Coal Mining in East Leeds

ads · Post by **ads** » Thu 22 Jan, 2009 1:05 pm

without being 100% sure as to what you are asking (thick day), the two ponds for Foundry mii are fed only by one water course, the lower pond seems to be fed from the first pond. However, there seems to be a feed directly from the water course into the mill. To confuse it more, there appears to be a feed to the mill (or at least at the side of the mill) that is fed from the western branch from the water course (where you thought it was at a cross roads) although it isn't clear where it goes after the mill. If you can give me a little clue as to where to look (grid reference or whatever) I can try again for you.

Post by **chameleon** » Thu 22 Jan, 2009 6:45 pm

ads wrote: without being 100% sure as to what you are asking (thick day), the two ponds for Foundry mii are fed only by one water course, the lower pond seems to be fed from the first pond. However, there seems to be a feed directly from the water course into the mill. To confuse it more, there appears to be a feed to the mill (or at least at the side of the mill) that is fed from the western branch from the water course (where you thought it was at a cross roads) although it isn't clear where it goes after the mill. If you can give me a little clue as to where to look (grid reference or whatever) I can try again for you. If you look back ads, you'll see we have determined that the eastern pond seems to be fed only byt the stream emanating from Seacroft village. This is particularly lear on a hard-copy of the 1851 map and I can see no other source to this ponds on any map certainly that I've looked at, to show there was any other feed.The other pond is still open to questions and is fed as you agree from the 'where you thought it was at a cross roads'. Again I see nothing to suggest it goes any further than the western pond.The stream down what is South Parkway is joined by that from the north at 'the cross roads, the direction is then to the weat towards Wikebeck and apears to be a sharper gradient than the course across to the mill. That still suggest to me that the natural flow would have been directly to the beck and still leaves me wondering if the branch to the mill was man made. The agle at which the northen strem joins the westerly flow is shown as obtuse which seems rather strange.(Parksider: yes as you say, it's not cross roads on the larger scale map - it did seem rather strange!).

Post by **chameleon** » Fri 23 Jan, 2009 12:01 am

The weir:No, it doesn't show on the map I have and I have never really looked that far up in detail. The 1909 Old Map does show a weir, though not precisely where but, my interpretation is that it may be atthe juncture of the stream running through the woods below Roundhay Grange adjacent to Wetherby Road and Wike Beck.This is where Wike beck splits with the northern branch following your strange line to go... somewhere, possibly joining the stream from South Parkway as this approaches Wike Beck. The lower branch seeming to be smaller and an running an almost unaturally straight line until it reaches South Parkway. This is in keeping with there being a dam at the point you identify but I still don't see how any product of that reached the mill/ponds.Looking further, there is a feature on a later map which could be a small pond on Seacroft Green, no ducks though (sorry!). Again I'm unsure (the detail and resolution are poor as you know of course), but imagination could almost visualise a small stream rumming from the vicinity behind the forge and SW to join up with the stream we can see following the line of South Parkway.

rangieowner · Post by **rangieowner** » Fri 23 Jan, 2009 11:53 am

This is really interesting stuff but i can't help noticing that it has very little to do with the origional thread Coal Mining In East Leeds!!!! just a note!!

Post by **chameleon** » Fri 23 Jan, 2009 6:11 pm

Well, there is a tenuous link Rangie with the potential origins of some of the water... but this is what happens isn't it? Though by the time you've realised how far you've moved on, it's got rather large to start again. 'Spose we could ask dsco to move it to its own thread but the way the site's been wobblin' lateley, I'm not sure we'd ever see it again!

Brandy · Post by **Brandy** » Fri 23 Jan, 2009 7:13 pm

I myself think that this is the beauty of this site

Post by **chameleon** » Fri 23 Jan, 2009 7:48 pm

Brandy wrote: I myself think that this is the beauty of this site I can see the point though Brandy, but as you say, thinking back there have, if you pardon the phrase, tall oaks grown from little acorns - put another way, just a sideways snippet thrown in some where can inspire quite a discussion.I think we've seen this many times and in a way it is part of how the site seems to work now and perhaps shows just how diverse the knowledge held by everyone can be and, maybe says something about the passion of Leeds folk wanting to share what they know.

rangieowner · Post by **rangieowner** » Fri 23 Jan, 2009 10:19 pm

HEY!!!!!!! I wasn't complaining!!!!!!!! do continue!!!

Brandy · Post by **Brandy** » Fri 23 Jan, 2009 10:54 pm

rangieowner wrote: HEY!!!!!!! I wasn't complaining!!!!!!!! do continue!!! No thats it now rangie its over................youve ruined it now lol

Post by **chameleon** » Sat 24 Jan, 2009 10:25 am

They've built a school over the ponds 'atween Moresdale Lane and Foundry Lane - wonder what happens when the heavens open?