A comprehensive and balanced treatment of the subject. Really enjoyed it. And well done to all those who have put creative thought and energy into the new direction of the area.
I grew up in Leeds, and as a schoolkid visited exhibitions of "Leeds: Motorway City of the Seventies". The car was King, and aerial walkways were erected in the city centre to keep these strange mechanisms that used bipedal propulsion from the cars below. Holbeck, where my maternal grandparents had lived, was razed to the ground and the M1 terminated there. The Skyrack & Morley Bank, where my father kept his overdraft, disappeared. But it didn't end there. I left Leeds briefly in 1968, and permanently in 1980. I visited in about 2000 to find the city transformed, but not in a good way. The M1 termination had been developed into a city-centre motorway complex, Hunslet Road & South Accommodation Road had become dual carriageways, and the Church Street-Balm Road junction was now a major interchange. The school where Peter O'Toole went was demolished. Worse was to come. The American invasive species _the Skyscraper_ was spreading across the city. 1960s developers had tried this before, and it had failed; now they were trying it again. It is good to see the River is no longer a sewer, and is being made a feature, but when developers get involved with grand designs I worry. I must visit again: I want to see the new plaque, cross the David Oluwale Bridge, and drop a wreath in the Aire.
I can tell your love for the city in your words. South Leeds was devastated by the motorways and neighbourhoods were destroyed - unforgivable really. I agree, the increasing skyscrapers are a worry, but the heritage is being better recognised in so many ways. You might be pleasantly surprised when you come back and visit your old city. Some recent changes are for the good. Thanks for sharing your story.
@@GeogJuice I remember the terraced houses in Hunslet, each with their own bonfire on 5th November, knocked down to build the concrete monstrosity of Leek Street Flats. Immediately following the demolition it was a rubble wasteland, but the pubs had been left standing - making it a pub-crawlers dream. Pubs in Hunslet had spitoons! What a disaster the flats turned out to be - soon to disappear. The planners had previously tried something similar with the Southcroft estate (where I lived ages 12-15) - with solid concrete pre-cast walls and electric underfloor heating. I suppose that after a two bedroom council flat where ablutions were in a tin bath in front of the (single) fire it was luxury. But that estate has gone too. So have the churches I attended, the school my brother went to, the school I went to (although it has been incorporated into a bigger school the buildings have gone). I now live in Birmingham, and although it has changed in the almost 40 years I have been here it has changed nowhere near as much as Leeds.
Just need that iconic world level skyscraper ! We keep building these mediocre 100m buildings while places like Manchester are making 150m plus buildings … we need a proper skyline
My gran lived in quarry hill flats. She said Jimmy saville used to Pull up in his rolls Royce and all the mothers would gather up their kids and run inside
Fair point Richard. It was accurate when I created this though, less than two years ago. So much change in such a short period of time, including the scrapping of HS2. I intend to revisit this video. Maybe do a before and after…
It's good to see old mills getting a new lease of life, and not getting bulldozed to the ground, and never to be seen again. Great video.
Thanks Caleb
A comprehensive and balanced treatment of the subject. Really enjoyed it. And well done to all those who have put creative thought and energy into the new direction of the area.
I grew up in Leeds, and as a schoolkid visited exhibitions of "Leeds: Motorway City of the Seventies". The car was King, and aerial walkways were erected in the city centre to keep these strange mechanisms that used bipedal propulsion from the cars below. Holbeck, where my maternal grandparents had lived, was razed to the ground and the M1 terminated there. The Skyrack & Morley Bank, where my father kept his overdraft, disappeared. But it didn't end there. I left Leeds briefly in 1968, and permanently in 1980. I visited in about 2000 to find the city transformed, but not in a good way. The M1 termination had been developed into a city-centre motorway complex, Hunslet Road & South Accommodation Road had become dual carriageways, and the Church Street-Balm Road junction was now a major interchange. The school where Peter O'Toole went was demolished. Worse was to come. The American invasive species _the Skyscraper_ was spreading across the city. 1960s developers had tried this before, and it had failed; now they were trying it again.
It is good to see the River is no longer a sewer, and is being made a feature, but when developers get involved with grand designs I worry.
I must visit again: I want to see the new plaque, cross the David Oluwale Bridge, and drop a wreath in the Aire.
I can tell your love for the city in your words. South Leeds was devastated by the motorways and neighbourhoods were destroyed - unforgivable really. I agree, the increasing skyscrapers are a worry, but the heritage is being better recognised in so many ways. You might be pleasantly surprised when you come back and visit your old city. Some recent changes are for the good. Thanks for sharing your story.
@@GeogJuice I remember the terraced houses in Hunslet, each with their own bonfire on 5th November, knocked down to build the concrete monstrosity of Leek Street Flats. Immediately following the demolition it was a rubble wasteland, but the pubs had been left standing - making it a pub-crawlers dream. Pubs in Hunslet had spitoons! What a disaster the flats turned out to be - soon to disappear. The planners had previously tried something similar with the Southcroft estate (where I lived ages 12-15) - with solid concrete pre-cast walls and electric underfloor heating. I suppose that after a two bedroom council flat where ablutions were in a tin bath in front of the (single) fire it was luxury. But that estate has gone too. So have the churches I attended, the school my brother went to, the school I went to (although it has been incorporated into a bigger school the buildings have gone).
I now live in Birmingham, and although it has changed in the almost 40 years I have been here it has changed nowhere near as much as Leeds.
Just need that iconic world level skyscraper ! We keep building these mediocre 100m buildings while places like Manchester are making 150m plus buildings … we need a proper skyline
Great job! I'd love to learn more about the history of Quarry Hill and Lady Ln. in Leeds
Thanks Piotr. I will see if I can do anything about that in the future.
Hi Piotr, my latest video is out later and features Lady Lane. I hope you enjoy it!
My gran lived in quarry hill flats. She said Jimmy saville used to Pull up in his rolls Royce and all the mothers would gather up their kids and run inside
Enjoyed watching this immensely
Thanks David
Interesting Film about an area of the City which is long overdue for redevelopment
GCSE sorted 😘
HS2 not now coming to Leeds
great video, unfortunatley I watched it the day after HS2 to Leeds was cancelled ☹
Thanks Mark
was all going so well until the mention of HS2. . . . .
Fair point Richard. It was accurate when I created this though, less than two years ago. So much change in such a short period of time, including the scrapping of HS2. I intend to revisit this video. Maybe do a before and after…
can't you call it hunslet and holbeck, no leeds people have ever called it south bank, thats for yuppy outsiders
Yet more boxes, why can't they come up with something original. LCC planning haven't got a clue................
Private investment, not LCC
HS2 lol