Leeds news on today's date (Sept 23) in 1840, 1863, 1869 and 1871.

[Leodian]

The following are from John Mayhall’s ‘Annals of Yorkshire’:-September 23 1840. “An explosion of fireworks took place in a dwelling-house at Halton, near Leeds, by which Dorothy Randall and her daughter were killed.”September 23 1863. “The general committee of the Leeds Infirmary decided to commence at once the erection of the new Infirmary. The entire cost being estimated at £101,948. 16s., although the ways and means showed a deficiency of £14,196. 16s.”I like the precise figures. September 23 1869. “In accordance with a resolution passed by the Streets Committee of the Leeds Town Council, the name of Boar Lane was changed to West Bar—a name by which part of the street was formerly known, and the new name was affixed, a step which led to much discussion. The Council ultimately decided to keep to the old name.”September 23 1871. “The beautiful grounds of Roundhay Park, Leeds, were this day, thrown open for public inspection, and were visited by many thousands of people from Leeds and neighbourhood.”In a subsequent report in the Annals it stated that Roundhay Park was opened by His Royal Highness, Prince Arthur on September 19 1872 and that the park “had recently been purchased by the Leeds Corporation at a cost of £139,000, and consisted of 773 acres of land; three or four hundred of which it was intended to devote in perpetuity to the uses of the inhabitants of Leeds.”. There is much more about the opening in the report, which covered most of pages 504 to 506 inclusive. On an unnumbered page opposite page 504 there is a nice undated drawing titled ‘Roundhay Park. Leeds’ (published by C. H. Johnson) which I have scanned and added to this post (it is reduced in size a bit). The general scene is still quite recognisable today.

[Jogon]

I seem to recall that John Atkinson Grimshaw was Commissioned to paint some images of Roundhay Park in connection with LCC applying to Parliament for permission and/or funding to buy Roundhay Park.[edit]Full Moon Roundhay Park Castle 1872Bonhams Catalogue:-"...These pictures of Roundhay Park, Leeds date from the time the park was being acquired from its private owners by Leeds Town Council.Grimshaw was commissioned by the town to show the park to a committee of the House of Commons in order to promote a bill which Leeds hoped would persuade the committee to agree to its taking over the land as a public park and for some element of building. The series of views of Roundhay were completed in 1872 and it is likely that this picture was one of them.It was quite a clever idea to show the park by moonlight thus increasing its romantic and poetic appeal..."