SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

Evening all.In 1628 'The Mannor house of Leedes stoode by the riverside moted rounde about with a dike now almost quite earthed upp'.1694 Richard Wilson inherited a 'brick house on Mill Hill'. Wilson was, or became, Recorder of Leeds.

I know we shouldn’t delve into politics, but I couldn’t resist this one.Listening to the radio this morning and Ed Milliband is giving a speech in Leeds.........“blah, blah, regional powerhouse etc, etc, dynamic local economy blah, blah, great castle [!]”Great caslte, I wonder where he’s thinking of [or how far back he can remember]? This from a man who has previously said “I lived in Leeds during formative years growing upand became a long-suffering Leeds United fan.” With so much obvious local knowledge, do you think we should see if he wants to become a member?    

Hehe, love it! I wonder if there are outraged local historians in Kent fuming about this speech today too

Perhaps he was thinking of the castle folly at Roundhay Park!

I'm suspicious, a deliberate gaffe and it gets repeated?

This website sums up the evidence neatly and gives references:http://www.gatehouse-gazetteer.info/Eng ... 745.htmlso a possible motte and bailey timber castle might have existed.

we have North St.,East St and West St.was there ever a South St. ?.

if a castle did exist would it of not been on a hill or somewhere with a good vantage point to see the enemy coming and help with defence of it?

Not always, early motte and bailey 'castles' we're barely more than a refuge for a dozen people, not a stone fortress. The motte provided the height, the location usually used defensive features such rivers to one or both sides.

Fair point, wasnt there suppose to have been a Motte and Bailey Castle at Armley. What did leeds have worth nicking or defending back then, to warrent a Motte and Bailey in that location.