Holbeck, Leeds

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About Holbeck, Leeds

Holbeck is a district of south Leeds, West Yorkshire, in the United Kingdom.

Historically, it was the heart of Leeds' industrial revolution, and at the time was one of the richest and most significant places in England. Much of the legacy of the area is still visible today :-

o Iconic Mills, Warehouses and Foundries, many of which with listed building status - eg Temple Mill (modeled on the egyptian temple of Edfu), Marshalls Mill, Tower Works, two former railway roundhouses,

o The Hol Beck, once a small beck leading into the river aire, it was transformed by victorian industry to help power several of the mills in the area; parts of it are under ground, but it can be seen clearly running alongside water lane.

o Transportation hub - the Leeds-Liverpool Canal starts in Holbeck, It was the original begining/end of the M1 and M62 motorways. It's also the location of the city's train station (first opened in 1846), the Dark Arches and Granary Wharf. A disused viaduct running through Holbeck to the train station was, when it was built in 1869, thought to be one of the engineering marvels of the Victorian age. There are plans to turn the viaduct into a raised walkway leading Holbeck directly into the city centre.

All this from an area that was originally developed as a village, and still has village status!

In the first half of the 19th century Holbeck Village was a hamlet of just a few streets, most of which were owned by John Scholey (1774-1834) and are all listed, with tenants, in his Will, now at the Borthwick Institute, York. His family sold up with the advent of the Industrial Revolution, when Holbeck became one of the richest and most significant places in England. Holbeck's foundries and mills manufactured cloth, machinery, steam engines and other equipment for companies across the world. The area was home to three of the greatest industrialists of the age: Colonel Thomas Harding, John Marshall and Matthew Murray.

Holbeck suffered significant decline since the 19th Century and the end of the industrial revolution, with many industrial buildings and warehouses demolished or fell into disrepair.
Holbeck is nevertheless home to 33 listed buildings and many other important architectural structures, most of which are either currently being restored or have been restored, as the area undergoes significant regeneration, turning the area into a haven for digital and creative industries and accommodation.

The area now houses Leeds' tallest building (Bridgewater Place), and has a thriving and growing community of small businesses, pubs, restaurants and hotels.

More reading:

Holbeck's Wikipedia Article
The Holbeck Urban Village regeneration

Related / Neighbouring Flickr Groups:

The Leeds Flickr Group
South Leeds Flickr Group

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holbeck