History of Meadow Road in Leeds

Meadow Road was once at the centre of a thriving community in Leeds, south of the city centre. During the 1970s, Leeds set out to be the 'Motorway City of the 70s' and large, established communities were lost. This video tells the story of the community that once existed around Meadow Road, on the boundary of Holbeck and Hunslet, using old photographs, map, censuses and current clips.
#Leeds #LeedsHistory #OldLeeds
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[@janiceheppenstall]

Thank you. My dad was born in this area, so it’s nice to have it brought to life in your video.

[@GeogJuice]

Thanks Janice

[@stephenhodgson3506]

The area used to have a very strong Temperance movement which at the time could be seen in the naming of some of the streets, for example Sober Street. One of the reasons for the Missions was that Leeds had become a bastion of Methodism and at one time the Church of England had considered almost withdrawing. Then they got a new Vicar at the Leeds Parish Church (now Minster) who decided to try and fight back and started to build Missions to compete for parishioners in Methodist areas.
If you look at the 1901 census for the area one strange theme that can be seen are the number of entries where wife is shown as the head of household with no husband present. This was because a large number of men from the area were away in South Africa fighting in the Boer War. A number of streets nearby were renamed in their honour for example Mafeking Avenue.

[@GeogJuice]

Thanks Stephen

[@jonathanhall7334]

Fascinating Story of a long gone area of Leeds.

[@GeogJuice]

Thanks Jonathan

[@gavlosmedia6323]

As a Holbeck lad this was fascinating.
My mum grew up near Sweet St and my dad on Pottery Field
Great vlog

[@GeogJuice]

Thanks Gavlos, it's amazing what used to be there isn't it?

[@lukefosterphoto]

I always feel like im back at school when I watch a new Geog Juice video but this time im very interested in learning!

[@GeogJuice]

Thanks Luke!

[@_Rhort]

Outstanding rephotography!

[@catherineloftus1376]

Excellent video, my gran Agnes Callagan moved from house facing Holbeck moor, when it was going to be demolished. My mum Hilda and her Sister Peggy Barker lived there before getting married.
Gran and Grandad were rehoused to St Barnabus Garth, Sweet St a 2 bed flat, for the first time in my Grandparents lives and now in their late sixties they had an inside toilet bathroom and hot water. The Crystal Palace put opposite the flats were my Grandparents local, also the Grove which is a well known pub, which is now surrounded by apartments

[@GeogJuice]

Thank you for commenting Catherine

[@michaelpeacock1165]

Your Gran n Grandad lived above us in the flats. We moved there from Cross Princess Street .

[@samanthabaines3578]

Another interesting and informative video, keep up the good work!

[@GeogJuice]

Thanks Samantha

[@chrisdunderdale]

Another great video!

[@GeogJuice]

Thanks Chris

[@karengill8234]

Remember that area really well. Thanks for sharing. …..

[@GeogJuice]

Thanks Karen

[@briandunning2974]

Excellent video again. I was hoping you had a photo of the public house that stood on the junction and between Elland Road and Beeston Road. Memory says it was a magnificent Victorian structure. I was hoping to compare reality with memory! All these areas had vibrant communities which were lost completely. So sad.

[@GeogJuice]

Thanks Brian, I saw where the pub was on the map. That was an interesting little group of buildings along that section of Elland Road. I might look into creating a video about it in the future.

[@kletops46]

Very informative.
I worked on Nineveh Road and Kidacre street in the late 70's early 80's.
Didn't realise a whole community was displaced by 'Motor Car' infrastructure.

[@DavidHey-vd5wn]

My first employment ingelby electric motors sweet street 1960 at the age of 15 years !!

[@frogandspanner]

I grew up in Leeds, and would hardly recognise the area to the south of the river it has been so scarred by motorways. I remember the M1 being extended to Leeds, passing close to the Fairy Fields where we played, and interrupting the walk to the pubs in Robin Hood where in later years we drank. I wish those city planners who came up with the plan to destroy Leeds, in a way that the Nazis could never achieve, could be made to _Look upon thy works, ye Shity, and despair! _ .
My mother's parents and aunts had shops somewhere around meadow lane/road (granddad had a drapery shop), and dad banked at the Syrack and Morley in Holbeck - I remember accompanying him when I was a kid.

[@gavlosmedia6323]

I live in Robin Hood and was in the Gardeners last night!

[@janesykes4483]

Brilliant thanks 💜🧡

[@GeogJuice]

Thanks Jane

[@dervxerox]

If you ever do a video about Little Woodhouse, don't forget the history of the Fenton. Indirectly named after Isabella Fenton.

[@GeogJuice]

Thank you for the tip.

[@dervxerox]

@@GeogJuice From what I can remember. It was a woman (Henrietta Strickland) who purchased the plot of land in 1840 that became Little Woodhouse. (which was unusual for the time) Both her and her husband had an interesting history. She named Fenton street after her dear friend who (by the sounds of it) was suffering from severe mental illness.

[@GeogJuice]

@@dervxerox Thank you. That sounds very interesting. I will add Little Woodhouse to my future list.

[@edwardarmitage4980]

No information about the Palace Picture house, situated on Meadow Road on the same location where the Clayton Hotel complex now stands ? 👍

[@GeogJuice]

Sorry I missed that Edward, apparently The Palace was at 10 Meadow Road. It opened in 1915 as the"People's Picture Palace" and changed to just the "Palace" in 1932. The last film shown was on 03/06/1961.

[@edwardarmitage4980]

@@GeogJuice thanks 👍 I used to go there for kids Saturday matinees (3d to get in 😅) in the latter 1950's.

[@a11csc]

❤❤❤❤👍👍

[@ardennite1]

10:18 There appeared to be many widows in that area at the time. Is there any particular reason for that ? Could it be that their husbands engaged in dangerous trades, or perhaps suffered from poor health as a result of poor living conditions which shortened their lives, or is there another reason ?

[@GeogJuice]

Both reasons you have offered are good. Average life expectancy for both men and women in the city in Victorian times was much shorter than today. Add to your list a lack of access to appropriate medical care, poverty and lifestyle. Terraced housing was and still is a good form of accommodation which can be cheaper and more accessible for families with lower incomes.

[@michaelpeacock1165]

Had fish n chips from the Hands many times.

[@tomhiggins4124]

Hi ,fascinating film !!!!!!! .

[@GeogJuice]

Thanks Tom

[@MavisMantle]

I.used.to.live.in.hunslet..in.the.fortys.fiftys.and,sixties.but.now.live.in.dudley.in.the.midlands.love.old,hunslet.would.love.to.go.back.and.see.what.it.looks.like.now.but.at.83.years.old.but.god.........willing.i.will.make.soon..i.lived.in.gordon.road.and.went.to.the.nash.school....m.m.

[@GeogJuice]

Hopefully you get a chance to visit soon Mavis