SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

My Great Grandfather William Leng was a policeman according to the 1911 census, this confirms what my Gran had told me about her father, but as she died over 20 years ago and she was only 10 when he died in 1915 I don't know anything about his time in Leeds. William's family originated in North Yorks he is there is 1901 but moved from the Helmsley area to Leeds and at the time of his marriage to Annie Boddy 31 Dec 1904 it notes he was a bachelor living Holbeck working as a porter at a Leeds Hospital, by 1911 he was living at 20 Elsworth Terrace and was a Police Constable.I've looked on a few Police websites and I cannot find anything about him, or which Police Station he worked at, it may be that he died on duty I'm sure Gran said something about him being attacked but it's so long since I cannot remember the details.Any info on William would be appreciatedJulie

The most likely Police Station for P.C. Leng to work from, both for the Wortley area and for an Elsworth Terrace residence would be Upper Wortley, situated at the junction of Upper Wortley Road and Wortley Moor Road. The Police station is extant under other use, but Elsworth Terrace was demolished entirely some years ago.

Hi JimMany thanks for your reply, it's a shame Elsworth Terrace has been pulled down my mum got married from No20 at the Holy Family in 1950.Jools

There is a death registered Bramley Jul-Sep 19159b 314William Lengage 37Does this match your Williams age?If so then ordering the death certificate will tell you his cause of death.If his death was through his work then there would probably be some mention in the local papers at the time,these can be viewed at Leeds Central Library on microfilm

Hi CnosniYes it's the same William, I'll have to visit the Leeds Central Library one of these days, need to check out info on the Lyon family too from my other post.Do you have to pay or book to use a microfiche reader? I'm a member with the Harrogate library so I think my library card should be ok to use in Leeds, we have a microfiche reader here, but only a handful of records to view and unfortunately none of them are the right areas/eras for my ancestors or hubbys.Jools

You certainly dont have to pay to view the newspapers on microfilm. I'm not sure if you can book - I've always just turned up and never had to wait long if at all.    

Hi DrapesyWill have to give Leeds Library a visit later this year. We are getting a refurbished Library in Harrogate in October, hoping there might be more access to info held by other libraries once it's up and running, the family history information held here is basic.Julie

Jools wrote: Hi DrapesyWill have to give Leeds Library a visit later this year. We are getting a refurbished Library in Harrogate in October, hoping there might be more access to info held by other libraries once it's up and running, the family history information held here is basic.Julie Doubt it Jools,cant see Harrogate asking for copies of Leeds newspapers.Best thing would be to order the death cert,this will give you date of death and cause.IF the cause was out of the ordinary then it May be in the local papers.Need to have the horse before the cart.

Hi Jools. Here is Elsworth Terrace on 17th of March, 1968. A woman (a relative of yours?) is donkey-stoning the front step of number 20. Picture is from Leodis, where there are other shots of this street, and the area.        

The former Upper Wortley Police Station. Leodis pic again.