SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

When I was in the area near Leeds Minster yesterday (June 16 2015) I noticed there was work going on at a building between The Calls and the grounds to the rear of Leeds Minster. I have now found that the building is/was the Parochial Room/Hall and is presumably associated with Leeds Parish Church (now Leeds Minster) but I have not been able to fairly readily find any information about the Parochial Room/Hall, so I would be grateful if anyone knows any or at least of links to information.

On asking a young man that was doing some of the work I found that the building is being converted into flats (the work started about a couple of weeks back). I was not allowed to go into the building so these are 3 photos that I took on June 16 2015 of the outside. The first is a view from the grounds of Leeds Minster. The second and third are views from The Calls.

While I was talking to the young man that I mention in my starting post he was clearly very interested about the building, though he did not know its history. He said that a number of small artefacts had been found already during the work and also that there was a very interesting feature (he thought Victorian) that was still there (most of the inside of the building has already been demolished). He was very helpful and as I could not go in he offered to take a photo of that feature. That is the first one here and it looks to be extremely interesting (the photo also seems to show that floors may have been removed). I wonder if the superb feature will be retained? The second photo he took is of a fork that I guess is one of the artefacts found. I wonder if it is old or modern and silver or not?

I would like to thank the young man for his help and obvious interest.

Before starting this thread I searched the Leodis website but found nothing on Parochial Hall, as that was the name I had come across. I've now found that the correct name is Parochial Room and searching under that I found some mentions in Leodis, of which these two links are particularly helpful (the photos were taken on 4 December 1963):-

http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?reso ... SPLAY=FULL

http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?reso ... SPLAY=FULL

On looking at online maps I've found a building at what is the Parochial Room site is shown (but not labelled) on an Ordnance Survey (OS) 1846 to 1847 map. It is there and now blackened out, perhaps implying it was more important than most other buildings, on an OS 1888 to 1890 map but it is not blacked out in OS maps for 1906, 1932 and 1936. The building is shown but not labelled in an 1850 1:1056 map in the Old-Maps UK website but is labelled Parochial Room on an 1891 1:500 map and maps up to 1951. It is also labelled as Parochial Room on an Insurance Plan of Leeds Vol 1 sheet 18 published by Chas E Goad in 1902. For interest I have reproduced the relevant area in that map (the url for the plan is http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex ... f018r.html).

Thank you for those interesting photos- I might have a wander down there for a look.

Hunsletlass wrote:Thank you for those interesting photos- I might have a wander down there for a look.

Cheers Hunsletlass for your interest in this thread . It is worth a look around as old buildings in the neglected/run down area are being developed into apartments and at least one bar.

I had been disappointed at the lack of responses from SL members at what I thought would be a topic of particular interest, if only to add information about the building and the nice feature. Perhaps there is not much known information.

I would love to know whT the 'interesting feature' was. It does look as though it's an altar like structure. The slightly concave tall shelves at each side look to me as though there would have been statues there.

Leodian, I read and appreciate all your posts but unfortunately don't have anything to add in terms of information. I too would like to know what the feature is. I thought it looked like a very posh cupboard!

Leo,
I agree with Barnie's comment. Lack of responses isn't necessarily a lack of interest, it may well be just the lack of anything useful to add. Not that that ever stopped me

Edit to add: I also agree with your observation that perhaps there isn't much information. Although a regular in the nearby Palace that's probably as near as I've been to the Parochial Room, or maybe crossing the Brewery Wharfe footbridge in transit from Crown Point Road to the Corn Exchange area or vice versa took me slightly nearer.

http://tinyurl.com/nnv23ln

The Parochial Room is also known as St Peter's Hall. The above link should lead to some planning documents giving some more information - nothing on the feature though.