Burley Bar Stone - and the rest

[Phill_dvsn]

Leodian wrote: All fascinating stuff. Who needs reality shows when we have this intriguing detection work. PS. I wonder what happened to the West Bar and the Woodhouse Bar stones? Can they be readily seen somewhere or are they being kept hidden from public view. I fear though that they may have been destroyed at somestage (perhaps considered too eroded).     Hi Leo.I came across this blog about the Leeds bar stones. I'm not sure if the link has already been posted though. I haven't read it all properly yet, so I'm not entirely sure what they were up to yet. But this group went in search of them. It looks worth reading with various maps, photos and info.*Leeds Roman Terminalia walk*http://weavingsandunpickings.wordpress. ... nalia/This elusive bar stone is becoming a little like the old skulls of Kirkgate mystery thread     

[Leodian]

Cheers for that link Phill. By coincidence I looked at that report yesterday. In the report it states of the North Bar stone (the "..." in it is a little bit that I have removed as it is not directly relevant here) "Of all Leeds’ bar stones, though, this was the one whose current state I felt saddest about. Actually, only two others still exist – the East bar stone and the Burley bar stone...so if the North stone really is lurking behind that wooden board, that in itself is a crying shame."I understood that the South Bar stone is said to still exist on Leeds Bridge, though I don't recall seeing it if it does.

[LS1]

Deffo not behind that board. I managed to get a good look and it's not there.So many variables now... I think the only way is to look under the white woodwork as it is likely to be under there somewhere. The other place outside the Hellenic I think may not be so likely as the orange boards that are there now look like they are just that, thinner boards that are not brickwork. The other places could be further up. Now Phill has established there was a lot of alteration work there, it makes sense that it could even be the other side of the Hellenic or even as far up as Thai-A-Roy-Dee and Asia Express. Seems odd though that it would be covered by anything other than the white wood stuff that is under the United Cars unless someone who was doing the renovations to the other parts os the buildings nicked it which is not impossible.

[cnosni]

Old West Ring Station due for demolition, Victoriagate developers have submitted a plan to demolish it and make it into car parking.We had better find it and alert the necessary people.

[geoffb]

The North Bar stone was definitely adjacent to the stairway entrance to the bus station and I'm sure it was on the north side, my father worked for WYRCC and as a lad I had no idea what it was. but he explained and we went on a walk up the Headrow to see the Burley Bar, so unless its been removed in the last 45 years it will still be there.

[jim]

To the best of my knowledge the Burley Bar Stone is in a display case inside the Leeds Building Society branch at the junction of Albion Street and the Headrow.Has anyone any views on my thoughts on the North Bar Stone further up the page? I fear it may have become somewhat lost under the torrent of research info that Phill has posted.    

[Phill_dvsn]

jim wrote: Has anyone any views on my thoughts on the North Bar Stone further up the page?     The bar stones all look different Jim. The carving, shape of the stone, and possibly the materials as well.    The East Bar stone looks totally different to the Burley Bar stone in my opinion. The carving is different and the EAST carved in italics. So because one doesn't look the same as another one. It would be hard to dispute it's authenticity because of that fact. I do think the East bar stone could possibly, or probably have been cut smaller to fit in the wall like it does. If that stone you see today was bedded in the ground, the writing would only just be at ground level. The top of the stone looks far too straight for my liking too. I think it was cut specifically to fit into the wall when it was built. The material looks very similar to the wall too. Could that stone have been a reproduction when the Parish Church was built?I think if the North bar stone is in the pillar of the bus station entrance like geoffb says. Then I think it likely that stone was cut to fit into that narrow pillar like the East bar stone possibly was. I don't think they were very sympathetic towards heritage in the 1960's. It was the time they were knocking whole streets down and fine Victorian heritage at a fast rate.        

[geoffb]

looking at the photo of the North Bar it is 28in by 14in that's presuming the bricks are standard imperial. On close inspection the Bar stone looks new, examine the sharp lettering and the dressing on the face, there's no weathering, so was the original stone destroyed when the workhouse was demolished?

[Phill_dvsn]

geoffb wrote: looking at the photo of the North Bar it is 28in by 14in that's presuming the bricks are standard imperial. On close inspection the Bar stone looks new, examine the sharp lettering and the dressing on the face, there's no weathering, so was the original stone destroyed when the workhouse was demolished? The stone does look a bit rough and scarred to me. It is possible the carved writing has been digitally coloured in to make it more visible. It does look very black and clear, perhaps too black and clear? It has a clear white outline around the chamfered bevel of the carving. It could have even been painted in black when relaid?    

[jim]

Thanks for your interesting thoughts Phill and geoffb. I am still a little uncertain as to what is going on here, and the "in situ" view of the Burley Bar stone does not seem as I recall the stone inside The Leeds building. If I don't forget, I think I will pay a visit to remind myself!