Belle Isle, Leeds

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Belle Isle Circus

Belle Isle is a large, early twentieth-century Suburb consisting of several council estates, 4 km (3 miles) to the south of Leeds City Centre, West Yorkshire, England. The district lies in the LS10 Leeds postcode area. Google Map [here]
Like much of South Leeds, Belle Isle was a deprived area, but this has since changed and is now becoming more popular like neighbouring Middleton. There is also a large roundabout in the area called Belle Isle Circus. This forms part of the main hub of local traffic in south Leeds. Belle Isle was just a small hamlet for colliery workers in the late 18th century. It was located opposite Middleton Woods, near the Middleton colliery railway and coal slag heaps (see discussion page).

The name "Belle Isle"* might be a pun on Bell Hill (which derives from the distinctive "bell" shaped early coal mining bell pits of the hilly area). *Belle Isle is French for "Beautiful Island". Also there is a "Newbell-ile" at "Middleton Wood End" mentioned in the Rothwell parish register for 1762.

Some of the council estates of Belle Isle are listed below :-

Petersfield Avenue
Windmill Road
The Clearings
Manor Farm (Though referred to as being in Middleton)
Newhall Road
Broom's

[edit] Entertainment

It is the site of the popular Belle Isle Working Mens Club, which hosted many regional and national stars during the 1970s club boom. The club burnt to the ground in 2000, but was subsequently rebuilt.

The celebrity and model Nell McAndrew was born and brought up in Belle Isle.

[edit] Education

Belle Isle has a number of local schools in the area. One of the biggest being Merlyn Rees Community High School, situated at the heart of Belle Isle it provided educational facilities for over 2 decades. However in late 2006 the school closed down.

Other Schools in the surrounding area are Windmill Primary School (Fly Belle Isle Primary School) situated opposite Merlyn Rees, and Clapgate Primary School Located on Cranmore Drive (Although it is debated that it classed as Middleton).