Ginnels of Leeds

alanlad · Post by **alanlad** » Wed 25 Nov, 2009 7:58 pm

Don't know is this qualfies as a ginnel but there used to be what we called 'Stinking Alley' that led from the bottom of Scott Hall Roadto Meanwood Road. Last time I used was...wait for it... about 1930/40's.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Sun 24 Jul, 2011 10:00 pm

As a kid in the late 1940s to early 1950s I used to walk to Roundhay Park from Osmondthorpe. In part of the walk I recall using what seemed like a very long snicket/ginnel/track that ran from somewhere in or very near the Gipton area and came out close to the park. As I cannot exactly recall where the track ran through I wonder if anyone may be able to figure it out (if that is possible with so little information). For some reason I still recall using that track so it must have been a significant part of the walk to and from Roundhay Park, or perhaps it was only a short bit but it seemed long!

Leedsrich · Post by **Leedsrich** » Mon 25 Jul, 2011 12:51 am

This isn't so much a ginnel its more of a tunnel and footpath. I live in belle isle at the moment just off middleton ring road. At the end of the Raylands estate there are some new houses, theres an opening that takes you behind these houses onto some fields and woodland right next to the motorway (M1). After a walk deep into these fields and woods theres a steep valley which i went down. At the bottom theres another footpath which leads to a tunnel under the motorway, once i walked through i was then in rothwell! It takes you straight to the Angel pub from belle isle! Handy to know!

blackprince · Post by **blackprince** » Tue 26 Jul, 2011 7:10 pm

i'd never heard of "ginnels" until I moved to Bramley. I knew the network of ginnels between Stanningley road and Town Street very well as a kid. Many more journeys were on foot back then ( 60s) and the ginnels were generally short cuts people used to walk to work or school , go shopping ( yes on foot carrying a bag!!), or church or pub.

Johnny39 · Post by **Johnny39** » Tue 26 Jul, 2011 8:30 pm

Leodian wrote: As a kid in the late 1940s to early 1950s I used to walk to Roundhay Park from Osmondthorpe. In part of the walk I recall using what seemed like a very long snicket/ginnel/track that ran from somewhere in or very near the Gipton area and came out close to the park. As I cannot exactly recall where the track ran through I wonder if anyone may be able to figure it out (if that is possible with so little information). For some reason I still recall using that track so it must have been a significant part of the walk to and from Roundhay Park, or perhaps it was only a short bit but it seemed long! I too remember the ginnel you recall. I think it came out on Wetherby Road, a bit higher up than the baths. If my memory serves me correctly it was called the Mile or Half Mile ginnel. I have looked on Google Earth but I think it has been built on. I think we accessed it from Oakwood Lane. Hope this jogs the old memory cells.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Tue 26 Jul, 2011 9:16 pm

Johnny39 wrote: Leodian wrote: As a kid in the late 1940s to early 1950s I used to walk to Roundhay Park from Osmondthorpe. In part of the walk I recall using what seemed like a very long snicket/ginnel/track that ran from somewhere in or very near the Gipton area and came out close to the park. As I cannot exactly recall where the track ran through I wonder if anyone may be able to figure it out (if that is possible with so little information). For some reason I still recall using that track so it must have been a significant part of the walk to and from Roundhay Park, or perhaps it was only a short bit but it seemed long! I too remember the ginnel you recall. I think it came out on Wetherby Road, a bit higher up than the baths. If my memory serves me correctly it was called the Mile or Half Mile ginnel. I have looked on Google Earth but I think it has been built on. I think we accessed it from Oakwood Lane. Hope this jogs the old memory cells. Thanks Johnny39. My recollection is that it did come out at or near the baths, so that fits in with what you say. It's a pity that I cannot now remember the route other than vaguely, but then it was well over 50 years ago when I would have last walked that route!

zip55 · Post by **zip55** » Wed 27 Jul, 2011 4:40 am

OK I'll stick my neck out here even though it's a good 35 to 40 years since I remember using this ginnel. I believe it ran between North Lane and Wetherby Road, through where the Elmete's are now. I may be wrong ...

Post by **chameleon** » Wed 27 Jul, 2011 7:51 am

zip55 wrote: OK I'll stick my neck out here even though it's a good 35 to 40 years since I remember using this ginnel. I believe it ran between North Lane and Wetherby Road, through where the Elmete's are now. I may be wrong ... 1906 map shows a long straight footpath from North Hill to Wetherby Road emerging opposite the Baths adjacent to the Electric Light Workd mentioned recently by Brunel.Map to follow later unless someone else can do it earlier!

chemimike · Post by **chemimike** » Wed 27 Jul, 2011 12:11 pm

Glad to oblige . It does look as if there might be one along Wyke Beck also

Johnny39 · Post by **Johnny39** » Wed 27 Jul, 2011 2:24 pm

zip55 wrote: OK I'll stick my neck out here even though it's a good 35 to 40 years since I remember using this ginnel. I believe it ran between North Lane and Wetherby Road, through where the Elmete's are now. I may be wrong ... That's my recollection too. I remember there being an open field on the right-hand side as you walked down hill towards Wetherby Road into which, at sometime I was told, a plane had crashed. We used to do this walk on a Sunday morning from Compton Road, going round the big lake, back over Soldiers Field, down Roundhay Road, up Harehills Lane and back to Compton Road. And we didn't have a bottle of water between us!