SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

While looking at some maps for information related to the 'Blackmoor Tunnel' thread I noticed there were once some buildings marked 'Tunnel Row'. I have tried a search to find information on Tunnel Row but the only mention I have found is a post in the Blackmoor Tunnel thread by 'rikj' dated 04-Jan-2008 in which it mentions "a row of cottages on King Lane named Tunnel Row, built for the workers".Using the 'old-maps.co.uk' website Tunnel Row is shown on maps for 1894/95 and is still there in a 1934 map but is not there in the 1938 map. Tunnel Row was in what is now the large grassed area between the Buckstones and King Lane (roughly opposite King Close). There is no obvious sign now that there were any cottages there.I wonder if anyone has any information and/or images of Tunnel Row. I have tried the Leodis website but did not find any images.

Leodian wrote: While looking at some maps for information related to the 'Blackmoor Tunnel' thread I noticed there were once some buildings marked 'Tunnel Row'. I have tried a search to find information on Tunnel Row but the only mention I have found is a post in the Blackmoor Tunnel thread by 'rikj' dated 04-Jan-2008 in which it mentions "a row of cottages on King Lane named Tunnel Row, built for the workers".Using the 'old-maps.co.uk' website Tunnel Row is shown on maps for 1894/95 and is still there in a 1934 map but is not there in the 1938 map. Tunnel Row was in what is now the large grassed area between the Buckstones and King Lane (roughly opposite King Close). There is no obvious sign now that there were any cottages there.I wonder if anyone has any information and/or images of Tunnel Row. I have tried the Leodis website but did not find any images. Whilst I can't help you, I can comment that Tunnel row was mentioned and shown on the 1850 OS map in Steven Burts excellent history of Alwoodley.Interestingly enough immediately behind the Row was a sandstone quarry, one of a dozen in the area, almost certainly opened to provide the stone for the Row!City slums were well documented by the council engineering department thus Leodis is a mine of history.Outlying cottages are not so well documented in picture or otherwise, although Belle Isle Cottages for the Middleton Colliery are superbly illustrated.I was at Fewston today where my ancestors come from. It is almost a Hamlet, but because of industrial activity in the Washburn in victorian times it was almost a small town then. There must be scores of sites of workers cottages in the area that now are long demolished leaving no sign at all they ever existed.....

Leodian wrote: WI wonder if anyone has any images of Tunnel Row. I have tried the Leodis website but did not find any images. Burts book has an old ariel shot of King Lane and you can just (sorry!) make out Tunnel Row.

The Parksider wrote: Leodian wrote: WI wonder if anyone has any images of Tunnel Row. I have tried the Leodis website but did not find any images. Burts book has an old ariel shot of King Lane and you can just (sorry!) make out Tunnel Row. Thanks for that Parksider.I've just had a quick skeg through Steven Burt's 2005 book 'An Illustrated History of Alwoodley'. On page 18 there is a drawing that has Tunnel Row cottages and in the accompanying text it states "Tunnel Row Cottages, located just above King Lane Bridge, were built in the 1830s as accommodation for labourers working on the waterworks" (there is more but it may be best if I only copy the bit I have). King Lane Bridge will be what I know as Nanny Bridge where a small stream runs under King Lane at the now derelict Alwoodley Motors.

Leodian wrote: I've just had a quick skeg through Steven Burt's 2005 book 'An Illustrated History of Alwoodley'. On page 18 there is a drawing that has Tunnel Row cottages and in the accompanying text it states "Tunnel Row Cottages, located just above King Lane Bridge, were built in the 1830s as accommodation for labourers working on the waterworks" Burt has a new book out in Alwoodley - in pictures and I have had a "skeg"......"Skeg" Is that a Yorkshire word? A Leeds word or even a seacroft word.....Anyone????Oh yes - there's a faded cracked piccy of Tunnel Row in there, from the bridge.

I've always used the phrase "skeg" or "skeggie." I've no idea of it's origin, but it has a definite Scandinavian ring to it! "Dec" or "decco" is another word meaning the same thing. I don't know the origins of this either.PS I think they're both covered on the dialect/slang thread.    

The Parksider wrote: Leodian wrote: I've just had a quick skeg through Steven Burt's 2005 book 'An Illustrated History of Alwoodley'. On page 18 there is a drawing that has Tunnel Row cottages and in the accompanying text it states "Tunnel Row Cottages, located just above King Lane Bridge, were built in the 1830s as accommodation for labourers working on the waterworks" Burt has a new book out in Alwoodley - in pictures and I have had a "skeg"......"Skeg" Is that a Yorkshire word? A Leeds word or even a seacroft word.....Anyone????Oh yes - there's a faded cracked piccy of Tunnel Row in there, from the bridge. I've always lived in Leeds and use skeg to mean have a look at something. Not sure if it is spelt skeg, as that is how I say it. It's probably a local dialect word. I hope I'm right that there is such a word as skeg. Red faced me if there isn't. PS edit added after posting. I really must type faster as Si's post wasn't there when I started.

Your typing must be really slow, Leodian. As Jim can testify, my typing has all the velocity of a catatonic slug!

Provided the slug has two fingers, Si. ( on reflection I'm not sure that that statement isn't open to being misconstrued - or even misconstrude! )

Si wrote: Your typing must be really slow, Leodian. As Jim can testify, my typing has all the velocity of a catatonic slug! Mind you, with a tendency to breakdown perhaps the purple FTR bendy buses are catatonic, as they are affectionally (!) referred to as slugs.