Future of Salem Church site in South Leeds

[Firecracker]

I was going to say that AQL have this building now. My hubby works at Tetley's (or Carlsberg as it now is) and I am often sat outside this building waiting to pick him up (apologies to any AQL staff who have to listen to my Guns and Roses blaring out of the car lol).And with regards to Tetleys, Tetley house will be staying which I believe is the newer part of the building as this is where the telesales staff will be based.My hubby is in IT and has had the wonderful job of collecting IT equipment from all over the Tetley building and he said some of the old parts are horrible and creepy (one part had a horrible foamy white slime on the walls - YUK!)

[chameleon]

Moved here to existing thread:kennethUserLocation: LS28/ born and brought up BeestonJoined on: 14-Aug-2009 00:35:02Posted: 74 posts # Posted on: 06-Oct-2011 23:38:10.    Edit | Quote On November 17th Salem Church is to receive Blue Plaque Status with the unveiling of same.Any interested parties can get more information from Dan Ray at AQL Ltd Salem Church Hunslet Road, Leeds, LS10 1JW Those with connections with Salem are welcome to attend the event and see the extensive work which is being carried out. Also anyone with any photographic records applicable to Salem's history would be encouraged to bring them to the event.On behalf of those with long history with this building I would like to say how thrilled I am with the progress that has happened recently and I wish everyone continued success with this worthwhile project

[raveydavey]

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/n ... 1_3968438A historic chapel building with an unsung role in the sporting story of Leeds has won recognition from heritage experts.The Leeds Civic Trust today announced Salem Chapel as the latest recipient of one of its coveted blue plaques.Situated near the former Tetley’s brewery, it is the oldest surviving non-conformist chapel in Leeds city centre.But its architectural and religious significance isn’t the only reason why the trust is honouring it with a plaque.For the Grade II listed building on Hunslet Lane also played a part in the founding of Leeds United.Its hall was the venue for a public meeting in 1919 where the decision was taken to set up United, following the disbandment of Leeds City Football Club over financial misdemeanours.Opened in 1791, the chapel’s distinctive curved facade was added in 1906. It closed as a place of worship in 2001 and for the last two years it has been home to telecommunications firm AQL.Trust director Dr Kevin Grady said: “There are many reasons why we felt it was right for this important chapel to receive a plaque and its connection to Leeds United is one of them.“When the chapel was first built in the 18th century its location was very prominent because it was close to Leeds Bridge, which at the time was the principal gateway to the town from the south.“The people who worshipped there would have been significant members of the community, arriving in their carriages.“[Then] with industrialisation the chapel came to serve the working classes of Hunslet.”Leeds Civic Trust has put up over 100 plaques since the 1980s, each one celebrating an important figure, organisation or building from the city’s past.The Salem Chapel plaque is due to be unveiled at a ceremony taking place this Thursday afternoon.* Non-conformist is the name given to Protestants who are not members of the Church of England. The range of groups under its banner has included Methodists, Independent Dissenters (later known as Congregationalists), Quakers and Baptists.

[Techno]

Hello. I have been a fan of Secret Leeds for many years but I have never had anything to contribute so far.But I have been in this building today so I thought I would share it with you.The building has been bought by aql.com. They have converted it into a combination of a computer data centre and a conference venue.We had a presentation by Adam Beaumont, the CEO of aql, who is presumably the adamski who posted in this thread earlier.We were told that this is a good location because it is close to data cables, and they can use the power supply from the former Tetley's Brewery.There have been no structural changes internally, he said he is happy with it as it is, it has only been redecorated. The ground floor is now taken up with computer servers for internet infrastructure (ie. when you watch a video or post a photo, or send an text message it may be stored here).The first floor semi-circular area which can be made out from outside, where the congregation presumably used to sit, is now the conference auditorium. The special point here is that the data centre down below has a clear roof, so you when you are listening to the speaker, who stands where the preacher presumably used to stand, you can also look down on the flashing lights of the computer servers which are servicing the internet request of millions of users down below.There is also a bar and an exhibition area, and they cater for large groups.The problem is that, as it is a data centre, the security is pretty tight. You have to enter through guarded airlock-style security doors (two doors, only one can be open at a time) and there is another guard to stop you wandering into any other areas. This is pretty bad for conference delegates who want to nip out for a smoke, or just get some fresh air. It still looks a bit scruffy in places, especially outside, so maybe they haven't finished yet and will build a separate entrance for the conference facillities?Aql have also bought a job lot of old red phone boxes and painted them blue, and are now placing them around Leeds City Centre in order to provide free wi-fi, called scifiwifi. The phone boxes are placed next to street lights because they share the power supply.Adam mentioned Stephen King's Salem's Lot, and Salem Chapel was always the scariest of buldings in Leeds for me. Now I have been inside I still think it is a pretty atmospheric building, and still pretty scary, if thuth be told (sorry Adam).Some links:http://www.aql.com/http://www.aql.com/d ... _space.pdf

[Dalehelms]

Welcome to Secret Leeds Techno and thank you for a fascinating post.

[Leodian]

Thanks for that Techno. I like the photo labelled 'Leeds Salem R.U.F.C. Yorkshire Shield Winners 4th February 1950' that was in the information on page 2 brought up through the second link you provided. I would not have dared to tackle most (OK, probably all of them). Some of them may still be alive, so I wonder if they recall the event?As to Salem Chapel I recall that my mum used to very occasionally take me there when I was a child (it would have been in the very late 1940s to very early 1950s) but I don't recall anything more. She also used to occasionally take me to a church on Bridge Street (presumably Bridge Street Church) but again I don't recall anything more.    

[Cardiarms]

Thanks techno, sound fascinating.

[[email protected]]

I have just found this site and was really upset to find that I had missed the threads concerning this great old building A lot of my young life was bound up in Salem, been taken as a small child by my mother to services. I attended Sunday school there, and knew Norman Charlton and Graham Cooke .My parents were caretakers for a while there in the seventies and as a young teenager I lived in the flat above the church. I remember we had to move our furniture in through the upstairs windows and people over at Tetleys stood and watched. My father's name was Leslie Roundhill .
Salem was a magical place I used to love living there

[[email protected]]

I would be very grateful if there are people out there who might remember him Lelsie Roundhill.My name was Patricia Roundhill and I was the Rose Queen at Salem and still have some photos of me on the steps at the front