Hidden West Yorkshire

Explore fascinating stories from West Yorkshire.

Radio Leeds,126 episodes

Episodes

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Leeds Uni uncover the oldest-known book on cheese
The 16th century manuscript depicts the earliest uses of cheese.
23 Apr 2025,4 mins
The town that tried to capture 'eternal spring'
Marsden hold an annual cuckoo festival – but do you know the origin of the story?
16 Apr 2025,4 mins
How tragedy struck a West Yorkshire circus
Rare, 19th-century circus posters are revealed in Wakefield.
08 Apr 2025,4 mins
Rudyard Kipling story inspired by Wakefield man
Chris Green talks about Frederick Wilson from Wakefield.
02 Apr 2025,6 mins
Ilkley's mysterious Roman tribeswoman
How did a tribeswoman from Shropshire end up in West Yorkshire?
26 Mar 2025,5 mins
The 700 year old mill hoping to exist off-grid
The owners of a Hebden Bridge mill are trying to raise funds to pay for repairs.
19 Mar 2025,4 mins
The largest stone-ground flour mill in the world
Dave Weatherson from Queen’s Mill in Castleford talks to Gayle Lofthouse.
12 Mar 2025,5 mins
The Leeds building with sheep on the roof
Martin Hamilton, director of Leeds Civic Trust, on the varied history of Temple Works.
05 Mar 2025,5 mins
The history of Tetley's in Leeds
The iconic Leeds brewery was founded in 1822 by Joshua Tetley in Hunslet.
26 Feb 2025,5 mins
Bretton: From pleasure grounds to sculpture park
The Yorkshire Sculpture Park's Mike Chesman on the history and future of Bretton Park.
19 Feb 2025,5 mins
How the Slaithwaite moonrakers fooled the police
Kath Shackleton from the Moonraking Festival explains the history of the event.
05 Feb 2025,4 mins
The forgotten history of Jewish refugees in Ilkley
Local historian Nigel Grizzard explains how important Loxleigh House in Ilkley was.
30 Jan 2025,4 mins
Robin Hood’s Penny Stone on a Yorkshire moor
John Billingsley from the Folklore Centre, Todmorden explains its significance.
22 Jan 2025,5 mins
Introducing... Hidden Bradford
Exploring history, legends and tales from Bradford UK City of Culture 2025.
09 Jan 2025,4 mins
The Halifax Slasher
In 1938, Halifax police investigated a series of attacks, but not all was as it seemed.
18 Dec 2024,4 mins
Dewsbury's 'Devil's Knell': A Christmas Tradition
Cara Thorpe explores why this Christmas tradition started with a murder.
15 Dec 2024,4 mins
The Halifax story of deceit, murder and millions
Author Steve Hartley on the story of the Cragg Vale coiners.
10 Dec 2024,5 mins
Who was ‘Gentleman Jack's’ wife, Ann Walker?
Rebecca Batley talks to Gayle Lofthouse about why Ann Walker is overlooked in history.
04 Dec 2024,6 mins
The Leeds newspaper that outsold the Times
Martin Hamilton speaks ahead of the blue plaque ceremony honouring the paper.
29 Nov 2024,6 mins
Pontefract Castle’s Grim Role in Richard II’s Fall
Ian Downes from Wakefield Council talks to Gayle Lofthouse about the castle’s past.
13 Nov 2024,4 mins
Arthur Aaron: Leeds’ WWII Victoria Cross Hero
Kitty Ross from Leeds Museums and Galleries explains the bravery of Arthur Louis Aaron.
06 Nov 2024,4 mins
The most haunted house in Bradford
In the build up to Halloween we look at the spooky side of West Yorkshire.
26 Oct 2024,2 mins
The monstrous black dog of Otley
Daisy Lyons from Turnip Fish Theatre Company reads the story of ‘The Barguest of Otley’.
25 Oct 2024,5 mins
The blue lady of Temple Newsam
In the build up to Halloween we look at the spooky side of West Yorkshire.
19 Oct 2024,2 mins
The ghosts of Leeds’ theatres
The waiter who walks through walls and a Victorian singer both feature.
17 Oct 2024,5 mins
The ghosts of East Riddlesden Hall
In the build up to Halloween we look at the spooky side of West Yorkshire.
12 Oct 2024,3 mins
The Brontë ghost haunting Haworth pub
Staff at the Black Bull pub in Haworth have heard the service bell ring after hours.
09 Oct 2024,5 mins
The story of Pontefract’s legendary haunted house
In the build up to Halloween we look at the spooky side of West Yorkshire.
05 Oct 2024,3 mins
The American blues pianist who made Halifax home
‘Champion’ Jack Dupree fled America in the 60s and found his way to Ovenden.
02 Oct 2024,5 mins
The marriage of Charlotte Brontë
Novelist Martina Devlin on the marriage between the author & Arthur Bell. (Image: Getty)
29 Sep 2024,4 mins