Cross Gates, Leeds
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Cross Gates, also spelt as Crossgates is a large, well known conurbation/suburb in east Leeds, situated between Seacroft to the north, Whitkirk and Colton to the south, Pendas Fields to the east, Killingbeck to the west and Austhorpe to the south east.
It blends into the Whitkirk and Killingbeck districts, and is close to Colton and Seacroft. Manston and Pendas Fields are generally regarded as being part of Cross Gates.
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[edit] Location
The suburb is 6 km (4 miles) to the east of Leeds City Centre. Cross Gates is popular with local shoppers as an alternative to Leeds City Centre as it contains its own shopping mall - the Cross Gates Arndale Centre now know as the Crossgates Shopping Centre - complete with branches of some major high street traders, in addition to many more independent shops and local library services.
[edit] Housing
The areas housing ranges from detached houses, semi-detached houses and terraced houses. More recently, a block of new, low-rise flats has been built opposite the Crossgates Shopping Centre, and apartments are being sold at very high prices.
[edit] Manston Park
Manston Park is a large park in Cross Gates with football pitches, a bowling green, tennis courts and a playground, which was recently refurbished due to criminal damage. Although the park is a pleasant area, it can be dangerous at night.
[edit] History
Cross Gates means "crossroads" from Old English cros "cross" (as in Crossens) and Old Norse gata "street, gait" (not 'gate'). The name was recorded as Crosget in 1129. Cross Gates was originally part of Austhorpe, as were Colton and Barrowby.
[edit] Transport in Cross Gates
Cross Gates has a railway station on the Leeds - York and Selby line. It is a well used stop for residents commuting to Leeds or York city centres. It is also close to the A64 dual carriageway and M1 motorway. The A6120 Leeds Outer Ring Road "Station Road" is the main road through the area.
[edit] Industry
A Royal Ordnance Factory was built at Barnbow off Manston Lane for the World War 2 effort, producing guns for the army and navy. The building is was bought by Vickers Defence Sytsems and produced the Challenger 2 tank before it closed in 2004. The bus manfacturer Optare, formerly "Charles H. Roe Ltd", also have a factory on Manston Lane.
[edit] Comparison
Cross Gates lies in the LS15 postcode area. Here is a population breakdown of the postcode area in comparison with the UK population.
| Category | LS15 | UK average |
|---|---|---|
| Population density (people / sq mi) | 43.2 | 24.9 |
| Gender split (females / male) | 1.05 | 1.05 |
| Average commute | 6.1 miles | 8.73 miles |
| Average age | 38 | 39 |
| Home ownership | 16% | 16.9% |
| Student population | 2.4% | 4.4% |
| People in good health | 69% | 69% |
