The Seacroft Scroll, 2018
The Seacroft Scroll is a 4 metre long publication that charts the history of the area.
Seacroft, Leeds, was originally a small farming settlement. It is mentioned in the Domesday Book. Archaeological finds, including Roman coins and a Neolithic hand axe offer evidence of earlier habitation. The monks of Kirkstall Abbey held land in the area during the Middle Ages and in 1643, a civil was battle took place here resulting in the loss of over a thousand men.
It is currently one of the largest estates of housing built by the local authority in the country. As part of Leeds City Council’s social housing programme, Seacroft emerged in the mid 20th Century as ‘a satellite town within the city boundary’.
Stories include the Battle of Winwaed in AD 655 and the Queen’s visit to open the new Civic Centre in AD 1965. When rolled up tightly the scroll can be carried in your pocket – but it contains stories and images co-created with a wide range of Seacroft residents.
We are very proud that the Seacroft Scroll has even found a place on Wikipedia as part of the History of Seacroft.
The complete Seacroft Scroll is available to view. Click below to load the document as an image (may take a moment to load).
Seacroft portraits by Lizzie Coombes
Developing the materials
Photos by Lizzie Coombes and Matthew Bellwood showing development work and story gathering for the Seacroft Scroll taken at the Discovery Centre, Leeds Central Library and primary schools in Seacroft.
Discussing the Seacroft Scroll
Alison and Matthew describe the Scroll and discuss their approach to the project, with Peter Spafford (in four parts).
The Seacroft Scroll was created by the following people:
Artistic Team
Alison Andrews – Lead Artist
Matthew Bellwood – Lead Artist
Lizzie Coombes – Photography
Ross Horsley – Archive Advice
Jaye Kearney – Workshop Facilitator
Amy Levene – Graphic Design
Matt Rogers – Workshop Support
Peter Spafford – Project Documentation
Leeds Libraries
Liam Garnett
Sally Hughes
Helen Skilbeck
Greg Stringer
Sue Wright
Discovery Centre
Gabrielle Hamilton
Andrew Kyrover
Kitty Ross
With thanks to:
Jane Riley and Anna Goodridge at The Leeds Library
Patsy Lyttle and Artemis
Sarah Hopkinson and Keepmoat Homes
Kate Taverner and the staff at North and South Seacroft
Friends and Neighbours
Staff and members of LS14 Trust
This document has been created with:
Staff and children at Beechwood Primary School
Staff and children at Seacroft Grange Primary School
Interviewees: Barbara Ackroyd, Sylvia Adams, Pearl Allen, Margaret Arnett, Zoe Carty, Joanne Curtis, Pearl Field, Mick and Doreen Firth, Paul Fletcher, Dorothy Frankland, Edna Garbutt, Geoff Hardwick, Graham Hyde, Jaimes Moran, Marjorie Nichols, Linda Palmer, Geraldine Talbot, Audrey Ward, Jean Ward, Audrey Wilson, Sue Wright, David Wrighton
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