Bradford Heritage Connection CIC

14/10/2026

Vicky the Exec Director for Bradford Heritage Connection CIC was asked to take part in a research project about Cultural Leadership ... here's the film 💗💗

THE LEAP BRADFORD CIC, Registered in England & Wales Company Number 15550060Registered office: Bradford College, Great Horton Road, Bradford BD7 1AY

09/10/2026

What a mega day we had yesterday. 34 members of the Bradford Heritage Hub got together to reflect on our busy year delivering the 2nd Bradford Heritage Festival and the 1st shared Bradford Heritage Open Days programme. We had a massive fuddle lunch and then did some forward planning 💗💗

Well done Kathryn Penny for brilliant brilliant facilitation and to my partner in crime at Bradford Heritage Connection Kate Ellis

163 events and over 7000 visitors 💗💗💗 and this is just the start

23/09/2026

Bradford's Heritage Open Days are a wrap amd what a wild ride we have had ... tours, talks, exhibitions and open doors ... 90 events, 63 partners all collaborating on a shared programme 💗💗💗

A tiny selection of photos what a brilliant brilliant week we've all had Bradford Mechanics Institute Library Brontë Birthplace Victoria Hall Bradford Festival Choral Society Bradford Playhouse Bradford Cathedral Topic Folk Club Notjusthockney.info Razwan Ul-Haq Sunny Bank Mills Colin Neville Lucienne de Ville Nigel Wray Mike Clifton Jennie Kiff Kate Ellis Councillor Susan Fricker Bradford Museums and Galleries BCB Radio Derek Barker Heather Millard Ilkley Manor House Ilkley Civic Society Keighley Library Undercliffe Cemetery Charity Visit Bradford West Yorkshire Archive Service Yorkshire Film Archive & North East Film Archive and many many more ###

19/09/2026

Penultimate day of our amazing Heritage Open Days here in Bradford ... why not pop along to St Clements Church Barkeremd Road for a hit of Italian Mosaics and William Morris 💗💗💗

17/09/2026

⛪ Have you ever stepped inside Bradford Unitarian Church? This weekend is your chance. 👀

Tucked away on Russell Street is a fascinating piece of Bradford’s heritage, and its doors are opening again for the final weekend of Bradford Heritage Open Days.

There’s much more to discover inside than you might expect…

Walk the labyrinth within this beautiful sacred space
See original stained glass and memorials from the historic Chapel Lane Chapel
Explore fascinating 18th-century archives
Join conversations exploring Rational Dissent and the birth of radical Bradford
Discover the history and stories held within the building

If you’re out exploring Bradford this weekend, make this one of your Heritage Open Days stops. You’ll receive a warm welcome from the people who care for this special place and have the chance to discover a part of Bradford’s story you may never have encountered before. ❤️

📅 Friday 18, Saturday 19 & Sunday 20 September
⏰ 10.30am–3.30pm
📍 Bradford Unitarian Church, 7A Russell Street, Bradford, BD5 0JB

🎟️ FREE – just come along!

🔎 Find out more:
https://bradfordheritageconnection.co.uk/event/bradford-unitarian-church-open-weekends/

16/09/2026

🏛️ Why not make Bradford Mechanics Institute Library one of your Bradford Heritage Open Days stops this week? 👀

We’re heading into the final few days of Bradford Heritage Open Days, and there’s a brilliant line-up still to come at the Mechanics Institute - with four completely different FREE events exploring dance, art, migration and Bradford’s sporting history.

Here’s what you can still catch 👇

Historical Dance Workshop with Natalie Kershaw
Friday 18 September | 10am–12.30pm
🎟️ FREE – book here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/historical-dance-workshop-by-natalie-kershaw-tickets-1997694843052

Resist: An Artist Talk with Claire Wellesley-Smith
Friday 18 September | 1–2pm
🎟️ FREE – book here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/resist-an-artist-talk-with-claire-wellesley-smith-tickets-1998956596992

4000 Miles To Home – Gurj Kang
Friday 18 September | 7–8.30pm
🎟️ FREE – book here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/4000-miles-from-home-a-tale-to-punjab-to-yorkshire-tickets-1997699594263

Origins of Football Culture – John Dewhirst
Sunday 20 September | 11am–1pm
🎟️ FREE – book here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-origins-of-football-culture-in-bradford-tickets-1997696153973

📍 Bradford Mechanics Institute, 76 Kirkgate, Bradford, BD1 1SZ

Whether you fancy learning a historical dance, discovering Bradford’s radical women, exploring a journey from Punjab to Yorkshire or delving into the city’s football heritage, there’s something worth making a trip for.

❤️ Why not make the Mechanics Institute one of your stops before Heritage Open Days finishes this Sunday?

Get yourself booked in!

16/09/2026

🎉 There are still FOUR days of Bradford Heritage Open Days to experience!

We’ve had an absolute blast at events across Bradford District so far - and we’re not finished yet!

There’s still plenty to discover between now and Sunday 20 September, with talks, workshops, exhibitions, local history, live music and much more.

Here’s just a taste of what’s still to come 👇

🎨 Past Shipley Artists: Talk with Colin Neville
📅 Thursday 17 September | ⏰ 5–6pm
📍 Shipley College, Salt Building, Saltaire
Discover the lives and work of eight artists connected to Shipley and Saltaire, plus the history of the Saltaire School of Art.
🔗 Book here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/bradfordheritageconnectioncic/2356847

🌍 4000 Miles To Home: A Tale from Punjab to Yorkshire
📅 Friday 18 September | ⏰ 6.30–8.30pm
📍 Mechanics Institute, 76 Kirkgate, Bradford
Join Akbal Singh Kang for an evening exploring family, migration and community life through photographs spanning Punjab to Yorkshire.
🔗 Book here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/4000-miles-from-home-a-tale-to-punjab-to-yorkshire-tickets-1997699594263

🌿 Nature Big Day Out: Shipley Glen
📅 Saturday 19 September | ⏰ 11am–3pm
📍 Bracken Hall Countryside Centre, Shipley Glen
Get outdoors and discover the wildlife and natural heritage of one of the district’s much-loved green spaces.
🔗 Find out more: https://bradfordheritageconnection.co.uk/event/nature-big-day-out-shipley-glen/

⚽ The Origins of Football Culture in Bradford
📅 Sunday 20 September | ⏰ 11am–12pm
📍 Mechanics Institute, 76 Kirkgate, Bradford
Join sports historian John Dewhirst to discover the Victorian roots of Bradford’s football and sporting culture.
🔗 Book here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-origins-of-football-culture-in-bradford-tickets-1997696153973

❤️ And that’s only a selection!

You’ve still got four days to get out, explore somewhere new and discover more of the people, places and stories that have shaped Bradford District.

🔎 See everything that’s still to come:
https://bradfordheritageconnection.co.uk/events/category/hod2026/

What are you heading to before Heritage Open Days finishes? 👀

15/09/2026

One of our Director's was invited to Historic England's Annual Reception at the stunning Lambeth Palace ... she spoke with Andrew Cooper MP interested in the work of Bradford Heritage Connection and to Lord Neil Mendoza who did a shout out to Bradford's huge potential for Heritage led regeneration in his speech. It was great to see Bradford's latest national blue plaque showcased ... see it in real life at Bradford Playhouse 💗💗💗

Www.bradfordheritageconnection.co.uk

15/09/2026

Heritage Open Days is this week with lots of events on around the district. Come and join us on Saturday19th of September, where we will have some of our photographic archives out for you to see.
Drop in between 10.30am - 3.30pm and hve a go with our stereoscope viewer and see Keighley from the 1890s in 3D.
The Men of Worth will be with us with some of their amazing research into those named in the Keighley Roll of Honour. Find out about the lives of those who served and their wartime experiences.

Full list of events for Bradford Heritage open Days Week 2026

https://bradfordheritageconnection.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Bradford-Heritage-Open-Days-2026.pdf

11/09/2026

⛪️ Tombstones, bone houses, hidden burials and the Bradford of 200 years ago… there’s a LOT to discover at Bradford Cathedral this Saturday! 👀

As part of Bradford Heritage Open Days, Bradford Cathedral is opening up centuries of the city’s history with an afternoon of FREE talks, tours, displays and activities.

🕰️ 12.15pm – The Day Before Yesterday
Join Derek Barker to explore St Peter’s Parish Church and life in 19th-century Bradford.

💀 1.15pm – Memento Mori: Remembering the Dead in Pre-Modern Bradford
Local historian Cat Stiles delves into Bradford’s hidden past, from tombstones and burial grounds to bone houses.

🏛️ 2.15pm – Guided Tours
Explore the Cathedral itself and uncover the history and heritage held within its walls.

Plus, there’ll be children’s activities, historical dressing up, displays and refreshments from the pop-up café throughout the afternoon.

📅 Saturday 12 September
⏰ 12pm–3pm
📍 Bradford Cathedral, 1 Stott Hill
🎟️ FREE

Whether you have five minutes or fancy spending the whole afternoon exploring, come and discover some of the everyday histories that have shaped Bradford.

🔎 Find out more and book your spot:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/heritage-open-day-tickets-1995460996557

Everyday Histories: "From the Broad Ford to City of Culture and Beyond!"