of a textile spinning lecture room dating from 1911. Long wooden benches and tables fill the classroom, covered with open books, teaching materials, and samples of fibres and yarn. At the front of the room, a large chalkboard displays illustrations and labels for textile fibres including wool, cotton, flax, and silk. Educational diagrams, machinery models, and framed images are mounted on the walls, reflecting the technical and vocational focus of early twentieth-century textile education. A caption beneath the photograph reads: “New Textile Department – Spinning Lecture Room.”

    Classrooms & Communities: Bradford’s Education Journey

    Mechanics Institute Festival Hub

    Step back into the buzz of the classroom, the thrill of student societies, and the proud legacy of Bradford’s educational pioneers. Drop in to a day shaped by archives, small exhibitions, inspiring talks, and captivating film screenings — including newly digitised gems from the Bradford Grammar School Film Society (1960–1968), shown to the public for […]

    Free
  • The image shows a to scale model of Bradford Cathedral

    Modelling the Catherdral – Tour

    Bradford Cathedral 1 Stott Hill, Bradford

    Guided tour of the Cathedral’s fascinating architecture, including Saxon stone fragments, the medieval elements of the current building, Victorian changes and mid-20th century extensions by renowned architect Sir Edward Maufe. The tour will start outside but will mainly be based inside. After the tour, there will be the opportunity to compare the building with Michael’s Scott’s amazing […]

    £7.00