River Aire

[billy the buffalo]

Looking at a this aerial view on Leodis,It got me thinking as to how the River seems to deviate of its natural line? How did it manage to make such a right turn where the Queens Hotel and Station are,Did they dig a new channel or just build a stop in the river and see where it went ? I am sure one of you peeps on here will come up with answer.I am trying to add the picture but cannot get it to ...so please follow thisEDIT: Full link courtessy of Leodian -http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?reso ... 812_169341    

[Phill_dvsn]

You'd have to look at a very, very old map to answer that question I would say. The oldest map I can look at is 1850, and the station was already built then.    

[Phill_dvsn]

Here's a 1770 map I've found online. The main bulk of the river appears to head further South more than it does today, not far off Water Lane, which is roughly where the canal is today. It appears the section of canal in Leeds was built by 1777.

[jim]

Checking the old maps I have access to, both Fowler's Plan of Leeds of1821 and Jeffrey's Plan of Leeds of 1770 show the river and its dam and mill races in the same positions we find on 19th and 20th century maps, so the river cannot have been seriously diverted to assist railway construction, both of these maps being made at the date of attribution. The Illustrated History of Leeds, Burt and Grady, contains plans of the city centre for 1650, 1500, and 1350, which also show the same features in the same places. These plans, however, appear to be modern depictions of "what was where", so may not be dependable for giving an idea of exactly what was extant at these dates. itdiEdit:- oops, crossed with your post Phill! The 1821 map I mention shows the canal, and I believe that comparison between the two maps indicates that the river was not altered.    

[Phill_dvsn]

jim wrote: Checking the old maps I have access to, both Fowler's Plan of Leeds of1821 and Jeffrey's Plan of Leeds of 1770 show the river and its dam and mill races in the same positions we find on 19th and 20th century maps, so the river cannot have been seriously diverted to assist railway construction, both of these maps being made at the date of attribution. The Illustrated History of Leeds, Burt and Grady, contains plans of the city centre for 1650, 1500, and 1350, which also show the same features in the same places. These plans, however, appear to be modern depictions of "what was where", so may not be dependable for giving an idea of exactly what was extant at these dates. I would think the River changed course when the canal was built as well. It seems to back it up online herehttp://www.leodis.org/discovery/discovery.asp? ... *1600-1800 Apart from the area around the crossing point over the river at Leeds Bridge the waterfront is lined with meadowland. This changes with the building of the Aire and Calder Navigation and the Leeds and Liverpool canal. Leeds is now linked to both the east and the west coast*And here's a pretty detailed 1500 map.        

[jim]

Hi Phill. The 1821 map shows the recently built Victoria Road Bridge, Water lane slightly diverted to the south, the Hol Beck in more or less the identical position, and the canal entering the river just to it's north. I don't see any alteration in the boundaries of the river, but the great alterations to the roads and much building work do make the scene very different.I regret that I am unable to upload the map, but I am afraid my "learning new tricks" abilities have now deserted me!

[Leodian]

This is the link that should bring up the photo in Leodis that 'billy the buffalo' refers to.http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?reso ... 812_169341