As it's Halloween, we've been taking a look back at some of the spookiest spots in Leeds, and finding out how we can try our hands at ghost hunting, and turns out there's plenty of options to choose from.
Leeds is a city home to many historic buildings with haunted pasts - but there's perhaps no building more spooky than this.
The Armley building is thought to be the most haunted of them all.
The Armley building currently houses the popular Leeds Industrial Museum - which welcomes thousands of visitors throughout the year who come to awe at its incredible industrial collections from years gone by, but the museum building is actually part of the wider Armley Mills.
Armley Mills was once regarded as the world's largest woollen mill where hundreds of men, women, and children worked.
It's believed the spirits of those workers still remain in the building until this very day.
Armley Mills was once regarded as the world's largest woollen mill / Credit: Geograph | Wikimedia Commons
This is why it's said that paying a visit to Armley Mills after the sun's gone down is one of the spookiest things to do in Leeds, and probably the whole of Yorkshire, to be honest.
The earliest record of Armley Mills is as far back as the 16th century.
In 1788 ,the building was bought by a cloths merchant who expanded the premises, but unfortunately, the mills were destroyed by a fire in the early 1800s shortly after it was sold on, and it had to be rebuilt to the building it is today.
Due to its haunted reputation, there are ghost hunts held in the building throughout the year - but only for those that are brave enough.
Paying a visit to Armley Mills after the sun's gone down is one of the spookiest things to do in Leeds / Credit: Geograph (Ashley Dace)
Paranormal activities have been reported by those who have previously ventured into the mills after dark.
It's been claimed that scary shadows have been seen, footsteps have been heard when no one is there, and objects have been moved from one location to another.
It's even been said that many young children who used to work in the mill hundreds of years ago, are still present in spirit, and have been known to tug on people's clothing or chuck items around in way to gain attention.
People have also claimed to have encountered a little boy crying and a woman in a Victorian dress.
Fancy a tour of Armley Mills for yourself then? There are regular ghost hunts are run by local events company Haunted Happenings, and you can find out more here.
Featured Image - Wikimedia Commons
Leeds
Female-founded independent jewellery brand to open in Leeds’ Victoria Gate
Norfolk-based jewellery brand Lisa Angel is opening their first Yorkshire site right here in Leeds.
Jewellery and trinket lovers, this one's for you.
Lisa Angel, a female-founded jewellery and gifting brand will open the doors to its new store in Victoria Gate next month.
Shoppers can expect a wonderful range of jewellery, gifts, and accessories that have established a loyal following during more than twenty years of business.
Founded in 2004 by Lisa hand making jewellery which she sold at craft fairs local to her Norfolk home, the business has only gone from strength to strength since.
Image: Supplied
The brand is now a recognised part of the British high street landscape, boasting seven other stores across Norfolk, Suffolk, and the Midlands.
After opening two stores last year and three stores in 2024, Lisa Angel’s founder and Creative Director, Lisa, said: “As an independent retailer, we are thrilled to launch in a destination with such a reputation as Victoria Leeds.
"We believe retail should remain grounded in inspiration and discovery, and we look forward to bringing just that to the vibrant city of Leeds, in our first store in the north.”
Managing Director James Moody explained the significance to the business of opening a new store in a city as influential as Leeds: “We're incredibly excited to be opening our first northern showcase store in such a prestigious location.
"Victoria Leeds represents exactly the kind of vibrant retail destination where we can bring the full Lisa Angel experience to new customers. This is a significant milestone for us as we continue to grow our retail presence."
We'll keep you up to date when we know an opening date, but for now you can check out what to expect here.
Yorkshire residents are being invited to name two new bin lorries
Clementine Hall
Well...this is a new one.
Ever fancied naming a bin lorry? Well today is your lucky day, because now you can.
Yorkshire-based waste management experts Divert are celebrating the arrival of two swanky new tbin rucks by inviting the local community to help name them.
The iconic purple bins, vans and trucks can be seen across the Yorkshire area helping to clean up waste from Bradford to Harrogate.
Two new lorries are set to be joining the fleet in April and May, and of course they need a name.
And who better to ask than the general public? The winning names will be added to the cabs of each of the trucks for all to see, and announced via the Divert website and social media channels.
Absolutely anyone from across the UK is welcome to take part, but the company are especially keen for people from Yorkshire to enter.
You can be as creative as you like, but there are a couple of rules...
No swearing or offensive names. Aside from that, you can let your freak flag fly.
The Divert team are keen to hear the 'best celebrity puns, local namesakes, and downright silly names' the public have to offer.
John Verity, Managing Director of Divert, comments: “Naming our bin trucks is a great way to bring some joy to the local community. We hope to bring a smile to the faces of passing drivers and pedestrians as our fleet passes by.
“Not only that, naming our lorries can help our drivers to take pride and ownership in the vehicles they drive and be a key reminder of our engagement within the community. We’re always keen to employ any initiatives that help the public to engage with us and ensure we’re seen as a friendly face in the area.”
Winners will be voted for by the team internally, and the competition closes at 5 pm on 31 March 2026.
The Hoot -
20th August 2021 
