Ireland Wood

Coordinates: 53°50′46″N 1°36′00″W / 53.846°N 1.600°W / 53.846; -1.600

The Wise Owl Public House, which has since been demolished

Ireland Wood is a small residential area in north-west Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It is approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) to the north west of Leeds city centre. The original planning for Ireland Wood began in 1950.^[1]

The estate was constructed throughout the 1950s and provided a refuge from the slum houses in industrial parts of the city which they (along with other similar areas) replaced. The estate is particularly leafy. For a picture of the estate shortly after construction see the Leodis database

The district is close to Holt Park, Cookridge Tinshill and also close to the Leeds Ring Road.

The area's main thoroughfare is the Otley Old Road. The primary school is Iveson House. Moor Grange school was on Parkstone Avenue but has been demolished and replaced by a HM Revenue and Customs office. A public house named The Wise Owl was at the top of Otley Old Road but has since been demolished. A row of shops is at the top of Iveson Drive.

Housing

Council Housing in Ireland Wood in November 2008.

Beever's Court (flats) in Ireland Wood, November 2008.

Most housing in Ireland Wood is late 1940s concrete prefabricated housing. This stock is generally in a good condition and has been recently refurbished. There is one block of high rise flats, Beever's Court, situated on Iveson Approach. Most housing in the area is sort of a yellow in colour, all though as many houses in the area have since been bought by their residents, some owners have painted their houses white. Most housing on the estate comprises two and three bedroomed bedroomed semi-detached properties.Council housing on nearby estates such as Tinshill and Moor Grange is brick built as opposed to being prefabricated and so generally fetches a higher price on the property market.

Amenities

Parade of Shops on Iveson Approach

Premier off licence on Raynel Approach, nicknamed "Paul's"

The area had one pub, The Wise Owl, which has since been knocked down to make room for a medical health centre, three schools, Iveson Primary School, Ireland Wood Primary School and a Catholic primary school called Holy Name School, as well as three parades of shops, the main one on Iveson Approach next to the Beever's Court Flats, one on Otley Old Road and a further parade which now just contains a Premier Convenience Shop on Raynel Approach. The row of shops on Otley Old Road contains Ireland Wood Post Office. Royal Mail have a local delivery office on Iveson Approach. The New Ireland Wood Social Club on Iveson Drive has been refurbished no doubt as a replacement of the Wise Owl pub.

Transport

The main bus service serving Ireland Wood is the Sky Line (6), linking the area with Holt Park, Horsforth railway station, Headingley and Leeds city centre. The Pink Line (19 & 19A) also comes through the area linking Ireland Wood with Tinshill, Kirkstall, Burley and Leeds city centre. The Brown Line (1) links Ireland Wood with Holt Park, Hyde Park, Leeds city centre, Beeston and Hunslet.^[2][3][4]

New health centre

Plans for the proposed building of a new health centre in Ireland Wood which caused significant controversy in the area, were finally passed. The plans involved the demolition of the Wise Owl public house, which in itself sparked controversy. At the time of this latest editing the new health centre is at least halfway to completion.

References