SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

Soon after passing the site of the old Scarcroft Mill the track passes under a railway bridge that remains from when the Crossgates to Wetherby rail line was. Immediately before the bridge there is an easily missed water course that issues out at the bottom of the embankment. This short stone built tunnel has quite an impressive opening. I have put here a photo of that scene that I took on May 8 2012. The bridge is just out of view on the left.I was curious why it is clearly a very well built structure so I looked at some old maps. I found the structure is almost certainly part of what is marked as the 'Mill Race' that ran to the old corn mill, as seen in an 1893 map that I will post later. The short tunnel was therefore very likely to have been built when the railway embankment was built. As the line was opened on May 1 1876 the tunnel will therefore be at least as old as from then.Just after walking under the bridge (as if going to Scarcroft) there is on the right an easily missed upstream opening of the tunnel. This has an even more impressive structure, as will be seen in my next post. I shall also post some maps that show the site.Getting to each section of the tunnel was very difficult, having to cope with such as rusty barb wires and very soggy overgrown ground. Not only that but I was unsure if I was trespassing or not! I had first seen only the structure nearest the mill a year or two back but it was only yesterday that I decided it was worth the risk of going ahead. I took many photos but I won't bore you with more than the 2 or 3 I shall post.     

This photo shows a view looking down the water course tunnel from its start on the Scarcroft side. It shows the impressive stone work, which I assume is original. The bridge is just out of view on the right.

This photo from the Scarcroft side of the tunnel shows the embankment along the top of which had the rail line.

Cool.I noticed on the godfrey map a now non existant mill race and footpath used to go through the now disused railway embankment to the east of gelderd road (doe that makes sense?) Probably filled in but with similar stonework.

This 1893 map shows the 'Mill Race'. The tree lined meandering feature to its left and above it is Bardsey Beck. I like the Cross Gates 5 M.P. marked on the railway.

This 1849/51 map is not that clear but it seems as if it shows what was the Mill Race or at least an early version coming from the Mill Dam to the mill. Bardsey Beck can be seen. The dotted line seems to follow the present day path from the mill site to the bridge.    

Leodian wrote: This photo from the Scarcroft side of the tunnel shows the embankment along the top of which had the rail line. Interesting stuff, thanks for posting.If you had taken a closer look at the two portals you might have spotted a slight difference in stonework. At one time that tunnel would have been much shorter and had a different portal that's now inside the tunnel. The line was built as a single track originally with a smaller embankment, the track was doubled and so was the need to extend the embankment, all the bridges and watercourse tunnels that ran under the line.If you take a look under all the bridges on that line you can see where they were extendedIf you take a look at the Barwick Road bridge on street view you can clearly see the differencehttp://g.co/maps/sf5qn            

Leo hiWhere is this (current map). Might fancy a wander or bike ride next week.I only recall Bardsey Mill dunno Scarcroft. Is it near the Old Yorks Electricity Board HQ? Oh soz, is it the thing near the Fisheries and the Roman bit?

This 1990 map shows the present day situation. It shows a thickish line that is presumably the water course that takes a sharp bend to join Bardsey Beck near the 'Fishery Ponds'.

Thnx