Hill 60 - Roundhay Park

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Mon 20 Apr, 2009 9:10 pm

I post an 'On this day' thread on another website and one of todays (20th April) facts is

Three Victoria Crosses were won on the Western Front during German assaults on British positions at Hill 60.Is this where the name for "Hill 60" at Roundhay Park comes from?Obviously it's right next to Soldiers Field where the troops camped, so this may be a link?

Phill_dvsn · Post by **Phill_dvsn** » Mon 20 Apr, 2009 9:22 pm

I've always wondered about Hill 60. The terracing must have been dug especially for some event? Does anyone know about this?

sundowner · Post by **sundowner** » Mon 20 Apr, 2009 9:38 pm

Phill_dvsn wrote: I've always wondered about Hill 60. The terracing must have been dug especially for some event? Does anyone know about this? Hi Phill-dvsn i do know that Leeds Schools Childrens Day was held at the bottom of Hill 60 dont know how far back this goes but i went in the fiftys the terracing was used by the spectators i wonder if this is the reason.

drapesy · Post by **drapesy** » Mon 20 Apr, 2009 9:43 pm

There was a Hill 60 at Ypres and also at Gallipoli, a google search reveals. Apparently they were named after their approximate height (in metres, surprisingly), there was also a Hill 70 at Loos for instance. The question is was the Roundhay park Hill named after the world-war one hills or because it, too, was 60 metres high?? or perhaps a bit of both?I've always thought that the hill was created to form the arena/cricket ground , which still exists. Although it has only staged very minor club cricket a number of charity games were played on sundays in war-time (WWII) andin the immediate post war period - featuring international players - some of which attracted huge crowds (c10,000+)http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/G ... /4499.html

liits · Post by **liits** » Mon 20 Apr, 2009 10:21 pm

On Leodis, a 1919 picture of the park shows Hill 60 in the background but without the terracing. I have a picture of my Mother, aged around 9 or 10 taking part in the Empire Parade. This would have been around 1930 / 31 and this has in it the terracing.

LS1 · Post by **LS1** » Mon 20 Apr, 2009 11:03 pm

The arena area was supposed to have become the third lake had Nicholson lived to complete it. Dont know what relevence this has but thought I'd add it.

slw · Post by **slw** » Mon 20 Apr, 2009 11:04 pm

There is some info on Hill 60 and it name here http://www.forp.co.uk/newsletter-july-2 ... y-2006.pdf(Info on page 2 !)

Post by **chameleon** » Mon 20 Apr, 2009 11:38 pm

LS1 wrote: The arena area was supposed to have become the third lake had Nicholson lived to complete it. Dont know what relevence this has but thought I'd add it. I know from Burt's book that Nicho;son built the larger Waterloo Lake when he acquired the last package of land around the beck, but I didn't know about the proposal for a third, where did you see this Lee?

LS1 · Post by **LS1** » Mon 20 Apr, 2009 11:53 pm

dunno, I think it was in the Burt book also. It may be in another book, that Burt references a heck of alot in his book.cant find my copy to get the reference (of Burts book) but it is by John Morkhill (Morkill?) and can be found in the Leeds Met Uni Library at beckets Park. Not sure if the Central Library has a copy. Anyway, I took a photocopy years ago (it was out of copywrite) and it is very comprehensive albeit written a bit academically. If I find it it may explain this. If not it is worth trying to find a copy as it is a good read

Post by **chameleon** » Mon 20 Apr, 2009 11:54 pm

slw wrote: There is some info on Hill 60 and it name here http://www.forp.co.uk/newsletter-july-2 ... y-2006.pdf(Info on page 2 !) And quite by coincidence perhaps, the OS map suggests that the top is almost some 60' above the arena floor! How apt.