Guess where Leeds!

Phill_dvsn · Post by **Phill_dvsn** » Thu 26 Apr, 2012 10:21 am

LS1 wrote: Phill, on the flickr photo caption you mention that there is evidence of the ticket office on Spring Road. Please can you point this out to me, not sure where to look?!Cheers Hi LeeHere's the photo of ithttp://www.flickr.com/photos/phill_dvsn/4002031134/I'll get the location on street view for you.Those are great maps and diagrams Jogon, good to see, thanks for posting.

Phill_dvsn · Post by **Phill_dvsn** » Thu 26 Apr, 2012 10:28 am

This is the street view locationhttp://g.co/maps/typspTake a good look around that area, spin the camera view round and see the old cobbles and Victorian railings over the road. That small triangle of land could make a very nice little park if it weren't so overgrown, there is an old gate into it. I'm not sure if it was a park at one time.A fountain from the zoo still exists, I believe it's in someone's garden.I think Tasa knows more about that.

Si · Post by Si » Thu 26 Apr, 2012 11:40 am

Never knew that was there, Phill. Nice to see old railings in their original green. It's a myth that they were always painted black - very rare in Victorian Britain. They were painted green to look like aged bronze, hence the colour 'bronze green.'Incidentally, I once had an accident at the corner of Cardigan Road and Spring Road - a bloke just pulled out into my path without giving way. He even had eye-contact with me, and afterwards tried to tell me it was my fault!

Phill_dvsn · Post by **Phill_dvsn** » Thu 26 Apr, 2012 11:42 am

Si wrote: Never knew that was there, Phill. Nice to see old railings in their original green. It's a myth that they were always painted black - very rare in Victorian Britain. They were painted green to look like aged bronze, hence the colour 'bronze green.'Incidentally, I once had an accident at the corner of Cardigan Road and Spring Road - a bloke just pulled out into my path without giving way. He even had eye-contact with me, and afterwards tried to tell me it was my fault! You should have painted his eye black I think Si I never knew what bad condition the bear pit was in at one time. I've looked on old maps and that small triangle of land was never a park, it's just marked off as having trees planted. As a legacy of the gardens being there the whole area has apparently very exotic tree species around it.

Si · Post by Si » Thu 26 Apr, 2012 11:44 am

Phill_dvsn wrote: Si wrote: Never knew that was there, Phill. Nice to see old railings in their original green. It's a myth that they were always painted black - very rare in Victorian Britain. They were painted green to look like aged bronze, hence the colour 'bronze green.'Incidentally, I once had an accident at the corner of Cardigan Road and Spring Road - a bloke just pulled out into my path without giving way. He even had eye-contact with me, and afterwards tried to tell me it was my fault! You should have painted his eye black I think Si Nearly did, Phill. What year is that bear-pit photo? The back looks to be completely filled-in.

Phill_dvsn · Post by **Phill_dvsn** » Thu 26 Apr, 2012 11:46 am

Si wrote: Phill_dvsn wrote: Si wrote: Never knew that was there, Phill. Nice to see old railings in their original green. It's a myth that they were always painted black - very rare in Victorian Britain. They were painted green to look like aged bronze, hence the colour 'bronze green.'Incidentally, I once had an accident at the corner of Cardigan Road and Spring Road - a bloke just pulled out into my path without giving way. He even had eye-contact with me, and afterwards tried to tell me it was my fault! You should have painted his eye black I think Si Nearly did, Phill. What year is that bear-pit photo? The back looks to be completely filled-in. Some good photos of different eras and conditions here Sihttp://www.leodis.org/searchResults.aspx?LOCID ... CURRPAGE=1

Si · Post by Si » Thu 26 Apr, 2012 12:19 pm

1956 then, Phill. Thanks.

Cardiarms · Post by **Cardiarms** » Thu 26 Apr, 2012 12:48 pm

Phill_dvsn wrote: This is the street view locationhttp://g.co/maps/typspTake a good look around that area, spin the camera view round and see the old cobbles and Victorian railings over the road. That small triangle of land could make a very nice little park if it weren't so overgrown, there is an old gate into it. I'm not sure if it was a park at one time.A fountain from the zoo still exists, I believe it's in someone's garden.I think Tasa knows more about that. Local residents recent tidied it up Sparrow Park and thinned the trees. some temp repairs are being made by them and the compulsory purchase by the council is back on the table to ensure ongoing maintenance and management.

Phill_dvsn · Post by **Phill_dvsn** » Thu 26 Apr, 2012 12:51 pm

Cardiarms wrote: Phill_dvsn wrote: This is the street view locationhttp://g.co/maps/typspTake a good look around that area, spin the camera view round and see the old cobbles and Victorian railings over the road. That small triangle of land could make a very nice little park if it weren't so overgrown, there is an old gate into it. I'm not sure if it was a park at one time.A fountain from the zoo still exists, I believe it's in someone's garden.I think Tasa knows more about that. Local residents recent tidied it up Sparrow Park and thinned the trees. some temp repairs are being made by them and the compulsory purchase by the council is back on the table to ensure ongoing maintenance and management. A bit more info about it hereSparrow Park Headingley's smallest, and most mysterious, green space.http://www.headingley.org/node/354If you have facebook there is an action group herehttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Sparrow-Park-Act ... 7923091And some archive photos and maps of the zoological gardens herehttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Sparrow-Park-His ... 7388653You can create any kind of page on facebook if anyone thinks it's a good idea to have a Secret Leeds one? Anyone interested?

Chrism · Post by **Chrism** » Thu 26 Apr, 2012 1:05 pm

I woke up in the bear pit after a party up the top end of Cardigan Road (about 1982). I lived on Victoria Terrace at the time and just couldn't make it home. Luckily it was the middle of summer at the time.