SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

I have seen the map but now cannot find it. Sorry if this appears elsewhere but I searched + didn't find.This image from Leodis (Giles 1815) shows 'Park Place' only but doesn't go far enought South or West.At that point Park Square was as it is now, except for St Paul's ChurchSouth of Pk Sq ran Central Street into Park Place.Park Place was the most "western/southern" development at that time.More importantly and hard to comprehend now ONLY THE NORTHERN SIDE OF PARK PLACE WAS DEVELOPED. Houses fronting it (many of which remain) seemed to have gardens/yards going back onto St Paul's St. The houses had gardens which lay opposite each house across Park Place.These gardens led down to an ornamental canal with uninterrupted views of the riverside meadows. From my recollection the ornamental canal was approximately where Wellington St now, and appeared to empty into the opposite side of the river at High Dam (at the start of King's Mill Goit..).Does anyone have the full Giles Map from Headrow down to the River which would show this?    

You called?I have a copy of the map you refer to. Your memory is absolutely correct. More or less directly south of the "Br" in "Eye Bright Place" on the section of the map you have posted the water channel turns due south and joins the river where you mention. Unfortunately my computer "skills" are insufficient to post a copy for you, but if you would like to PM me (addy in profile) I can arrange for you to have sight of the map.

jimV kind - I've spent 2hrs trying to find that

There is a picture knocking about somewhere of the houses that were where Barran's warehouse is (St Paul's House).

My thanks to Jim here.I now have the lower part of the map which showsTop mid-left Park Place.Housing only to the north sideViews across to gardens leading down to the ornamental canal.How was this fed? Natural drainage? It empties into the northern neck of the Swinegate Goit.Clear views to the River, Canal and beyond.    

forgot plan    

CALLING CARDIEARMSI recall you have knowledge of water etc. Would these ornamental canals have been natural drainage from the lands downhill from Park Place towards the river or is there another source to have fed it.Drainage out was opposite High Dam on the Wellington St side of the river at the start of King's Mills Goit.

Don't know! I had a look on the works drainage plan and nothing obvious like surface water drains.

When I was by the River Aire yesterday (March 12 2013) from near the station's large car park I was looking across to the Whitehall Road side of the river and spotted some curved brickwork that looked as if it could have been an 'arch' possibly over where water once ran into the river. This photo is a zoomed in view of the feature. There is brickwork below the arch that could have sealed off where there had been space.In view of the 'ornamental canal' mentioned in this thread and that the 'arch' might fit the location of where that canal could have joined the river I wonder if it may be remains of that part of the canal but now bricked in. It may of course have nothing to do with the ornamental canal and is just decorative stonework, though if so it would seem odd to do that. I would be grateful if anyone knows anything about the 'arch'. I shall post a photo next that better shows its location by the Whitehall Riverside.    

This is the photo showing a wider view of the location. Note that to the right there is what could be concrete water channels (and possibly also to the left) that may be taking drainage water into the river.