SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

This photo (taken May 14 2012) shows some interesting steps close by the Leeds & Liverpool Canal just before that joins the River Aire in the Granary Wharf area. I assume the steps had something to do with the canal, though being right up next to a wall of a building it does seem an odd place to have put steps. The narrow window frame on that building may be an original feature, though it has clearly been modernised.I've tried a search of SL and did not readily come across any mention of these steps but I apologise if they have been the subject of a SL thread in the past.

I think that's a mounting block for getting onto horses?

BarFly wrote: I think that's a mounting block for getting onto horses? Cheers BarFly. That does seem very likely.

Yes, I agree too.I think the window is probably modern, unless the new stone surround is much thicker than an original. Some of the stones which butt-up to the surround are very thin with "sharp" edges, suggesting they've been cut down.    

It seems strange now to think of people mounting horses near the centre of Leeds.    

BarFly wrote: It seems strange now to think of people mounting horses near the centre of Leeds.     The good folk of Leeds have seen many unusual things but even so I think I might have phrased that a little differently Barfly !! JD

I had to laugh at that.

There is an even more centrally located mounting block in Regent Court, Briggate. I think it was once the yard of the Royal Hotel.

jim wrote: There is an even more centrally located mounting block in Regent Court, Briggate. I think it was once the yard of the Royal Hotel. Where abouts is that?

The horses were used to pull the barges.