Historic Exhibition Highlights Leeds’ Diverse Heritage

March 4, 2026 Off By

New display at Abbey House Museum explores unique local stories

A new exhibition at Abbey House Museum is showcasing a range of objects and images that reflect the rich and varied history of Leeds. The display, titled In the Picture, draws from the extensive Leeds Museums and Galleries collection and is part of the city-wide Leeds 400 celebrations marking 400 years since Leeds was granted its first royal charter.

Exhibition features notable Leeds figures and artefacts

The exhibition includes a variety of items that tell little-known stories about the city and its people. Among these is the wrestling leotard and belt worn by Sue Brittain, known in the ring as Lady Satan. Brittain, who lived in Pudsey, was a pioneering female wrestler who fought legal battles to compete professionally, including a notable 1979 court case against the Greater London Council. Her victory led to the first women’s wrestling match in London since the 1930s, held at Wimbledon Town Hall.

Visitors can also see a photograph of Sue Brittain in her wrestling gear alongside several trophies she won during her career.

Skeleton of famous gorilla Mok on display

Another highlight is the skeleton of Mok, a gorilla who gained fame while living at London Zoo. Captured in Central Africa, Mok was brought to London in 1932 and lived alongside a female gorilla named Moina in a specially built enclosure. Despite being a herbivore, Mok was fed meat, which contributed to his early death from kidney disease in 1958. After his death, Moina also passed away shortly afterwards.

Mok’s skeleton and stuffed mount were acquired by The Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society and are now exhibited at Abbey House Museum. The display also includes a pencil drawing by Cecil Stuart Tresilian depicting Mok at the zoo.

Additional exhibits reflect Leeds’ social history

A vintage tricycle from 1888, once owned by a family living on Bankside Street in Harehills, with an accompanying photograph of the family riding it
An evening dress worn by a Leeds woman at the 1937 Coronation
A double bass crafted by Mark William Dearlove, a Leeds violin and bass maker who exhibited at the Great Industrial Exhibition of all Nations in 1851

Context and significance

Kitty Ross, curator of social history at Leeds Museums and Galleries, explained that each object in the exhibition offers insight into the city’s history and the communities that have shaped it. The combination of artefacts, photographs and artwork provides a perspective on how local heritage is interpreted and celebrated across generations.

The exhibition is one element of the Leeds 400 programme, which includes various events and activities throughout the city to commemorate this milestone in Leeds’ history.