Roundhay

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Coordinates: 53°49′52″N 1°29′49″W / 53.831000°N 1.497000°W / 53.831000; -1.497000

Roundhay
Canal Gardens, Roundhay Park
Roundhay shown within West Yorkshire
Population	21,823
OS grid reference	SE331373
Metropolitan borough	City of Leeds
Metropolitan county	West Yorkshire
Region	Yorkshire and the Humber
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	LEEDS
Postcode district	LS8
Dialling code	0113
Police	West Yorkshire
Fire	West Yorkshire
Ambulance	Yorkshire
European Parliament	Yorkshire and the Humber
UK Parliament	Leeds North East
List of places: UK • England • Yorkshire

Roundhay is a large and generally affluent suburb and City Council Ward of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, on the north eastern edge of the city, largely represented by the LS8 postcode. The Metropolitan Ward Boundary is set by the A6120 Ring Road on the North and the A58 Wetherby Road on the South and East. It follows Gledhow Valley Road to the West before going North-East to the A6120.^[1] The ward therefore includes the smaller areas of Gledhow and Oakwood, which are often considered distinct suburbs. Adjacent wards are Alwoodley and Harewood to the North, Moortown to the West, Chapel Allerton to the South-West, Gipton and Harehills to the South, plus Killingbeck and Seacroft to the South-East. On the North-East boundary is Shadwell Village, part of the Crossgates and Whinmoor ward.

Contents 1 History 2 The Mansion 3 The Park 4 Sport and Culture 5 Amenities 6 Housing 7 Religion 8 Education 9 References and Notes 10 External links

[edit] History

The word 'Roundhay' comes from 'Rond-haeg', a round hunting enclosure or deer park.^[2][3] The Roundhay estate map of 1803 still showed the circular shape.^[4] It does not appear in the Domesday Book of 1086, but seems to have been formed soon afterwards, the first mention being in about 1153.^[2] It was formerly a hunting park for the DeLacy family of Pontefract Castle. Later on coal and iron ore were mined and a smelting furnace is recorded in 1295.^[2] Once these were exhausted (and woodland had been burned for fuel) the area turned to farming, with a small township until 1803. In this year the park estate was bought by Thomas Nicholson who commenced an extensive programme of landscaping and also built himself a grand Mansion House. This required additional housing for workers. He also sold off some land on which other gentry built houses.^[2]

Until 1810, what is now Gipton Wood was Gibton Forest separating Leeds from Roundhay Park. In that year a turnpike road was established "from Sheepscar to Roundhay Bridge".^[5][6] With the establishment of a road, the population increased from 84 in 1801 to 186 in 1822, mainly in grand houses for wealthier citizens associated with Leeds.^[5]

In 1826 a church, St John's, was established to serve the population of Roundhay, Shadwell and Seacroft, a combined population of about 1100, who would otherwise have had to travel up to 3 miles to worship.^[5] This made the area still more attractive, the local population rising to 300 in the 1830s in the form of a "township and genteel village" with "elegant villas, walks and plantations".^[2][5]

In 1872 the Roundhay Park estate was purchased by the City of Leeds and opened as a public park by His Royal Highness Prince Arthur on 19 September 1872.^[7] At the time, there was much opposition stating that the park was too far out of the city for the majority of the population to enjoy, and in any event the park had just one access road. Such logistical problems lead to the park being dubbed a 'white elephant' through much of its early years.^[8]

However, this led to interest in developing housing nearby, and a suburb began to develop around Lidgett Park.^[9] Development was accelerated in 1848 by the provision of a horse-drawn public omnibus service between Leeds and Roundhay Park, then a horse-drawn tram, then on 11 November 1891 the first public electric tram service, which by 1894 provided a quarter-hourly service from 6 a.m.^[5] The City sold off some surplus land, but placed restrictions in its use, stipulating stone for building and the prohibition of offensive trades.^[2]

The area acquired a Post Office in 1868 and by the turn of the century some parts were lit by electricity. Brick-built detached and semi-detached housing was created along with new roads such as The Avenue. In 1901 a second Anglican Church and in 1902 a Congregational Church were established to provide worship within walking distance for the new working class population.^[9][10] Lidgett Park Wesleyan Church followed in 1906.^[2]

In June 1907 an open air swimming pool 'lido' opened, at a cost of just over £1,600, being built mainly by unemployed citizens. During the 1950s and 1960s about 100,000 people a year visited the Roundhay 'swimming baths'.^[4]

In 1912, Roundhay became part of Leeds.

During the First World War Roundhay was used for gathering soldiers, hence land by Prince's Avenue is known as Soldiers Fields.

Following the war, new estates were built to the South and West of the park. Roundhay School for Boys was opened in 1926, and the School for Girls in 1932. After the Second World War housing continued to fill in available spaces, with smaller residences built in the grounds of larger ones, and large houses being converted to flats.^[2]

Roundhay holds the honour of being the location of the world's oldest surviving film, Roundhay Garden Scene, which is thought to have been shot on 14 October 1888 by Louis Le Prince at Oakwood Grange.

[edit] The Mansion

In 1811, John Clarke (d. 1857) of York, architect of the ‘Commercial Buildings’ in Leeds City Centre, was commissioned by Nicholson to design his Mansion House.

This classical building built in ashlar, on two storeys with seven bays with the centre three set behind an iron portico, was one of Clarke’s earlier works and took some years to build. It is of modest size, but sufficiently elevated so as to command superb views Southwards over the park, and provides a focal point to Thomas Nicholson’s designed landscape.

Modern civic use of the mansion has been debated for some time. There a currently plans to allow marriages and civil partnerships to take place within the building.^[11] A proposed private catering development within part of the building is currently under deliberation as it was stated that major changes to the manion be made before plans could be granted.^[12] In December 2008 a small library of books on parks, wildlife and nature was opened in the buildings.^[13]

[edit] The Park

Roundhay Park (2.8 km²), is a grand, Victorian park, the second largest city park in Europe after the 'Englischer Garten' (3.7 km²), in Munich, Germany.

Roundhay Park comprises over 700 acres (2.8 km²) of parkland, lakes and woodland. The Park includes scented gardens for the blind, National Plant Collections, Canal Gardens, the Monet and Alhambra Gardens, plus Tropical World which attracts visitors all year round. In 2005 the Friends Garden was opened, located alongside Canal Gardens and the Rainbow Garden.

Woodpeckers, common warblers in spring and summer, mute swans, visiting whooper swans, great-crested grebes and herons can all be found at the park.

The Upper Lake is maintained as a wildlife area, and the larger Waterloo Lake is used for fishing. Roundhay Park also provides the venue for many special events including sporting events, flower and animal shows, music festivals and a bonfire and firework displays on 5 November (Guy Fawkes Night).

Facilities at Roundhay Park also include tennis courts, skateboard ramps, sports pitches, bowling greens, a sports arena, a golf course, and fishing. A lakeside cafe overlooks Waterloo Lake: it was damaged by fire in 2007 but restored and re-opened in 2008.^[14]

[edit] Sport and Culture

Leeds Carnegie RUFC, were originally founded after the merger of the Headingley and Roundhay Rugby Union Clubs.

The Roundhegians were originally the old boys association of Roundhay School but now operate as a Rugby Club for the whole of Roundhay.

Roundhay Park was the first place an aircraft landed in Leeds after a flight from Amsterdam, Holland.

Tropical World is located to the west of the park and contains many rare birds and wildlife.

[edit] Amenities

There are several public houses along Street Lane, there is a Co-op, several banks, a post office, a Threshers offlicence, The Flying Pizza Italian Restaurant, a Mexican Restaurant, a Texaco filling station, a Starbucks coffee shop, a bookmakers and many other small retailers. At the opposite end of the park at Oakwood Clock, there are two supermarkets, a Somerfield and a Tesco. Away from Street Lane, various areas of Roundhay have other local amenities (corner shops etc). The local centres in Moortown and Chapel Allerton are also close by. Roundhay also has a Spire private hospital. There is one comprehensive secondary school in Roundhay (Roundhay School), which has been recently rebuilt, as well as several primary schools in Roundhay and neighbouring Gledhow. Roundhay is home to Roundhegians RUFC who play at their Chelwood Drive ground at the West end of Roundhay, near Moortown. Leeds Golf Club is situated within Roundhay Park and is the home to Del Verde mediterranean restaurant, the course is considered one of the best in Leeds.

[edit] Housing

Roundhay has a wide variety of housing. There is a large mixture of Victorian through terraces, villas and twentieth century detached and semi detached housing. All of the housing in Roundhay is privately built, the nearest council housing in on the Lincombe Estate in neighbouring Gledhow; unlike many council estates in Leeds, this has a favourable reputation and house prices are high. Because there has never been any mass house building in Roundhay at any one time, there is no consistent style throughout the area. Roundhay is perhaps the most expensive area for houses within the Leeds Outer Ring Road, however areas outside such as Alwoodley, probably fetch higher house prices. There are also many flats adjacent to the park and along the northern edge of Roundhay.

[edit] Religion

St Edmund's Parish Church, Lidgett Park Lane, Anglican

St Andrew's Church, Devonshire Avenue, United Reform

Sinai Synagogue, Roman Avenue

• All Nations Community Church
• St. Johns CE Church (Closed June 2008)
• St. Edmunds CE Church
• Roundhay Methodist Church
• Lidgett Park Methodist Church
• St. Andrew's URC Church
• Roundhay Evangelical Church
• Society of Friends (Quakers)
• Sinai Synagogue

[edit] Education

Roundhay Schools are amongst the highest performing schools in Leeds.

• Roundhay School
• Gledhow Primary School
• Talbot Primary School
• Kerr Mackie Primary School
• St. John's Church of England Primary School, Roundhay

[edit] References and Notes

[edit] External links

• YEP Roundhay Today Community Website
• The Friends of Roundhay Park - Registered Charity
• The Roundhegians
• Images of Roundhay
• All Nations Community Church
• history of Roundhay Park Conservation Area
• The Ancient Parish of Barwick in Elmet at GENUKI: Roundhay was in this parish

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