Dr Lauren Padgett
@drlaurenpadgett.bsky.social
400 followers 600 following 290 posts
Assistant Curator of Collections @ Bradford District Museums and Galleries ⚙🏺🖼 🏛 | PhD 🎓 | Historian 📜 | Proud Bradfordian 💪🐗 | Interested in local heritage; bygone times; people from the past; & dusty old things | 📌 🗺 Bradford, Yorkshire | Views my own.
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drlaurenpadgett.bsky.social
Wow, this has taken off since the start of #Bradford2025. This starter pack has 38 orgs and people involved with, and promoting, #Bradford District-wide arts, culture and heritage. If you would like adding, please reply, or flag up any orgs that should be included. 🐗 🖼 🎭🎵 🏛 📸

go.bsky.app/QRjvvH4
drlaurenpadgett.bsky.social
I decided to treat myself so I booked 2 days off work & booked myself into Wood Hall Spa and Hotel, Wetherby, for an overnight solo spa break. Tied in a visit to Harewood House to see 'Austen and Turner' exhibition. So glad I did it, relaxed & refreshed but don't want to return to work. #SelfCare 💆‍♀️🧖‍♀️
Photo shows a glass-top table with a kindle showing an e-book, a bowl of olives and glass of prosecco on it. Photo shows on mannikins displaying period costume, Regency dresses and a man's outfit, from Jane Susten movie and TV adaptations.
drlaurenpadgett.bsky.social
There's lots of ways to interpret place-meanings and origins. Ivegate could mean steep, or even refer to ivy. This is where one interpretation refers to St. Ives.
Photo shows page from book with place meanings for Bradford.
drlaurenpadgett.bsky.social
It was officially called Harden Grange but when the estate was bought it the mid-1800s by William Ferrand, it adopted the name St. Ives. Apparently because Ferrand thought the area was similar to that of St. Ives, Cornwall.
drlaurenpadgett.bsky.social
Ivegate is believed to mean the street to St. Ives.
drlaurenpadgett.bsky.social
Today I logged on for Collections Trust conference #CTConf2025 for panels on #museum documentation & disposals - the often unseen & undervalued core museum work. I always come away from Collections Trust sessions feeling inspired & uplifted, ready to roll up my sleeves and crack on. 🏛📝👩‍💻🧹💪 #Curator
drlaurenpadgett.bsky.social
This morning I went for walk around Low Moor and Wyke, #Bradford, which included a part of the Spen Valley Greenway. Very lucky to have some nice walking routes and green spaces in my local area. 🥾🍂
Photo shows a paved path under an old railway bridge with trees and hedges along the sides of the path. There is a pole with blue signs about the route and directions. Photo shows a paved path with trees and green hedges along the side and a white-painted metal bench to the side. The sky is clear blue.
drlaurenpadgett.bsky.social
Both. The collection of characters assembled was eclectic. Once you got comfortable with the world, it all changed again within a few chapters with plot-twists which kept it fresh for a longer read.
drlaurenpadgett.bsky.social
Over the last few months, and inbetween other books, I've read 'The Redemption of Althalus' by David and Leigh Eddings. I don't often read fantasy books but enjoyed dipping in and out of this longer read. #BookSky #SkyBook #FantasyBook
Book cover shows a man wearing a clock with the hood up and a black cat on his shoulder. He is carrying a knife and there are mountains in the distance behind him.
drlaurenpadgett.bsky.social
I'll keep a look out for that book, thanks. I'm very lucky that an office I work in is on the floor above one of my local libraries so I'm in every week collecting books I've reserved or browsing the shelves on my lunch break. 📚
drlaurenpadgett.bsky.social
This weekend I read 'The Lost Passenger' by Frances Quinn, an endearing historical fiction novel about a woman who tries to turn a tragedy into an opportunity for a better life. Book borrowed from Bradford Libraries. #BookSky #SkyBook #BookRecommendation
Book cover shows an illustration of the ship Titanic with other illustrations around it showing the silhouettes of the New York skyline, a female figure with a child, a female figure with a man under a lamppost, and foliage and flowers.
drlaurenpadgett.bsky.social
22) This evening I attended the launch of the exhibition 'Our Turn: Practice Bradford' at Loading Bay @bradford2025.co.uk. Part of the new visual arts festival, 'Our Turn', for #Bradford. Loved Saba Siddiqui's installation. 🫖☕️

bradford2025.co.uk/event/our-tu...
Photo shows a table and chairs. The table is covered in a tablecloth with words on it. On the table are teapots and teacups covered in fabrics. Suspended above the table is this oversized fabric covered teapot.
drlaurenpadgett.bsky.social
That's great, thanks for visiting.
drlaurenpadgett.bsky.social
At Bolling Hall Museum, #Bradford, @bradfordmuseums.bsky.social today we celebrated its 110 year anniversary of being a museum with new displays, story-telling sessions, astronomy themed talks and play, a speech reenactment and historical music. 🏰🎉
drlaurenpadgett.bsky.social
This morning I went for a hour walk around Low Moor, #Bradford, including through Raw Nook Reserve Nature. Very lucky to have this on my doorstep. 🌳🐦🥾
Photo shows the entrance to Raw Nook Nature Reserve with a notice board, fencing and gate. Photo shows a dirt path through a wooded area. Photo shows a field in the distance with three horses in it. Photo taken from the path of a railway bridge towards a field and wooded area at one side.
drlaurenpadgett.bsky.social
This week I read 'Human Remains' by Jo Callaghan, the third in the Kat and Lock detective series. Another gripping page-turner. Cannot wait for book 4. #BookSky #SkyBook #BookRecommendation #CrimeFiction
Book cover has a large hand print.
drlaurenpadgett.bsky.social
I was planning on saving it as my Halloween read but this weekend I read 'Whistle' by Linwood Barclay. I couldn't put it down - really sinister and creepy 😱. (Wouldn't recommend to train modellers though). 📚 🛤 🚂 #SkyBook #BookSky #HorrorBook #BookRecommendation
Book cover shows a box covered in cobwebs with parts of a toy train, carriages and train tracks in front of it. The train's headlights are shining yellow.
drlaurenpadgett.bsky.social
It was really bad. Someone sent me a drone photo of it and it was lots of HGV trailers parked closely together catching fire.
drlaurenpadgett.bsky.social
Huge fire and explosions heard in Bradford around Bierley/Rooley Lane/Euroway. Apparently a lorry fire at industrial estate. I hope everyone is OK as it looks really bad. I can see the billowing smoke from Low Moor.
drlaurenpadgett.bsky.social
Today I took the day off work to spend time with 6yr old niece & 6wk old nephew. We went to Darlington's
Theatre Hullabaloo, a charity theatre for kids, where we played in a pirate themed and fairytale forest themed playrooms. Lovely way to round off the summer holidays. www.theatrehullabaloo.org.uk
Photo shows a child's size wooden house in a room which has been decorated with green carpet as the grass floor, fabric suspended from the ceilings with coloured lighting. There are play props on the floor, baskets and puppets. There is a prop bridge over a pretend river in the background.
drlaurenpadgett.bsky.social
21) When your birthday coincides with the annual North Parade Street Party and Darley St. Market's inaugural Great Northern Day celebration, it would be rude not to attend. Music and atmosphere at North Parade was nice and introduced some family members to Darley St. Market who hadn't been yet. 🎵🍻
Photo shows a street with buildings at either side. On the street there are crowds of people, and tables under parasols. Photo shows a pint of beer in a 'great northern day 2025' plastic pint cup.
drlaurenpadgett.bsky.social
20) I finally made it to @bradford2025.co.uk's Loading Bay venue. Popped in after work with colleagues to see the exhibition 'Here We Stand'. Followed by a visit to Darley St. Market's food court for Sri Lankan curry.
bradford2025.co.uk/event/here-w...
Here We Stand | Bradford 2025
Explore peace, conflict and identity in this new exhibition.
bradford2025.co.uk
drlaurenpadgett.bsky.social
I was working at Bolling Hall Museum #Bradford yesterday and today. I had my lunches outside. The museum grounds looked lovely in the sunshine, maintained by the fab volunteer gardeners. 🏰🌳☀️
Photo shows an old building, Bolling Hall, with a large garden in front of it with lawns, hedges, trees and flowers. The sky is blue.
drlaurenpadgett.bsky.social
This weekend, I read 'Bright I Burn' by Molly Aitken. Set in Medieval Ireland and inspired by true events, it follows the life of a woman fighting against patriarchy and for power. #SkyBook #BookSky #BookRecommendation
Book cover shows the outline of a woman's head with red long flowing hair and green leaves and red sparks coming from it.