Ginnels of Leeds

Phill_dvsn · Post by **Phill_dvsn** » Wed 27 Jul, 2011 5:49 pm

Is this the remains of the footpath/ginnel on North Lane?http://snipurl.com/s7im8I have noticed it before when I've past, I've not gone down it to look, but it doesn't appear to go very far these days. Looking at old maps, it appears that this is where the ginnel met Wetherby Road?http://snipurl.com/tcjo9

Phill_dvsn · Post by **Phill_dvsn** » Wed 27 Jul, 2011 5:51 pm

There is also this not too obvious pathway that leads down to Wyke beck a little further down North lane. http://snipurl.com/s93g4

Phill_dvsn · Post by **Phill_dvsn** » Wed 27 Jul, 2011 6:05 pm

Whilst in North Leeds, I'll add mention of another lost public right of way/ginnel. This one wasn't really a short cut, but it lead to a plantation area in the middle of Montague Crescent at Oakwood, It was a continuation of a footpath that still exists on the other side of the road. It seems at one time the householder has claimed the footpath for their garden extension.The footpath followed on across the road here http://snipurl.com/sk9bhyou can see the newer infill brickwall now blocking off the old path to the plantation. 1968 map with the pathway still extant.

Brunel · Post by **Brunel** » Wed 27 Jul, 2011 7:33 pm

Not forgetting the "Old path to Roundhay Park

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Wed 27 Jul, 2011 8:54 pm

Thanks to all for the interesting posts. Coming as I did from Osmondthorpe the suggestion that there may have been a ginnel connecting Wykebeck area to North Lane would fit in, as I probably went through part of the Wykebeck area on the way to Roundhay Park.It's a pity my recollection is so vague. As a kid then I just about recall the ginnel(s). Oh, and that Roundhay Park swimming pool was great fun. It always seemed to have huge crowds, particularly when it was hot and sunny.

Post by **mhoulden** » Wed 27 Jul, 2011 10:26 pm

I know them as snickets, which seem to be the term around Hebden Bridge where I grew up. Here's another one in Horsforth: http://goo.gl/zspx1 which is part of an old right of way that predates the ring road. The Old Maps website only goes back as far as 1851 but I wonder if it's an old packhorse trail that linked farms before New Road Side/Rawdon Rd was built, almost like Old Road Side

Patexpat · Post by **Patexpat** » Thu 28 Jul, 2011 11:14 am

When as I lad I lived on Stanningley Road, there was 3 or 4 ginnels that cut through the Fairfield Estate at the back of us that we used to use to get to Bramley park ... I see on Google earth they are still there ... but i wonder if they are really old enough to be called ginnels? I guess that they must date from the 30's when the Fairfields were constructed?

Phill_dvsn · Post by **Phill_dvsn** » Mon 08 Aug, 2011 12:22 pm

Here's a rather well hid ginnel I came across the other day. I only spotted it when I was looking at the little gatehouses of Leeds. I'm quite interested in finding out about the history of this ginnel. It was a footpath predating these affluent estates around here. The entrances are not at all obvious.The ginnel runs up the side of Bardon Lodge on Weetwood Lane, and if it wasn't for the old bollards I'd not have even thought it was a public footpath. It's very overgrown in places. The ginnel in parts has almost been reclaimed by Mother Nature, ducking under trees and bushes is required to reach the far side 250 yards away. This Victorian ginnel was built around 1860 between the Bardon Grange, Barden Hill, and Elms estates, but the footpath itself is an ancient byway that can be traced as far back as 1851. The Victorian paving stones can just be seen under the rotted leaves here.This ginnel at one time was a series of footpaths that extended over half a mile when there was nothing but fields around here, one of those footpaths has been reclaimed by Mother Nature and wiped off the map altogether. Very little footfall along this ginnel has cleared a small pathway to reveal the original stone paving, in places the vegetation is waist high along hereAn old blue gate to one of the pleasure gardens can be glimpsed under the ivy. The roll of mesh used to block the gateway has seen better days.Today the ginnel is pretty much overgrown and forgotten about, high boundary walls and a dense tree canopy makes it very dark in places, the Victorian sandstone paving flags are mostly hidden under thick mud and composted leaves. All in all it's a nice stroll along a forgotten part of old Leeds.The far entrance is even less obvious.This aerial image is a few years old now, and the ginnel is more overgrown than can be seen here.The furthest back I can trace this footpath so far is on this 1851 map. It shows the right of way was in existence long before the estates sprang up in the area, The Hollies was still the sandstone quarry, and only Weetwood Lodge, and Weetwood Hall (built 1625) are shown on the map.The 1892 map shows good detail how it ran between the boundary walls of the Bardon and Elms estates.A slightly wider angle of the 1892 map shows the footpath/ginnel crossed Weetwood Lane, and carried on past Weetwood Mill Lane. That ginnel still survives, but the footpath opposite Bardon Lodge has been reclaimed by Mother Nature, and a small allotment.By 1908 the footpath had been extended all the way to Weetwood Hall by the Ring Road. In total the footpath was around half a mile in it's entirety. It appears the section of footpath to Weetwood Hall was lost in the 1920's under University sports grounds.

Phill_dvsn · Post by **Phill_dvsn** » Mon 08 Aug, 2011 12:36 pm

You can see the gap in the stone wall where the entrance to the footpath on Weetwood Lane was (opposite Bardon Lodge)Here it is on Google Street viewhttp://tinyurl.com/42yaceaThat part of the footpath has been lost to Mother Nature and allotments.The next time you pick up the trail again is here off Weetwood Mill Lane.http://tinyurl.com/3h4vuo8Once again the ginnel isn't very obvious, and it is rather dark to see. I believe Mr Brunel might have a photo of this section of ginnel?

Si · Post by Si » Mon 08 Aug, 2011 12:39 pm

There's no sign of the ginnel on the 1836-51 tithe map, Phill. Just fields.