Famous Sons of Leeds

farbank · Post by **farbank** » Tue 07 Aug, 2007 6:19 pm

The 'blue plaque' to Aspdin is on the gable end of a wall, directly opposite W.H.Smiths in Lands Ln.

farbank · Post by **farbank** » Tue 07 Aug, 2007 6:43 pm

Just remembered the forgotten explorer/expedition leader/pilanthropist etc,etc. From Armley Grange [ of all places]. He was the subject of an interesting talk some time ago at the local History Society.Chas. Thomas Kettlewell. Resigned his commission in the Army, to sail a steam yacht to Kamschatka.? [Somewhere t'other side of Russia]. He and his friend, carried out a geographical survey of the vast unknown/uncharted area, for the government. Our govt. I believe. He has, somewhere, a Bay that was named after him. You 'google-earth' buffs should find that easy enough. He also has a species of bird named in his honour of its discovery. And in Kent, he founded a convalescent home for the use of St.Bartholomews Hospital, London.By marriage, he was related to the Armley 'Wilsons'. Very rich nobs in the area at that time. Who I believe sold off their Mills locally to the equally rich,' Lodges'. A name to be seen above many a mill in the area. On the header tanks,on the roofs.

Barwicker · Post by **Barwicker** » Tue 07 Aug, 2007 9:51 pm

A visit to Crossgates Library (Heritage Room) will furnish anybody interested with quite a bit of information about John Smeaton.

Scandy Bramley · Post by **Scandy Bramley** » Wed 08 Aug, 2007 12:05 am

munki wrote: This is up inside the Town Hall. The text reads...IN MEMORY OF JOSEPH ASPDINOF LEEDS, STONEMASON1779-1855WHOSE INVENTION OF PORTLAND CEMENT, PATENTED 21ST OCTOBER 1824 FOLLOWED BY A CENTURY OF IMPROVEMENT IN ITS MANUFACTURE AND USE HAS MADE THE WHOLE WORLD HIS DEBTOR.THIS TABLET WAS PRESENTED BY THE AMERICAN PORTLAND CEMENT ASSOCIATION ON THE OCCASION OF THE UNITED CELEBRATION WITH THE BRITISH CEMENT MAKERS FEDERATION OF THE CENTENNIAL OF THE INVENTION, OCTOBER 1924.No disrepect to the dead, but do we really think that the whole world in his debt to the man who invented concrete?Also, the Centennial of Invention of Cement Celebration sounds fun, doesn't it!?! Concrete evidence, eh Munki? Definately reinforced by the Blue plaque post by Farbank P.S. I have blue plaque on my few remaining teeth - does that mean they are safe?

farbank · Post by **farbank** » Wed 08 Aug, 2007 5:24 pm

'Fraid not Scandy-lad. I should give eating the Danblu, and try a bit of the Wensleydale. [We could call you Wallace then.!] PS. I'm not nasty enough to say Gromit.

farbank · Post by **farbank** » Wed 08 Aug, 2007 5:25 pm

'Fraid not Scandy-lad. I should give up eating the Danblu, and try a bit of the Wensleydale. [We could call you Wallace then.!] PS. I'm not nasty enough to say Gromit.

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Sun 12 Aug, 2007 7:06 pm

Has anyone mentioned Meanwood's very own Captain Oates of "I'm just going outside, I may be some time" fame?

Barwicker · Post by **Barwicker** » Mon 13 Aug, 2007 10:03 pm

I am surprised that nobody has mentioned the Marks family. Michael Marks may well have been an immigrant but his son Simon was born in Leeds in 1888. He later became Lord Marks and was one of those reponsible for making Marks & Spencer into a retail giant.John Fowler mentioned earlier was born in Wiltshire and only lived and worked in Leeds for a short time although his company lingered long after his death.

stevief · Post by **stevief** » Mon 13 Aug, 2007 10:30 pm

Was Hugh Gaitskill born in Leeds? Or was this his constituency?

simonm · Post by **simonm** » Tue 14 Aug, 2007 12:08 pm

farbank wrote: 'Fraid not Scandy-lad. I should give eating the Danblu, and try a bit of the Wensleydale. [We could call you Wallace then.!] PS. I'm not nasty enough to say Gromit. I'm saying nowt!!As to munki's assertion that the world is not the debtor for the invention of concrete . Just think what the world would be like had it NOT been invented!!