How much has the Leeman Road area of York changed over time?

How much has the Leeman Road area of York changed over time?

Target age range: Year 2, adaptable for Key Stage 2

The enquiry is focused on the area surrounding the author’s school, an area of mainly Victorian terraced houses. It provides opportunities for children to use a variety of primary sources to make comparisons, to identify what has changed and what has stayed the same, and to consider causes and consequences of change in an area familiar to them.

The key elements of the enquiry are:

  • using maps to gain an understanding of the chronology of the area
  • a local walk to gain a sense of the area as it is now and to provide a context to the study
  • a comparison of photographs from the past and present to identify what has changed and what has stayed the same
  • a study of local shops, how they have changed over time and the reasons why gaining an understanding of how the area has changed during living memory, through interviews with local people

This resource was written by Rachel Bruce, a teacher at St Barnabas CE Primary School in York.

Particular thanks to the Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York, for their permission to use images in this resource.

Every effort has been made to trace all image copyright holders for these resources, although occasionally it has not been possible. Please contact Maheema Chanrai at maheema.chanrai@history.org.uk with any queries regarding image use or copyright.

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Why BALH?

Nick Barratt Historian and Author

Supporting your academic research

There is an increasing interest in local history as a key element of academic studies – not just the content that has been published by local historians over the decades as a key research resource, but also in co-produced projects. Grant-awarding bodies such as the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) have placed an increasing emphasis on collaborations and partnerships when considering the award of research funding, and BALH provides the perfect platform for academic researchers to locate key groups and ongoing activity.

Nick Barratt, Historian and Author

Meet the team

Lisbet Sherlock Trustee

Lisbet Sherlock

Lisbet, after a successful corporate communications career in the high-tech sector, now focuses on environmental, cultural, and history projects. A history graduate with a passion for the Victorian and Edwardian eras, she is particularly interested in women’s history. Her current projects include researching two forgotten militant suffragettes in Manchester and documenting the century-long history of Woodoaks Farm for the Soil Association Land Trust. She also serves as a trustee for Dorset Wildlife Trust, chairing its marketing committee. As a BALH trustee, she brings expertise in research, storytelling, and public engagement to promote local history.

Lisbet Sherlock, Trustee