Triumphal tapestry telling the story of Leeds inspires new panel

The project at Leeds Central Library was part of the national campaign Our Freedom: Then and Now, inviting the people of Leeds to reflect on what freedom means today, 80 years after the end of the Second World War.

Lead artist Hayley Mills-Styles and Elnaz Yazdani worked with community groups across Leeds to create embroidered, patchworked and embellished pieces of art inspired by library collections, the history of Leeds and a specially commissioned poem by poet laureate Simon Armitage called Freedom Road.

The artwork has been crafted into a panel which now sits alongside the iconic Leeds Tapestry in the first-floor corridor at Leeds Central Library.

The original 16-panel tapestry was created between 1992 and 2002 celebrating Leeds, its people and its rich history. Each panel has its own theme including sporting life, community spirit and education.

Popular with visitors, the Pins and Needles panel brings together moments from the city’s past through art, showcasing pre-industrial Leeds followed by the city’s textile industry, manufacture and retail using local materials.

Many people that have put their mark on Leeds are honoured on the tapestry, such as Leeds United legend John Charles and the iconic Mel B.

Devised and designed by Leeds artist Kate Peace (formerly Russell), the creation of the piece involved over 2,000 people and it's made up of 1,500 individual embroideries, many of them extremely time consuming to create.

About the making of the tapestry Kate said: “I want to make art that […] people feel a connection to. And the only way you can do that is by having that connection to the work that you're doing.

“One of the aims I had when we decided to go ahead with this, was that not only would people be involved at every stage, but that to celebrate the textile heritage of Leeds we would attempt to include every single known hand embroidery, machine embroidery, every kind of textile creation, every kind of way to make the textile image that we could.

“There’s thousands and thousands and thousands of hours of work in it.”

The new panel has been added just in time for a year of marking a special milestone for the city. Throughout 2026 Leeds will be celebrating that it’s been 400 years since it was awarded its first Royal Charter, recognising it as a self-governing borough.

Councillor Asghar Khan, Leeds City Council’s executive member for communities, customer service and community safety, said: “The Leeds Tapestry is a wonderful piece that celebrates the history of our city.

“Marking 400 years since the city received its Royal Charter the tapestry has now received a new panel, to explore what freedom means to us in Leeds today, reflecting on the past and the future.

“The artists and volunteers have done a brilliant job in making it all come together and I’d recommend anyone to go and see it at the Leeds Central Library.”

Emma Hayton, art librarian, said: “It has been truly special to reconnect with the original tapestry artist and volunteers. To mark the completion of the new panel, we would like to invite any volunteers from the original project to get together for a private viewing and reunion in May 2026. If you were involved between 1992 and 2002, please email us at artlibrary@leeds.gov.uk.”  

The tapestry is open to everyone to visit during library opening hours. Visitors can also book onto Tapestry Tours at Leeds Tapestry Tour at Leeds Central Library.

ENDS