A bench mark (? from at least 1851) at Golden Acre Park

Jogon · Post by **Jogon** » Thu 18 Apr, 2013 2:26 pm

Leoquoting someone who emailed me with a depth of knowledge beyond mine:-"1851 map is only 1:10,000 scale, just make out the BM400ish relating to this mark. It looks like the lane appears on that map. By the time the 1893 1:2500 map had been drawn, the lane was closed off with just the field boundary to give away the route of the old lane to the south.So the section of wall to the left of the photograph is the filled-in lane entrance, as the mark was there before. The age of the mark would make it part of the first geodetic levelling which took place between 1840 and 1860. At the time,the lane must have been a fairly significant route to have been worth surveying."

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Thu 18 Apr, 2013 7:32 pm

Jogon wrote: Leoquoting someone who emailed me with a depth of knowledge beyond mine:-"1851 map is only 1:10,000 scale, just make out the BM400ish relating to this mark. It looks like the lane appears on that map. By the time the 1893 1:2500 map had been drawn, the lane was closed off with just the field boundary to give away the route of the old lane to the south.So the section of wall to the left of the photograph is the filled-in lane entrance, as the mark was there before. The age of the mark would make it part of the first geodetic levelling which took place between 1840 and 1860. At the time,the lane must have been a fairly significant route to have been worth surveying." Hiya JogonThe part of the Old-Maps UK 1851 1:10,560 map that I have put with this post shows the 'road' running from Damstone Farm to Black Hill Dam (where Golden Acre Park lake is now) and where the position of the Bench Mark is marked. Addle Dam is now in the Adel Dam Nature Reserve.Its always interesting to look at old maps (Sat Navs will not do for reference in years to come ). What is named Stairfoot Lane in later maps is Church Lane in the 1851 one. King Lane is another old named road, as also is Five Lane Ends junction. Coming off the right of King Lane there is a footpath (but only 'foo' can be seen in this section of the map) that is still there now running next to Headingley golf course. The map also shows the presumed Roman camp. When my mind is wandering when walking in the area I can 'see' the Roman (or whoever) soldiers thinking well this is such a desolate hole I can't wait to get back to the warmth of Italy.

Jogon · Post by **Jogon** » Thu 18 Apr, 2013 8:30 pm

ThanksWhere Church Lane crossed the bridge and becomes Eccup Lane thence Arthington Rd just up past the farm, I have on tithemap OS 1910 as Black Hill Road.It is amazing to think of Romans on duty to keep us in check.

Jogon · Post by **Jogon** » Mon 22 Apr, 2013 3:29 pm

Just come across thishttp://www.bench-marks.org.uk/bm42392soz if everyone already aware, it lists nearby bm's too.

simong · Post by **simong** » Mon 22 Apr, 2013 5:48 pm

Coincidentally I noticed a bench mark in Westroyd Park in Farsley yesterday. It's on what looks like a mounting block by the pedestrian entrance. It doesn't seem to be listed and if it's a mounting block it's not really in a convenient place so I wondered if it had been moved from somewhere else. I'll get a picture next time I take the dog over there.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Mon 22 Apr, 2013 9:07 pm

Jogon wrote: Just come across thishttp://www.bench-marks.org.uk/bm42392soz if everyone already aware, it lists nearby bm's too. Cheers JogonI notice in the description to the BM it states "It is fairly easy to spot on a section of dilapidated wall next to a fallen tree". Probably true if someone knows it is there but it is faint and I only spotted it because I like to look closely at walls! (sad I'm sure ).I have come across many of the local area BMs mentioned through the link plus some BMs that are not recorded (probably due to a reuse of the stone from elsewhere for other use). Many BMs are though too eroded to show well on photos.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Mon 22 Apr, 2013 9:14 pm

simong wrote: Coincidentally I noticed a bench mark in Westroyd Park in Farsley yesterday. It's on what looks like a mounting block by the pedestrian entrance. It doesn't seem to be listed and if it's a mounting block it's not really in a convenient place so I wondered if it had been moved from somewhere else. I'll get a picture next time I take the dog over there. Hi simongIt's always (well it is to me!) interesting to come across a BM and more so if it is apparently not listed. I do very occasionally look for BMs recorded on maps to see if I can find them. Old maps indicate several buildings with a BM in or very near the central area of Leeds, but I've yet to spot some of the BMs so they may no longer exist if a building has for example been renovated or a BM is too eroded now.

simong · Post by **simong** » Tue 28 May, 2013 10:50 pm

http://flic.kr/p/evRJkpThis is the mounting step with bench mark in Westroyd Park. It's by the south entrance opposite the gatehouse. The slots in the stone suggest a bar of some kind but there's no indication of an opposite side nearby, which suggests that it has been moved somewhere else.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Tue 28 May, 2013 11:23 pm

simong wrote: http://flic.kr/p/evRJkpThis is the mounting step with bench mark in Westroyd Park. It's by the south entrance opposite the gatehouse. The slots in the stone suggest a bar of some kind but there's no indication of an opposite side nearby, which suggests that it has been moved somewhere else. Hi simong. That's a great Bench Mark. It looks like it could be on old mounting steps used to get on and off a horse. I have attached part of an 1893 map that I've taken from the Old-Maps UK website and wonder if the Bench Mark is one of those noted on the map (as BM)?

simong · Post by **simong** » Wed 29 May, 2013 7:45 am

Leodian wrote: Hi simong. That's a great Bench Mark. It looks like it could be on old mounting steps used to get on and off a horse. I have attached part of an 1893 map that I've taken from the Old-Maps UK website and wonder if the Bench Mark is one of those noted on the map (as BM)? That's exactly where it is. I wonder if the slots are designed for a mapmaker's tools? The map seems to suggest that it was on the roadside in 1893, which would make more sense. I've added it to www.bench-marks.org.uk.