ROUNDHAY

'Roundhay' is one of the better known of Leeds's suburbs. It is a largely prosperous suburb on the north eastern edge of the city, adjacent to Alwoodley, Shadwell Village, Chapel Allerton, Moortown, Gledhow and Oakwood.

Contents

History

The Mansion

The Park

Sport and Culture

Religion

Education

External links

History

The most well known area of the suburb is Roundhay park. In the thirteenth century it was a three square mile hunting park for the DeLacy family of Pontefract Castle.
The entire estate was purchased by the City of Leeds in 1872 and opened as a public park by His Royal Highness Prince Arthur on the 19th of September 1872.
At the time, the then Lord Mayor of Leeds John Barran was ridiculed for buying a 'White Elephant' - in 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 - an old 'turnpike' road dating from 1808.
The park was seen as a reckless waste of ratepayers money - critics even published a booklet under the title: 'The Big White Elephant' in 1879.
In June 1907 an open air swimming pool 'lido' opened, at a cost of just over £1,600, it was built mainly by unemployed citizens. During the 1950's and 1960's about 100,000 people a year visited the Roundhay 'swimming baths'.
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''.

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.

The Park

Roundhay Park (2.8 km²), is a grand, Victorian park. Some Leeds residents may claim it is the largest inner city park in Europe. This, however, is not correct, as the 'Englischer Garten' (3.7 km²), in Munich, Germany, is actually larger.
The areas bordering the park are particularly affluent with many properties exceeding the £1 million price tag.

Roundhay Park comprises over 700 acres of parkland, lakes and woodland. The Park includes scented gardens for the blind, National Plant Collections, Canal Gardens (which are constructed around a former section of canal), the Monet and Alhambra Gardens, plus Tropical World which attracts visitors all year round. Newly opened for 2005 is the Friends Garden, 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. The Roundhay Park Arena is a natural amphitheatre which provides the venue for many special events ranging from sports days to major pop concerts and the spectacular bonfire and firework displays on 5th November .
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.

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.
Tropical world is located to the west of the park and contains many rare birds and wildlife.
Roundhay Park was the first place an aircraft landed in Leeds after a flight from Amsterdam, Holland.

Religion

★ St. Johns CE Church

★ St. Edmunds CE Church

★ Roundhay Methodist Church

★ Lidgett Park Methodist Church

★ St. Andrew's URC Church

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 CE Primary School

External links

★ The Friends of Roundhay Park - Registered Charity

★ The Roundhegians

★ Images of Roundhay