Meanwood

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Meanwood
Meanwood shown within West Yorkshire
Metropolitan borough	City of Leeds
Metropolitan county	West Yorkshire
Region	Yorkshire and the Humber
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	LEEDS
Postcode district	LS6
Dialling code	0113
Police	West Yorkshire
Fire	West Yorkshire
Ambulance	Yorkshire
European Parliament	Yorkshire and the Humber
List of places: UK • England • Yorkshire

Coordinates: 53°49′55″N 1°33′51″W / 53.832, -1.5642

Meanwood is a suburb of north-west Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.

1 Geography and buildings
- 1.1 Meanwood Towers
2 Meanwood Park
3 History, folklore and notable residents
4 Sport and social activities
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Geography and buildings

Meanwood Institute with 19th century terraces for tannery workers behind

Meanwood consists predominantly of nineteenth-century industrial buildings in Meanwood Valley at the sides of Meanwood Beck. There is also nineteenth-century terraced housing on the valley side leading up to Headingley, Weetwood and Woodhouse, along with an area of woodland known locally as The Ridge. New estates have been built in Meanwood with grand, suburban housing, the Woodleas, the Stonegates and the Bowoods. Twentieth-century council housing mixed with open space forms the opposite side of the valley leading up to Scott Hall. It is also home to Meanwood Valley Farm. The Church of England parish church is Holy Trinity Church, consecrated in 1849. Its clock was manufactured by Edward J. Dent (1790-1853), who with his son made the timepiece associated with Big Ben in London. There is also a Methodist Church (1881). The Baptist congregation meets in the Meanwood Community Centre.

[edit] Meanwood Towers

Meanwood Towers, Leeds LS6 4PL in 2007

In the middle of an estate of inter-war semi-detached houses behind Stonegate Road stands a Victorian Gothic house, Meanwood Towers. Designed by Edward Welby Pugin, and built in 1866 - 1867, this private house was commissioned by Thomas Stewart Kennedy and was originally called Meanwood House. It had tall chimneys which were removed on safety grounds in 1969. It used to house one of the world’s most famous Edmund Schulze organs, which has since been transferred to St Bartholomew’s church in nearby Armley^[1]. The building has been converted into flats, however the major part of the structure still survives.

Picture of Meanwood Towers in 1950, showing tall chimneys

[edit] Meanwood Park

Map Sign for Meanwood Park and Meanwood Valley Trail

Picnic area in Meanwood Park

Part of the Hollies

Meanwood Park, in the north of the area, is approximately 29 hectares, and has large open areas and mature trees. Meanwood Beck runs through it, crossed by many small footbridges. The southern end has a children's playground and an area with picnic tables. To the north west Meanwood Park borders onto the Hollies, a separate park with sloping woodland containing many rhododendrons and azaleas. The Hollies has gardens including the National Plant Collection of Philadelphus.^[2] The Meanwood Valley Trail passes through Meanwood Park.

[edit] History, folklore and notable residents

Captain Oates (of the ill-fated Scott expedition to Antarctica) often resided in Meanwood. There is a monument to his bravery located close to Holy Trinity Church.

Radio presenter Glenn Pinder from Magic 828 & Radio Aire grew up in the 'Sunsets', attended Bentley Primary (closed 2004 [1]) and Lawrence Oates (closed 1992 [2]) schools.

Radio Aire Drivetime presenter Cameron Prudames is currently a resident of Meanwood

[edit] Sport and social activities

Numerous sporting activities exist in Meanwood, including the Meanwood Valley Trail Race (a cross country race that has been going since 1996), amateur cricket and rugby league. The Meanwood Cricket Club has existed since 1870, and their present ground since 1895^[3].