History of Hunslet
Encyclopedia
Ever since its early days Hunslet
has been the 'Workshop of Leeds'. Although from the industrial revolution
onwards there have been other areas in Leeds to have a large industrial base, such as Holbeck
, Armley
, Kirkstall
and Harehills
, none so much as Hunslet. Like neighbouring Holbeck
, Hunslet benefited from its close proximity with the River Aire
, Leeds city centre
, coal mining communities to the South, extensive railways and some of Leeds
' best infrastructure. From the 1960s onwards the motorways would also drive industry and commerce in Hunslet.
Hunslet grew from an unremarkable area at the beginning of the industrial revolution to a major industrial area only a few years later. The growing industries in Hunslet were not the textile industries, for which Leeds was becoming best known, but generally heavier industries such as steel and iron foundries, engine works and railway works.
Hunslet was home to Leeds' second largest gasworks, the site had a large column guided gasholder, which was replaced in the 1960s by two spiral guided gasholders (which still stand). The site no longer produces town gas, storing natural gas instead.
Hunslet's redevelopment in the 1960s was perhaps most notable for the construction of the Hunslet Grange Flats, usually called informally the Leek Street Flats. Construction of the 2,500 flats started in 1968 following a widespread slum clearance project in the area.[1] The flats were commissioned by Leeds City Council
and constructed by Shepherd Construction. For a photograph of the flats in 1975 see [1]. The flats were built as a large complex, sprawling over much of Hunslet. While the flats enjoyed a degree of popularity in their first few years, this did not last, the layout of the complex and severe condensation lead to them being attributed to many health and social problems in the area, and only 13 years after construction began, in 1983, the council began to demolish the complex.
The 1960s also saw the M1 Motorway come to Hunslet, since the rerouting of the M1 around the East of Leeds taking it to the A1(M) at Aberford
, the Hunslet stretch of the former M1 is now part of the M621
. This is now home to Alea casino
as well as many bars, restaurants and luxury flats. It is now possible to get a barge ride from here to Granary Wharfe.
Hunslet
Hunslet is an inner-city area in south Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It is south east of the city centre and has an industrial past.Hunslet had many engineering companies based in the district, such as John Fowler & Co...
has been the 'Workshop of Leeds'. Although from the industrial revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
onwards there have been other areas in Leeds to have a large industrial base, such as Holbeck
Holbeck
Holbeck is a district in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.The district begins on the southern edge of the Leeds city centre and mainly lies in the LS11 Leeds postcode area. The M1 and M621 motorways used to end/begin in Holbeck. Now the M621 is the only motorway that passes through the area since...
, Armley
Armley
Armley is a district in the west of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It starts less than a mile from Leeds city centre. Like much of Leeds, Armley grew in the industrial revolution and had several mills, one of which is now the Armley Mills museum...
, Kirkstall
Kirkstall
Kirkstall is a suburb of north-west Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, on the eastern side of the River Aire. To the west is Bramley, to the east is Headingley and to the north is West Park. Kirkstall is around from the city centre and is close to the University of Leeds and Leeds Metropolitan...
and Harehills
Harehills
Harehills is an inner-city area of east Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It is approximately north east of Leeds city centre. Harehills is situated between the A58 and the A64 .- Overview :...
, none so much as Hunslet. Like neighbouring Holbeck
Holbeck
Holbeck is a district in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.The district begins on the southern edge of the Leeds city centre and mainly lies in the LS11 Leeds postcode area. The M1 and M621 motorways used to end/begin in Holbeck. Now the M621 is the only motorway that passes through the area since...
, Hunslet benefited from its close proximity with the River Aire
River Aire
The River Aire is a major river in Yorkshire, England of length . Part of the river is canalised, and is known as the Aire and Calder Navigation....
, Leeds city centre
Leeds City Centre
Leeds city centre is the central business district of Leeds, England. It is within the Leeds Central parliamentary constituency, represented by Hilary Benn as MP since a by-election in 1999...
, coal mining communities to the South, extensive railways and some of Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
' best infrastructure. From the 1960s onwards the motorways would also drive industry and commerce in Hunslet.
Hunslet grew from an unremarkable area at the beginning of the industrial revolution to a major industrial area only a few years later. The growing industries in Hunslet were not the textile industries, for which Leeds was becoming best known, but generally heavier industries such as steel and iron foundries, engine works and railway works.
1906
By 1906, Hunslet was home to Leeds’ second largest gas works, the City’s main rail goods yards, known at the time as ‘Midland Goods Station’ (now the site of Crown Point Retail Park), as well as a large number of factories, below is a rough inventory of the major industrial premises in Hunslet at the time.- Joshua Tetley and Son’s Brewery - South Brook Street/ Crown Point Lane
- Sun Foundry - Dewsbury Road
- Potterdale Mill - Dewsbury Road
- Well House Foundry - Dewsbury Road
- Oil Works - Dewsbury Road
- Malthouse and Maltkiln- Dewsbury Road
- Railway Works - Butterley Street
- Printing Works - Butterley Street
- Union Mills - Holmes Street
- Leeds Corporation Refuse Destructor - Kidacre Street
- Malthouse - Gold Street
- Stafford Pottery (disused) - Leathley Road
- Crown Point Printing Works - Hunslet Road
- Boyne Engine Works - Jack Lane
- Hunslet Engine Works - Jack Lane/Cancel Street
- Steam Plough and Locomotive Works - Hunslet Road/ Leathley Road
- Airedale Foundry (Iron and Steel) - Hunslet Road/ Grape Street/ Pearson Street
- Railway Foundry (Iron) - Jack Lane
- Midland Engine Works - Jack Lane
- St Helen’s Mills - Whitehouse Street
- Brush Works - Glasshouse Street
- Larchfield Engineering Works - Hunslet Road
- Larchfield Woollen Mills - Pym Street
- Hunslet Glass Works - South Accommodation Road
- Goodman Street Works (Iron and Steel) - Goodman Street
- Lock Works - South Accommodation Road
- Aire Bank Mills - South Accommodation Road
- Airedale Chemical Manure Works - Clarence Road
- Dolphin Foundry (Iron) - Sayner Road
- Hunslet Nail Works - Atkinson Street
- Victoria Mills - Goodman Street
- Hunslet Linen Works - Goodman Street
- Nevin’s Foundry - Goodman Street
- Malthouse - Larchfield Road
- Progress Works (Mineral Water) - Stafford Street
- Albert Tool Works - Donisthorpe Street
- Yorkshire Steel Foundry - Black Bull Street
- Victoria Chemical Works - Clarence Road
- Providence Works - Cudbear Street
- Saw Mills - Cudbear Street
- Iron Works - Crown Point Road
- Union Foundry (Iron) - Brookefield Street
- Airedale Works - Albury Road
- Globe Mills (Cabinet Works) - Chadwick Street
- New Dock Wagon Works - Black Bull Street
- Bowman Lane Dye Works - Crown Point Road
- Leather Works - Hunslet Lane#
Hunslet was home to Leeds' second largest gasworks, the site had a large column guided gasholder, which was replaced in the 1960s by two spiral guided gasholders (which still stand). The site no longer produces town gas, storing natural gas instead.
1960s
County Borough of Leeds
The County Borough of Leeds, and its predecessor, the Municipal Borough of Leeds, was a local government district in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England, from 1835 to 1974. Its origin was the ancient borough of Leeds, which was reformed by the Municipal Corporations Act 1835...
and constructed by Shepherd Construction. For a photograph of the flats in 1975 see [1]. The flats were built as a large complex, sprawling over much of Hunslet. While the flats enjoyed a degree of popularity in their first few years, this did not last, the layout of the complex and severe condensation lead to them being attributed to many health and social problems in the area, and only 13 years after construction began, in 1983, the council began to demolish the complex.
The 1960s also saw the M1 Motorway come to Hunslet, since the rerouting of the M1 around the East of Leeds taking it to the A1(M) at Aberford
Aberford
Aberford is a large village and civil parish on the eastern outskirts of the City of Leeds metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. It has a population of 1,059 according to the 2001 census...
, the Hunslet stretch of the former M1 is now part of the M621
M621 motorway
The M621 motorway is a short loop of motorway in England that takes traffic into central Leeds between the M1 and M62 motorways. It is the second longest motorway in the United Kingdom to carry a three digit number although it carries more junctions than any other three digit motorway within the...
1980s
Following the demolition of Hunslet Grange, the area was again redeveloped with low rise council housing. These proved more popular than the flats.2000s
The 2000s saw the redevelopment of the former industrial area surrounding Clarence DockClarence Dock (Leeds)
Clarence Dock is a shopping and leisure destination in central Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It also hosts a large residential population in waterside apartments, as well as a significant office presence....
. This is now home to Alea casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
as well as many bars, restaurants and luxury flats. It is now possible to get a barge ride from here to Granary Wharfe.