Hill 60 - Roundhay Park

Post by **chameleon** » Mon 20 Apr, 2009 11:56 pm

LS1 wrote: 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 I'll read over Burt again and look for the reference there too - thanks for that.

LS1 · Post by **LS1** » Tue 21 Apr, 2009 12:02 am

Going hugely off topic here but here is a copy of the 1st pages of the Morkill book...

Post by **chameleon** » Tue 21 Apr, 2009 12:23 am

LS1 wrote: Going hugely off topic here but here is a copy of the 1st pages of the Morkill book... It's easy to see how that would be possible, presumably the stream shown is that which feeds the small pond in Canal Gardens and once ran toward the 'cafe point' of Waterloo.

Brunel · Post by **Brunel** » Tue 21 Apr, 2009 1:40 am

The terracing on Hill 60 was made for the Military Tattoo circa 1955.

Si · Post by Si » Tue 21 Apr, 2009 9:06 am

drapesy wrote: 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 Hill 60 at Ypres (Wipers) and all other similarly named features in battles, are in meters because the British army used local maps, which were (obviously!) contoured in meters. If a topographical feature was un-named, it was referred to by it's height, marked on the map. Another is Hill 112 in Normandy, WWII.During Germany's invasion of Russia in 1941, the Germans overprinted their existing Cyrillic Russian maps with Roman type to make them easier to read.

Reginal Perrin · Post by **Reginal Perrin** » Tue 21 Apr, 2009 11:03 am

All fascinating stuff. It got me thinking, what excellent events might I take my family to this year at Roundhay park. I google "roundhay park events" and aside from loads of links for the Leeds Festival at "Bramham Park" there is nothing on other than Tropical World being open as usual.http://www.roundhaypark.org.uk/roundhay ... ts.htmlWhy in Leeds do we have so little in terms of events and why do we underuse what facilities we do have?

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Tue 21 Apr, 2009 9:11 pm

Thats very true - I'm not so old that I can't remember several events being held in the park over the summer most years (mid-70's ish).There used to be the 'Leeds Show' which I think was held on the August Bank Holiday weekend and was attended by folk from far and wide. There were displays in the arena from the armed forces and the emergency services and all manner of fairground rides, stalls and exhibits, etc.The only big event I can think of at the park now is the Mela, which doesn't have the universal appeal of the old events, and of course the bonfire night goings on.I can also remember every child from the surrounding schools being taken to sit on Hill 60 when Charles and Diana visited Leeds just after their wedding. I was at Braimwood at the time and the school was emptied to provide a cheering backdrop - Mr Etherington, the deputy head even ran the Union Jack up the school flagpole (the first and only time I ever saw that!).Charles and Di drove into the arena in a limo, waved, got into a waiting helicopter and flew off. Still, it got us out of school.

jeffn · Post by **jeffn** » Wed 22 Apr, 2009 4:13 am

nothing to do with Hill 60, but I've still got my silver spoon from childrens day, 1957 , held at roundhay park

Reginal Perrin · Post by **Reginal Perrin** » Wed 22 Apr, 2009 9:45 am

raveydavey wrote: Thats very true - I'm not so old that I can't remember several events being held in the park over the summer most years (mid-70's ish).There used to be the 'Leeds Show' which I think was held on the August Bank Holiday weekend and was attended by folk from far and wide. There were displays in the arena from the armed forces and the emergency services and all manner of fairground rides, stalls and exhibits, etc.The only big event I can think of at the park now is the Mela, which doesn't have the universal appeal of the old events, and of course the bonfire night goings on.I can also remember every child from the surrounding schools being taken to sit on Hill 60 when Charles and Diana visited Leeds just after their wedding. I was at Braimwood at the time and the school was emptied to provide a cheering backdrop - Mr Etherington, the deputy head even ran the Union Jack up the school flagpole (the first and only time I ever saw that!).Charles and Di drove into the arena in a limo, waved, got into a waiting helicopter and flew off. Still, it got us out of school. Yeah the Mela is great but as you say iot doesn't have universal appeal. Bonfire night is replicaed in all parks across Leeds. Witht he natural ampitheatre there should be something on every other week. i think they should built a service unit with undergroung changing rooms, toilets and proper power supplies so event scan be staged more easily. Why not have mystery plays at Christmas, Far more outdoor concerts of all types int he summer, invitation sports events like exhibition cricket and celebrity football matches, childrens events and shows with a fun fair attached. I wish it would just be used better. Surely the council could make money from these events by charging to trade there or at least promoting the Leeds and Breeze Cards by making the events free to cardholders.

stodge. · Post by **stodge.** » Wed 22 Apr, 2009 1:52 pm

Hill 60 and the battle at Ypres waged on for ages, it was finally fell thanks to the miners.They dug a tunnel some 2.5 miles long that ended under the German line, they then packed 100's of tonne's of explosives in there,(making it the largest single detonation to this day).The resulting blast was reported to be heard in Whithall.Not only did it completley incinerate the surrounding area , the blast and shockwave squashed the German trenches together, when the, Brittish forces got there, they found men stood upright, killed by the closing walls of the trench.I suppose Hill 40 on the other side of the arena was also named from a simillar battle.The History channel is ace...