Adel, Leeds

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Adel is a wealthy suburb in North Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It is situated between Cookridge, Holt Park, Weetwood and Alwoodley. To the north are the villages of Arthington and Bramhope and the market town of Otley. In common with many areas of Leeds it is not easy to define the boundaries of Adel, but Adel Church and the two schools are well to the east of Otley Road, the A660, although the post office is on that road.

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[edit] History

Adel is situated near the site of a Roman fort, the ancient road from Tadcaster to Ilkley passing nearby. (The footpath by the side of Long Causeway was said to be made from the original Roman stones, until they were removed by the council in the 1960s because they were too worn to be safe.)

The Roman name for the area was Burgodunum. It is probable that a Saxon village sprang up around the fort and that a church would have been built within the village. It is mentioned in the 1086 Domesday Book as Adele. Another spelling used until 1816 is Addle. They are both from the Old English adela ‘dirty, muddy place’.[1]

The parish of Adel stretched as far north as the River Wharfe and included the settlements of Adel, Arthington, Breary, Cookridge and Eccup.

In 1152 the nearby Cistercian abbey at Kirkstall was founded. At the same time, the church of St John the Baptist was built in Adel to replace the older Saxon building.

[edit] Adel Church

Adel Church
Adel Church

The Church of St John the Baptist, Adel parish church, is described as "one of the best and most complete Norman churches in Yorkshire".[2] It is a grade I listed building; the sundial, mounting block and several memorials are grade II listed.

It was built 1150-1170 and has been little altered since, although a new bell-cote was added in 1838-39 by R. D. Chantrell. The doorway, protected by a modern wooden roof, has an ornately carved arch; inside, there are 81 decorative corbels on the north and south walls, and the chancel arch has 37 grotesque beakheads. The medieval font has an oak canopy by Eric Gill, and a leper's window survives in the chancel.

The famous doorknocker of Adel Church is a replica, as the original has been stolen. Because of thefts of stones from the graveyard, all the church's paving stones are engraved with crosses.

[edit] Adel Today

Adel is a mainly residential area of Leeds, and being in proximity to Adel Crags and Meanwood Park has a distinctive countryside feel. Adel also has two primary schools, namely St John The Baptist Primary School and Adel Primary School.

Adel is within the Adel and Wharfedale ward for Leeds City Council and the Leeds North West parliamentary constituency.

Close to Adel Church is York Gate, an old farmhouse with a beautifully landscaped garden and a pavement maze in the driveway. The gardens are open to the public on regular occasions.

Also close to the church is the Adel Memorial Hall and the associated sports ground - home to the Bowmen of Adel, who hosted the Scorton Arrow in 1962, 1967 and 1970. Adel is home to Headingley Golf club, the oldest golf club in Leeds.

Just to the west is the University of Leeds sports grounds and Bodington Hall, the university's largest hall of residence.

[edit] Location Grid


North: Bramhope
West: Holt Park Adel, Leeds East: Alwoodley
South: Lawnswood, Weetwood

[edit] References

  1. ^ Mills, A. D. (2003). Dictionary of British Place-Names. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0198527586. 
  2. ^ Wrathmell, Susan; John Minnis (2005). Leeds, Pevsner architectural guides. Yale U.P., 268. ISBN 0300107366. 

[edit] External links


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