low grange rise belle isle

[kid from hunslet]

Before the newish little group of houses were built, low grange rise, belle isle, it was a derelict piece of undulating land. Am I right that there used to be a little police station on the corner. Also am I right in thinking that the land prior to been built on had air raid shelters underneath it?

[buffaloskinner]

Hi Kid from Hunslet, I am not sure which is Low Grange Rise. However the only air raid shelter I know of in that area was the one on Belle Isle Circus (see map below). And I have never heard of a police station in the area neither.

click on picture to enlarge

[buffaloskinner]

I have found reference to an Air Raid Shelter being built on Middleton Road at Belle Isle but I am not aware of its location. Buckets and spades at the ready guys


Further info from the NGT proposals which will go through Belle Isle Circus

6.7.2 Belle Isle Air Raid Shelter
There is an abandoned air raid shelter located within the path of the NGT alignment which passes through the centre of Belle Isle Circus. Its exact location, size and condition is not yet known however, works will be required to ensure stability of the structure prior to NGT construction works commencing through Belle Isle
Circus.

[iansmithofotley]

Hi kid from hunslet,

I don’t think that there was ever a ‘Police Station’ at the location mentioned. However, in 1950, a ‘Section House’ was built, in Hunslet Carr, at the junction of East Grange Drive and Middleton Road. The building was used by the Police until 1960 and it was later demolished.

A “Section House’ was not a ‘proper’ Police Station. They were buildings which were built, or occupied, in a Police Division which may have had a public contact area, an office for report writing, a toilet and a telephone.

Some of the Section Houses had accommodation for Police Officers attached. They were all different and had different facilities. From my own experience I can remember Section Houses at Sheepscar Street North/Buslingthorpe Lane and at Middleton Park Avenue near to Acre Road/Throstle Lane.

The Sheepscar Section House, built in 1958, had accommodation for a Police Constable and his family I knew of two officers who lived there, at different times, and it was part of Chapeltown Police Division.

The Middleton Section house, built in 1956, was covered by Dewsbury Road Police Station (later Holbeck Police Station) and it just had basic facilities – office, toilet, telephone, etc., with no accommodation. It replaced an older building which was built in 1945. There was another building used as a Section House from 1953 until 1960 at the junction of Ring Road Middleton and Throstle Road.

Going back to your original point, there may have been a blue ‘Police Box’ (Tardis type small building) at that location, but I have no idea.

In Victorian times, some of the Police Section Houses were like a ‘barracks’ with accommodation for many officers. In more recent times, the ‘new’ Millgarth Police Station (now demolished) had an accommodation wing for single officers, as did Weetwood Police Station.

Ian

[kid from hunslet]

Thanks Ian the description, location it being at the junction of east grange drive and Middleton road, and time period all fit in with what I can remember. It was a small, modern type building building that was vacated some time in the 1960. Not long after which building construction started for the houses now there. It was when this land was being prepared that these tunnel, stuctures were revealed a bit like a subway type structure.

Funny how these things stick in ones mind and you start to think "what was that thing 50 odd years ago".

Thanks again Ian for your very informative response and to everyone else, these things certainly get you thinking.

[rikj]

The mid 1800's OS map shows a watercourse running under Middleton Road at almost exactly that point. It issues near the farm to the west, then disappears fairly shortly after crossing under the road.

Later maps don't show it, maybe it was culverted and the culvert was exposed during the house building?

The cemetery lets you relate it fairly easily to the modern layout.

[The Parksider]

The mid 1800's OS map shows a watercourse running under Middleton Road at almost exactly that point. It issues near the farm to the west, then disappears fairly shortly after crossing under the road.

Later maps don't show it, maybe it was culverted and the culvert was exposed during the house building?

The cemetery lets you relate it fairly easily to the modern layout.

That's a great shout.

In Low grange crescent there's a piece of land that was cleared because the house was built on an old coal pit, something we discussed before.

But your culvert idea looks spot on.

[Anno]

Hi kid from Hunslet I remember exactly what you are talking about,used to pass it every day on way to school.

[kid from hunslet]

The mid 1800's OS map shows a watercourse running under Middleton Road at almost exactly that point. It issues near the farm to the west, then disappears fairly shortly after crossing under the road.

Later maps don't show it, maybe it was culverted and the culvert was exposed during the house building?

The cemetery lets you relate it fairly easily to the modern layout.

That's a great shout.

In Low grange crescent there's a piece of land that was cleared because the house was built on an old coal pit, something we discussed before.

But your culvert idea looks spot on.

[kid from hunslet]

I had to look up water culverts and found a picture of a water culverts, white concrete, square tunnel shaped and that matched with what I had seen. Also looking at the map that also matches the place where it was. There did also used to be very boggy land with a man made concrete beck at the bottom end of what was at that time, the new cemetery. Perhaps thats where the culvert came out.That concrete beck led to a big hole, perhaps a quarry, a few hundred yards further up Middleton Road. THis was at a time when it was still fields which were used to grow crops, corn or barley.

Thanks for your information, now I am wondering what the big hole was which we were warned to keep away from as it was filled with water.

Come to think of it now, I never did go to look at it for fear of falling in.