Roundhay Park

The green spaces and places of Leeds
wiggy
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Joined: Tue 26 Jun, 2007 9:39 am

Post by wiggy »

oldleedsman wrote: Does anyone remember the maze in Roundhay Park? I don't remember it ever being open but I can remember hiding in it during school cross-country races. There was also a large cafe building nearby that had a cafe at the front and a huge room that seemed to be full of stacked table and chairs.Also donkey rides up the Hill 60 next to the arena.My sister claims there used to be a small zoo in Canal gardens with monkeys. Is there any truth in this? yep! i remember it was open when i was a kid...you had to pay,and it had a turnstile outside.
i do believe,induced by potent circumstances,that thou art' mine enemy?

wiggy
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Joined: Tue 26 Jun, 2007 9:39 am

Post by wiggy »

LS1 wrote: That has really brough back some memories. I remember the dodgems, then the helter skelter, and some chair swings. Then the chairoplaines and the little train and something else ... cant remmeber it. Thanks for some great times there!Mansion- have a look in now, they have removed the horrible white fences and the interior still looks the same,. Part of it will be offices and a also a learning centre and a cafe. The old Phoenix bar has gone, apparently structurally unsafe and quite a nice building has been erected in its place. It's good to see though that they have renovated the railings there and kept the old ones, and the new replaced sections are almost identical to the old ones. they look good. Something has been done well or a change!I wish someone could tell me what has cost millions though in the park after the grant was spent. I cant see any mega changes that look as though they would have cost into the millions... remember those swings with the rope to make them go??
i do believe,induced by potent circumstances,that thou art' mine enemy?

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cnosni
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Post by cnosni »

Phill_d wrote: Hey thats good you've still got the old rides Fred. It's better than them been scrapped although i suppose you'd rather have sold them for the younger generation to still enjoy. It would have put a few quid back in your pocket but it doesn't replace memories eh? It might be nice to photograph them as i have a site that covers all that old, forgotten places of Leeds if ever you fancy evoking a few memories from folk Fred Which site Phil?By the way cant get on the LEHS blog,just get Marching on together.Do i have to subscribe to get the whole thing?
Don't get me started!!My Flickr photos-http://www.flickr.com/photos/cnosni/Secret Leeds contactinfo@secretleeds.com

Phill_d
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Joined: Wed 21 Feb, 2007 6:22 am

Post by Phill_d »

Oh i was just going to do a flickr set & put something on here maybe... The blog site should work ok i've just tried it, It did take a while to load but i thought that was my broadband which has been really slow for a few days now
A fool spends his entire life digging a hole for himself.A wise man knows when it's time to stop!(phill.d 2010)http://flickr.com/photos/phill_dvsn/

D2G
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Joined: Sun 27 Apr, 2008 3:13 pm

Post by D2G »

Does anyone have any pictures of the old fairground at roundhay, I can just about remember it. Mainly the 20p scooters and going on the dodgems with dad (strangely enough I hate dodgems now, connection possibly?) I also remember the chair swings however I am also scared of those now since seeing a video of one collapsing and killing some people.Didn't there also used to be a traveling fair across the path there some years?

zip55
Posts: 293
Joined: Thu 15 Nov, 2007 7:17 pm

Post by zip55 »

I remember the Highland Games there one year (in the mid sixties). I entered and won the sack race. The prize was an Old Spice shaving mug. Very handy for a ten year old. Winning the Schools high jump there in 1966. I also worked at the Mansion when I was about 14, unloading the dumb waiter from the kitchens to the dining rooms. Saw some of mighty LUFC boys when they came to lunch there on Saturdays before their home game. Sledging down Hill 60 as well. The open air pool in the Summer of 1975 just before I migrated to Oz. I must admit I've not experienced colder water since. All great memories of the magnificent Roundhay Park.    

-_Phil_-
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Joined: Sun 26 Feb, 2012 10:28 pm

Post by -_Phil_- »

Just came across this site and what a delightful place for a kid who grew up in Leeds.Going back to the very beginning of this discussion, yes, I also have fond memories of the maze in the Park. I think it was 2d to get in.We went many times to the Park when I was a kid. Mum, Dad and my younger sister.We used to catch the number 2 bus of which LCT used to put on loads of Duplicates at bank holidays.They had the Printers' Sports Day events there when we sat in the sun on the packed Hill 60. Other memories;-     An army display in the Arena with canon and gunfire which got the girls screaming.     Going to see the Dave Clark Five, must have been about 1965 when I was 13.     The naval warfare battles on the Upper Lake, now copied in Peasholme Park in Scarborough.     Shivering under coats and blankets watching the firework displays.     Dad putting the fear of God into us by saying that if we fell into Waterloo Lake that we'd never get out again, as it was a horrendously deep old quarry, now filled with water.     The fair, the boats, ice creams, the endless summers....But my favourite was always the maze!!!Hope to find many more memories in this excellent site.

Jogon
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Post by Jogon »

Just found this.Oldleedsman - I remember the maze and also used it during cross country. There was a lovely statue (hesitate to mention with metal thieves) 'Spirit of the Woods' sourced by Mr L.G. Knight Leeds Director of Parks. He found it at Crowthers in Fulham, specialists in antique garden ornaments. A favourite with children it had small woodland creatures scultpured into it's base, rabbits frogs mice and many birds. {photo + description p160 YEP books Memory Lane a second look}The Military Displays/Soldiers Field etc were great fun for kids    

Chrism
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Post by Chrism »

This 1910 map shows the maze where the cricket pavillion now is. I'm quite sure I remember it where I've put a red rectangle, am I right?
Sit thissen dahn an' tell us abaht it.

Johnny39
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Post by Johnny39 »

Chrism wrote: This 1910 map shows the maze where the cricket pavillion now is. I'm quite sure I remember it where I've put a red rectangle, am I right? You've jogged the old memory box there Chrism, I'm pretty sure I remember the maze being there in the 50's.
Daft I call it - What's for tea Ma?

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