The city of Leeds, England is the third-largest city in the country, the largest in the county of West Yorkshire and it has the second-highest population of any local authority district in the United Kingdom.
Leeds is on the River Aire Valley, in the eastern foothills of the Pennine Hills, about two hundred and seventy miles north-northwest of London. The city center is less than twenty miles from the Yorkshire Dales National Park, although the central areas of the city are quite urban.
The Leeds Inner Ring Road contains the city center, and is formed from portions of A58, A61, A64, A643, and M621. Its main shopping area, known as Briggate, is restricted to pedestrian traffic, and Queen Victoria Street, part of the Victoria Quarter is enclosed within a glass roof. Millennium Square is another significant urban area of the city. Apart from the highly developed areas of Leeds itself, the city contains several suburbs and exurbs. The city is adjacent to Bradford and Wakefield.
In ancient times, the region that was to become Leeds was a forested area in the Celtic kingdom of Elmet. By the time of the Norman conquest of England, there was a settlement there. When the Domesday Book was published in 1086, Leeds had a population of 200.
The town of Leeds was founded by Maurice De Gant, the Lord of the Manor, in 1207. Commerce and trade in England were flourishing at the time, and several new towns were created. New streets were created in Leeds, and the land was platted into building lots. Houses were built, and the people who moved into them paid rent for the land that their houses stood on. Before long, the town had bakers, blacksmiths, butchers, and carpenters, but the town's economy was based on wool. During the Middle Ages, Leeds had a population of about 1,000 people, but the typical village in that time had between 100-200 people.
During the 1500s, Leeds grew much larger, and the woolen cloth industry was larger than ever. Due in large part to this industry, Leeds grew from an insignificant town to one of the largest in Yorkshire, and it was incorporated in 1626.
The first part of the 1600s brought more prosperity and growth, and many of its residents rebuilt their homes in stone, and Saint Johns Church was built during this period. However, in 1642, a civil war pitted the king and parliament. The majority of the residents of Leeds supported the king, and a royalist army occupied the town. In January of 1643, soldiers on the side of parliament captured the town, occupying it until the summer of that year, when they were forced to abandon it. While growth was slowed during this period of unrest, Leeds was a wealthy town by the end of the 17th century. There were outbreaks of the plague, but these were not restricted to Leeds.
During the 1700s, wool continued to be a significant contributor to the economy, but other industries were gaining. Pottery and brick production became important, but there were also booksellers, jewelers, clockmakers, and coachmakers, as well as bakers, barbers, blacksmiths, butchers, carpenters, glaziers, and innkeepers. The Aire and Calder rivers were made navigable from Leeds to Wakefield and, by the end of the 18th century, work has begun on a canal from Leeds to Liverpool, and these brought additional business to town.
The numbers of the middle class and wealthy grew in Leeds, although the town was not without its poor. A newspaper began publishing in 1718. In 1755, the streets of Leeds were lit with oil lamps.
The first census was held in 1801, at which time the population was 30,000. By 1851, there were more than 100,000 people in Leeds. Overcrowding became a problem, a situation that may have contributed to a cholera epidemic in 1832 that led to the deaths of more than 700 people. An 1849 epidemic took another 2,000 people. The town built a sewer system in the 1850s, but it was not until 1899 that homes in Leeds were required to connect to the system.
Nevertheless, the population grew, and life in Leeds gradually improved. Leeds was connected by rail to Selby in 1834, to York in 1839, and to Derby by 1848. A police force was employed in 1836, and a public library opened in 1872. Theaters, music halls, and other entertainment venues were opened. In 1891, Leeds had an electrical system, and Leeds became a city in 1893.
By the late 1800s, the textile industry was less important to the city's economy, but it had a market for tailoring, and a leather industry was thriving.
The 1900s brought World Wars I and II, and Leeds was not spared from the devastation of German bombers in World War II. By the mid-1900s, the city council had become a major employer, with a workforce of about 19,000. By the late 1900s, the city employed 35,000. Tourism and the retail sectors became important during the late 20th century, and after. By 2020, Leeds had a population of 780,000.
Categories
Education & InstructionHealth & Public Safety | Places to Stay |
Recommended Resources
Situated about a ten-minute walk from the city centre of Leeds, with access by car to the inner ring road and the motorway network, Citispace caters to long-term rentals. Featuring more than 300 apartments of varying sizes and shapes, and an on-site supplier of electricity, phone lines, and broadband Internet. Available apartments are featured, including a gallery of photographs. Its location, news, and an overview of the neighborhood are provided.
http://www.citispace.co.uk/
Based in Leeds, Cohen Cramer specializes in three main areas of practice, including disputes, personal injury, and crime, fraud, and regulatory, representing both business and individual clients throughout the country. Its location, hours, contacts, and career opportunities are discussed, along with information about legal costs, and its in-house legal costs team. Informational articles on the Proceeds of Crime Act, as well as a blog on a variety of legal issues, are featured.
https://cohencramer.co.uk/
Part of the Church of England, the Diocese of Leeds covers an area of 2,425 miles, including 471 parishes organized into five archdeaconries, covering the Bradford, Huddersfield, Leeds, Ripon, and Wakefield areas. A map shows the location of the five areas, and other resources include Diocesan strategy documents, annual reports, and an overview of its educational facilities, ministries, and events. A directory of officials and staff is included, along with contacts and hours.
https://www.leeds.anglican.org/
Originally located in Tru Gym in Kirkstall, the beauty salon moved to Charles Lewis Hair & Beauty in 2015, and into its own premises in 2019, still in Kirkstall, Leeds, where it is currently located. Its address, opening hours, telephone number, and email address are posted, and an overview of its services and products, an introduction to its team, a price list, and history and profile of the business are featured. A contact form is included, and bookings may be accomplished online.
https://www.edenbeautyleeds.co.uk/
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. The official Leeds City Council website presents news and announcements, office hours, and office telephone numbers, as well as emergency and out-of-hours numbers. An alphabetical listing of city services is provided, and an overview of area health facilities and resources, schools, housing, leisure venues, attractions, business and licensing requirements, benefits and support, and other resources are included.
https://www.leeds.gov.uk/
Headquartered in Leeds, West Yorkshire, the Royal Armouries is the UK's national collection of arms and armour. Originally a significant part of England's military organization, it has since become the oldest museum in the United Kingdom, with locations in Fort Nelson in Fareham, the White Tower in London, and its Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds. Locations, hours of operation, and a searchable database of its collections are featured. An online shopping area offers a variety of products.
https://royalarmouries.org/
The student housing charity was established in 1975 and provides assistance to students who are renting in the private sector, as well as providing direct housing to students in Leeds, Nottingham, and Bradford, runs a number of accreditation schemes, and promotes best practices in student housing. General information about the charity is provided, and students may search online for available housing, obtain information and advice, and view a directory of participating landlords.
https://www.unipol.org.uk/
Created as a service of the Leeds City Council, the site serves as a guide to things to do, and places to stay in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, and includes local restaurants, nightlife, shopping venues, sports, arts and culture, and tours, as well as concerts, festivals, and events. A history of the city, maps, travel information and suggested itineraries for 24-hour, 48-hour, and 72-hour trips are offered, and a blog provides additional suggestions and tips.
https://www.visitleeds.co.uk/
