SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

At the side of King Lane shortly after the bus lay-by when going towards Alwoodley from near the Moor Allerton Shopping Centre there is a rough stone pillar-like object. I wonder if anyone knows anything about the object, as I have been unable to find any information?That it is being kept would seem to suggest that it has (or once did have) a purpose. The object is about 27" in height and 11" in width and depth (it is slightly curved on the side away from King Lane). There is the remains of what seems to be a small metal object near the bottom on the side facing King Lane.

I have made a resized copy of a photo which will (hopefully!) be above. It was taken on September 30 2010 and shows the pillar-like object next to King Lane (St Stephen's church is on the right).    

This is a view (taken on September 30 2010) looking across King Lane with part of the Lingfield Estate beyond. The stone object is at the side of King Lane.

This is a close-up view of the bottom of the object on its side facing King Lane. It was taken on September 30 2010 and shows the remains of a metal-like thing which looked like most of it had been ripped off at some stage.

From the grey colour and staining on the stone, I'd guess it's lead. To fix metal objects, such as gate-hinges, into stone, the surrounding hole was filled with molten lead to make a tight fit. Is there a corresponding hole above this feature? This would make it a gatepost, most likely. I'm assuming there's nothing carved on the stone, like the weathered remains of lettering?

Si wrote: From the grey colour and staining on the stone, I'd guess it's lead. To fix metal objects, such as gate-hinges, into stone, the surrounding hole was filled with molten lead to make a tight fit. Is there a corresponding hole above this feature? This would make it a gatepost, most likely. I'm assuming there's nothing carved on the stone, like the weathered remains of lettering? Hi SiThere seems to be no sign of any weathered remains of lettering. Apart from that on the front facing King Lane there seems to be no other indications that there ever was any other metal bits and/or holes. Your suggestion that it could have once been part of a gatepost is a good one. It just seems strange to me that the object is clearly been kept. It must make grasscutting around it awkward for one thing! The image above (taken on September 30 2010) shows the curved back of the object, though that could be due to weathering and/or old damage.

It could allso have been a lifting eye set in lead if the stone is quite big under the ground

tilly wrote: It could allso have been a lifting eye set in lead if the stone is quite big under the ground That is another good suggestion. I wonder if it ever had a metal loop with some tethering rope for perhaps a horse, though it would be facing onto King Lane (unless it is very old before that became a road but I think that is unlikley) so there would be no length to it without risking an animal. I've no idea how far in the ground it goes. As far as I recall the object has been there for the 35 years I have lived not that far away. It's one of those things that people pass often but never really notice.

Leodian wrote: tilly wrote: It could allso have been a lifting eye set in lead if the stone is quite big under the ground That is another good suggestion. I wonder if it ever had a metal loop with some tethering rope for perhaps a horse, though it would be facing onto King Lane (unless it is very old before that became a road but I think that is unlikley) so there would be no length to it without risking an animal. I've no idea how far in the ground it goes. As far as I recall the object has been there for the 35 years I have lived not that far away. It's one of those things that people pass often but never really notice. You can bet its a lot older than thifty five years they stopped using lead as a fixing many many years ago unless the stone has been re used from elsewere.

I must admit that looking at it,the only thing it reminded me of was a mounting block for horses.Not all of them had steps.