Churches and Castles

[Michelle]

jasco wrote: If I remember correctly, there used to be a village called Lead where the Crooked Billet pub is. The pub is supposed to be the only remaining building from this village. All other signs of it are now gone. I'm unsure about the village bit of it??? but what I do know was Close to the Church is thought to have been the manor house, were probably were the farm is now? which was once owned by the Tyas Family around 12th century then passed on to the Skargil's apx 15th century? there are four grave slabs facing the alter, of the Tyas Family. and in the the next field in front of the Manor house was a fish pond.The name of Lead is derived from Old English word "hleodu" which means "wood with shelter"There is a mention of Lead in the Domesday book, WHICH FOLLOWS.In Lede, Gunner had 2 carucates of land for tax, and there may be 3 ploughs there. Now William has it of Ilbert. In the demesne, are 2 ploughs and 3 villeins, and 2 borders with 1 plough, and 2 acres of meadow. In the time of King Edward it was worth 20s now worth 30s.There is no mention of a village back then but could of house a few people allot later on probably in the 15th c once were the pub is now?? I'll have to look into that to find out!

[Si]

RFarrell wrote: There are still one or two fairly old bits of Leeds surviving (ie older than St Johns) - eg a remnant of Rockley Hall on The Headrow... Looking through Leodis, I found this old picture postcard of Rockley Hall, (as ever, click on the red X to view.)The caption reads,"Undated. The gable end of the timber-framed house in Lowerhead Row, Rockley Hall, is central to the image. Rockley Hall, previously owned by the Rockley family was purchased by philanthropist, John Harrison, around the time of his marriage in 1603. The following is John Harrison's description of the original building: 'It was a timber-building, and one of the most antique form of any I have seen: Instead of deals or boards for the floors, were oak-planks of so considerable a thickness, that joists were made of them for part of the new brick-building that succeeds it in name as well in place.' Rockley Hall was obviously completely re-built by John Harrison. John Harrison gave the rents of the estate to charity. The two biggest rooms in Rockley Hall were converted to storage space for food and clothing to be donated to the poor. John Harrison was born in 1579 and died on 29th October 1656 at the age of 77. From a postcard in a series called 'Old Leeds'."Has this place been mentioned on SL before? I tried the search facility (typing 'Rockley') and it brought up three threads - this one and two very long pub ones. I don't know if it's mentioned in them, or there was a Rockley pub somewhere!    

[Leodian]

In view of Si's mention of Rockley Hall I thought this photo that I took on October 4 2011 may be of interest. It shows the entry way to Rockley Hall Yard from The Headrow.

[Si]

Leodian wrote: In view of Si's mention of Rockley Hall I thought this photo that I took on October 4 2011 may be of interest. It shows the entry way to Rockley Hall Yard from The Headrow. Hi Leodian. Is there anything of interest in that yard?

[Leodian]

Si wrote: Leodian wrote: In view of Si's mention of Rockley Hall I thought this photo that I took on October 4 2011 may be of interest. It shows the entry way to Rockley Hall Yard from The Headrow. Hi Leodian. Is there anything of interest in that yard? Hi Si (that rhymes )The yard is not without interest but most of it is modern. I have put a photo taken from the rear of the yard on Oct 4 2011. It shows the rear of Barclay's bank and other buildings whose fronts are on The Headrow. I particularly like the piping that looks a bit like organ pipes, which I think may be part of a ventilation or air conditioning system. The buildings are tall but the photo makes them look very tall. One thing in the yard is the Nags Head name in stone (see my post on Oct 4 2011 on page 95 of the 'Leeds Lost Pubs' thread).Bramley's Yard just a little further up The Headrow is probably of more interest, as it has some old looking parts in it (see my post of Oct 5 2011 in the the 'Bramley's Yard (off The Headrow)' thread in the 'Buildings and structures' topic). Cheers.     

[Si]

Thanks for posting the picture and links, Leodian. Despite RFarrell's comment, dated 14/04/07, it looks like Rockley Hall is long gone! Most of the buildings look late Victorian or 1930s-ish, though there is a modern stair-well/fire escape extension. I think the "organ-pipes" are just extensions on old chimneys, to take the smoke above roof level.        

[Si]

Here's another picture and some more information about Rockley Hall from Leodis:"Rockley Hall was situated on the Lower Head Row, near the junction with Vicar Lane. On the 1847 Ordnance Survey map it is shown as being in the north east corner of Rockley Hall Yard. Rockley Hall was originally owned by the Rockley family, who were an important Leeds family. They were the only family to have their own chapel, the Rockley Quire, in the Parish Church. Henry Rockley, who died in 1502, was a leading townsman in the fifteenth century. He was bailiff of the town, farmed the manorial oven[?] and leased land in the manorial park.The house became part of the North Hall estate, and in 1603 was owned by the Falkingham family who sold it to John Harrison, the Leeds benefactor. When he died it was held in trust until the end of the nineteenth century when it came into the possession of the Leeds Estates Company.Ralph Thoresby, writing in 1715, when the House was already old says 'It was a Timber-Building, and of the most Antique form of any I have seen: Instead of Deals or Boards for the Floors, were Oak-Planks of so considerable a Thickness that joists were made of them for part of the new Brick-Building that succeeds it in name as well as place.'Most of Rockley Hall and its outbuildings were demolished in the nineteenth century, but in 1982 an early seventeenth century roof, thought to be part of the hall was found when a dry cleaners premises was converted to the Sang Sang Chinese Restaurant."So it seems a bit remains hidden away inside one of the buildings in the Yard?PS: Strange how Thoresby and Harrison's descriptions are identical! Edit: I've since found a third almost identical version of the description of the floorboards (see above) this time in a book called "The Leeds Guide," published in 1806.        

[Si]

This is a c.1900 view of Rockley Hall Yard showing the back of the (I think) Three Legs pub. If so, the hall itself would have been off to the right of the picture.    

[Si]

This undated Leodis photo shows the yard entrance.

[Si]

And finally an old drawing of Rockley Hall.