Leeds Walking Tour

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Wednesday 03 July
Depart: Parkinson Steps: 14.00
Arrive: Parkinson Steps: 16.30
Price: £15.00

Today’s visitor to the great commercial and industrial city of Leeds can scarcely conceive that once it was a minor medieval agricultural settlement. At the time of Domesday Book in 1086, ‘Ledes’ was a small manor on the north bank of the River Aire. In 1207, Maurice Paynel founded the historic street of Briggate upon which the burgage plots of the medieval borough are still evident. Over the years, Leeds expanded to become one of the most prosperous woollen cloth-making and marketing towns in Georgian England and then one of the greatest industrial cities of the Victorian Age. The municipal buildings built during this period, including Cuthbert Brodrick’s magnificent town hall and the Leeds City Museum, still dominate the centre of town.
This tour will trace the history of Leeds from medieval settlement to one of the most important business centres in the United Kingdom. A significant amount of walking will be involved, so participants are advised to wear comfortable footwear.
This tour will be led by Kevin Grady (Patron of Leeds Historical Society and former Director of the Leeds Civic Trust).