SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

There are carvings on the Queens Hotel where that is built like an arch over New Station Street. I have often seen the carvings (there seems to be 18 ) but I've never really looked close until July 21 2012 when I took some photos. This one shows a general view of the arch looking towards City Square. I've called it an arch as I can't think of what to otherwise call it!

This photo is a close-up of a carving showing the 3 stars in the coat-of-arms of Sir Thomas Danby (the first Mayor of Leeds) and a fleece that symbolises the wool industry in Leeds. The 3 stars and the fleece are part of the current coat-of-arms of Leeds.    

This photo shows a carving that I think represents Leeds Castle that is reported to have once stood very nearby where the Queens Hotel is.I took other photos though some are not that clear, but in any event I don't won't to post too many in case they get boring (I'm hoping that this thread is already not boring!).

Leodian wrote: This one shows a general view of the arch looking towards City Square. I've called it an arch as I can't think of what to otherwise call it! The site was always known to railwaymen of my generation not by the arch, but as the "rubber road" a reference to the then paving tiles. It was always understood that the road had been so paved in order to silence traffic to ensure that hotel guests slumber was not disturbed.    

jim wrote: Leodian wrote: This one shows a general view of the arch looking towards City Square. I've called it an arch as I can't think of what to otherwise call it! The site was always known to railwaymen of my generation not by the arch, but as the "rubber road" a reference to the then paving tiles. It was always understood that the road had been so paved in order to silence traffic to ensure that hotel guests slumber was not disturbed.     Cheers for that jim. The roof of the "rubber road" has been in need of repair for a long time now, as seen in this photo.

Thanks Leo, I shall have to have a stare.They remind me of the rather nice carvings on the stone part of brick gateposts to the "car park / tram turnround (?)" opposite Lawnswood Cemetary

Thanks for that, I walked under that arch (portico?) every day to and from work fro years and never noticed the castle. It's amazing what you miss when you're rushing about in crowds of commuters.

Leodian wrote: This photo shows a carving that I think represents Leeds Castle that is reported to have once stood very nearby where the Queens Hotel is.I took other photos though some are not that clear, but in any event I don't won't to post too many in case they get boring (I'm hoping that this thread is already not boring!). I don't think its at all boring Leodian - I'd like to see more and see if we can identify them all. I would guess they are coats of arms of cities covered by the line at that time - the shield showing a tree above a fish, that you can see in your pic of the ceiling, is, I believe, the coat-of-arms of Glasgow

[quotenick="drapesy"] Leodian wrote: I'd like to see more and see if we can identify them all. I would guess they are coats of arms of cities covered by the line at that time - the shield showing a tree above a fish, that you can see in your pic of the ceiling, is, I believe, the coat-of-arms of Glasgow Yes your right Drapsey, I've actually just been looking on the web for the article I saw before, but now I want to find it-I can't The shields depict the main cities served by the station as you say, it was a while ago since I saw the piece about it, but I'm pretty sure Birmingham and London have their own shields there.    

I can't find the thing about the shields, but I have found this that has made me pretty gobsmacked East Croydon is a busier railway station than Leeds!!!!Can you believe that???The list of the top ten busiest U.K railway stations herehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_busiest_railway_stations_in_Great_BritainLeeds is 13th...behind East Croydon...They have a supertram too, must be the integrated station working so well