SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

The following item amused me. It is taken from John Mayhall's 'Annals of Yorkshire'.October 17 1867. "Rather an unusual sight in a large town was witnessed this morning in Leeds. About half-past six o'clock a covey of partridges, numbering about fifteen, were seen flying about in Boar-lane by a large number of people, many of whom made an effort to secure some of the birds, and were successful in the case of four. The covey kept flying about amongst the houses, and seemed to have some difficulty in making their escape."

Leodian wrote: The following item amused me. It is taken from John Mayhall's 'Annals of Yorkshire'.October 17 1867. "Rather an unusual sight in a large town was witnessed this morning in Leeds. About half-past six o'clock a covey of partridges, numbering about fifteen, were seen flying about in Boar-lane by a large number of people, many of whom made an effort to secure some of the birds, and were successful in the case of four. The covey kept flying about amongst the houses, and seemed to have some difficulty in making their escape." Ha ha ..had they escaped from the pear trees Leo ? Must have been quite a sight watching the attempts to catch them.Bit off track perhaps.....having said that,back then,there were probably landed estates not too far away.

Hi somme1916. I bet the 4 that were caught made a good (and cheap) meal. I wonder if partridge burgers with fries would be successful at Burger King, MacDonalds and Kentucky Fried Partridge outlets. I fancy one now!

somme1916 wrote: Ha ha ....... Partridges. Mmm.I think the expression you were looking for Somme1916 was really A-Ha! as in....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoZdVVU9bH4

salt 'n pepper wrote: somme1916 wrote: Ha ha ....... Partridges. Mmm.I think the expression you were looking for Somme1916 was really A-Ha! as in....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoZdVVU9bH4 That's funny S&P,quick off the mark there ! We're all in the Partridge family now.....birds of a feather so to speak.

Leodian wrote: The following item amused me. It is taken from John Mayhall's 'Annals of Yorkshire'.October 17 1867. "Rather an unusual sight in a large town was witnessed this morning in Leeds. About half-past six o'clock a covey of partridges, numbering about fifteen, were seen flying about in Boar-lane by a large number of people, many of whom made an effort to secure some of the birds, and were successful in the case of four. The covey kept flying about amongst the houses, and seemed to have some difficulty in making their escape." Partridges are game birds that generally don't roam very far from their natural moorland habitat and spend a lot time on the ground. It's strange that a covey of them should be flying about in Boar Lane on this day in 1867.Maybe back in the 1860s, Woodhouse Moor, Halton Moor, Hunslet and Holbeck Moors (which are the only 'moors' I can think of) were still places where partridges could find enough natural cover and food to survive. It's difficult to imagine those Leeds 'moors' being part of the wilderness. Though I suppose Boar Lane itself was probably once a place where wild boars were hunted.

So, there were houses in Boar Lane at the time, must have been town houses.

Boar lane naming has nothing to do with wildlife.Bormen were the peasant class. Early medieval.Bowman lane also is derived from Borman lane.Bormantofts means dwelling places of the bormen.

Stree wrote: Boar lane naming has nothing to do with wildlife.Bormen were the peasant class. Early medieval.Bowman lane also is derived from Borman lane.Bormantofts means dwelling places of the bormen. You may be right for all I know. What I said about about the naming of Boar Lane was a guess. I haven't found any definition of 'borman', but the presence of peasants called 'bordars' are apparently recorded in the Domesday Book. Four 'bordars' were toiling in Leeds at that time. According to Wikipedia, 'bordars' are conjectured to be people ranking below villeins and above serfs in the social hierarchy of a manor, holding just enough land to feed a family (about 5 acres) and required to provide labour on the demesne on specified days of the week.

Derivation of Borough Lane ie the lane leading into the borough from the manor house and mills.1207 Leeds village.Kirkgate (church road) was it's main street.Burgage plots were laid out in a market street, Briggate (bridge road) leading to "a new bridge near the ford".Two meandering lanes (Call Ln & Swinegate) remained to connect Village to manor and mills.But Call Lane was now cut off by the burgage plots.They also blocked westward continuation of Kirkgate which took villagers to common fields and the town moor at Woodhouse.The borough charter didn't exempt townsfolk from monopoly of the lord's mills.----------------------------------[Edit]LeoCould the partridges have been a live delivery to one of the Game dealers at the Markets or food shops on Boar Lne?I have often admired a beautiful Cock Pheasant that sits on the roof of the Parish Church. Assume it uses the river/canal corridor.