Image
Historic black-and-white street photograph showing two people standing beside a building entrance. Painted text on the wall reads “IN TOWN TO-NIGHT”.
Leeds Libraries
Wed 11 Nov 2026
Woodbine Lizzie's Leeds
All Library Events
Creative Workshop
Heritage
Leeds 400
Workshop

This workshop will take a look at the life and experiences of 'Woodbine Lizzie', the nickname of Alice Porter, a woman who lived an unconventional life, much of it on the streets of city centre Leeds in the 1920s and 1930s. She died in 1947, in Stanley Royd Hospital in Wakefield. She was much remembered by Leeds locals, who recall her angry shouts if a passer by wouldn't spare a cigarette. Postcards were printed to commemorate her death.

In this workshop, led by historian Professor Laura King, participants will be ask to share any knowledge of Woodbine Lizzie, and to explore documents which tell us bits about her life in Stanningley, Leeds city centre and Wakefield. We'll map out Woodbine Lizzie's Leeds, and explore how more could be learnt about her.Whether you've never heard of Woodbine Lizzie, or know something interesting about her, please come along and take part in this interactive workshop and think about who gets to be part of the history of the city.

Part of the Leeds Libraries' Leeds400 programme

Want to know more about Leeds Libraries Local Studies resources, articles, events, and workshops? Subscribe for our monthly newsletter and have all our news direct to your inbox: https://s7umw.mjt.lu/wgt/s7umw/0svx/form?c=0d8dc434

    Date
    Wed 11 Nov 2026
    13:00 - 14:00

    Ticket price

    You may also like