SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

To contributors past and present and those who are happy just to lurk and watch - we're 3years old today

chameleon wrote: To contributors past and present and those who are happy just to lurk and watch - we're 3years old today Many Happy Returns to the best local site anyone could wish for - interesting, varied, nostalgic, candid but respectful discussion, and appealing cheeky humour - what more could anyone want ??

I wish to add my congratulations to SL and its excellent crowd of contributors. I moved away from Leeds in '79 having lived there for 40 years. I was a north and east side of Leeds lad and knew very little about south Leeds, apart from the way to Elland Road. When I was a kid I often wondered, were there in years gone by, hares in Harehills, was there a Brown hill, who was Compton, important enough to have a pub and rows of terrace houses named after him...or her? Ask any Leeds related or even further afield question and someone will come up with an answer or knows a man who can! Great stuff, long may it continue and if anyone happens to know if there were hares in Harehiils, I never did see one, it would solve a lifelong question!    

A Happy SL Birthday to all!Johnny39 - I've checked the Penguin Dictionary of British Place Names, but unfortunately there isn't an entry for Harehills. However, Harewood is in, and it says, "village, Leeds - wood where hares are seen, from the Old English 'hara' (hare) and 'wudu' (wood)", so it could have the same root.For Leeds, it says, "(place of the) people who live by the (river) Lat. The name is Celtic, and originally that of a district here. It's inhabitants were known as the Ladenses, taking their name from the river, itself meaning 'strongly flowing.' The river name fell out of use, and Leeds is now on the Aire. The district name survives in the names of the villages of Ledsham and Ledston, some 10 miles east of the city centre. 731 Loidis, DB Ledes."    

Si wrote: A Happy SL Birthday to all!Johnny39 - I've checked the Penguin Dictionary of British Place Names, but unfortunately there isn't an entry for Harehills. However, Harewood is in, and it says, "village, Leeds - wood where hares are seen, from the Old English 'hara' (hare) and 'wudu' (wood)", so it could have the same root. Thanks for that Si.

Hoorah! *Cracks open a can of beer*

Happy Birthday SL and all who sail in her. Great site great people.    

Happy birthday folks, many happy returns!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY secret Leeds

Happy Birthday SL!