Monk's Bridge Iron Comany

The Parksider · Post by **The Parksider** » Fri 28 Oct, 2011 7:50 pm

Jon Howe wrote: Hello, I have just registered on this forum as I am doing some research for a book, and am hoping somebody can help me with some information.Around 1905 Leeds City bought some land off Monk's Bridge Iron Company on which they built a new stand. From what I understand this was on the current West Stand side, ie. around Gelderd Road/Churwell area.I am aware that Monk's Bridge had a huge site on either side of Whitehall Road around Holbeck (bought out by Doncasters) until 2005, but I can't find any info on a site near Elland Road. Can anybody help? Much obliged. Jon,I'm not aware of Monk Bridge Iron Works owning Land down at Elland Road. The land is the flood plain for the Hol Beck and prior to the football ground the area was awash with coal mining. Old maps will show you several mines including the Manor Pit and Garden Pit being the closest.When the recreation ground Holbeck was taken for Housing (that housing being demolished now) Holbeck Rugby Club moved out to Elland Road and there was Cricket there on an adjacent site.When Holbeck disbanded the old Hunslet Soccer club and Leeds Steel works club founded leeds City and they turned the pitch around. This may have needed the land purchase.A big colliery owner at the time was the Low Moor Iron & Steel company of Bradford. I think there's an 1880 census of mines that shows the owners but I never recall Monk Bridge owning any but of course I could be wrong.....

jdbythesea · Post by **jdbythesea** » Fri 28 Oct, 2011 8:28 pm

Jon Howe wrote: Hello, I have just registered on this forum as I am doing some research for a book, and am hoping somebody can help me with some information.Around 1905 Leeds City bought some land off Monk's Bridge Iron Company on which they built a new stand. From what I understand this was on the current West Stand side, ie. around Gelderd Road/Churwell area.I am aware that Monk's Bridge had a huge site on either side of Whitehall Road around Holbeck (bought out by Doncasters) until 2005, but I can't find any info on a site near Elland Road. Can anybody help? Much obliged. I used to play Sunday League football (1972-1977) in Leeds. I can recall playing league matches - at least twice - on the field at the back of the New Peacock on Elland Road. It was the home pitch of Doncaster's Monkbridge as I remember.

buffaloskinner · Post by **buffaloskinner** » Fri 28 Oct, 2011 11:42 pm

Info on Leeds Speedway herehttp://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/Leeds.htm

Jon Howe · Post by **Jon Howe** » Sat 29 Oct, 2011 11:04 am

Buffaloskinner that is priceless information, really very, very grateful. Makes the picture much clearer. Thanks

Jon Howe · Post by **Jon Howe** » Sat 29 Oct, 2011 11:09 am

jdbythesea wrote: Jon Howe wrote: Hello, I have just registered on this forum as I am doing some research for a book, and am hoping somebody can help me with some information.Around 1905 Leeds City bought some land off Monk's Bridge Iron Company on which they built a new stand. From what I understand this was on the current West Stand side, ie. around Gelderd Road/Churwell area.I am aware that Monk's Bridge had a huge site on either side of Whitehall Road around Holbeck (bought out by Doncasters) until 2005, but I can't find any info on a site near Elland Road. Can anybody help? Much obliged. I used to play Sunday League football (1972-1977) in Leeds. I can recall playing league matches - at least twice - on the field at the back of the New Peacock on Elland Road. It was the home pitch of Doncaster's Monkbridge as I remember. This puts the cat among the pigeons! My information is that the Holbeck Cricket club was wound up in 1962, so presumably the ground remained and was used for football for many years. Maybe if the pub survived until 1974, this is also when the ground itself was covered up by the combination of buildings etc that stand there today?

Jon Howe · Post by **Jon Howe** » Sat 29 Oct, 2011 11:22 am

To pull all this together I thought it made sense to make a definitive list of questions that I have, so please see below. Any help with these is much appreciated.1. Did Monk's Bridge Iron Company own land on the west side of the current Elland Road site? Several websites detailing the history of the ground state that the club bought land on the Gelderd Road and Churwell side of the ground in 19062. When did the Greyhound stadium open? I know it closed and was immediately demolished in 1982, but when did it open?3. What was the cricket ground that Holbeck Cricket Club played on generally known as? 'Holbeck Cricket Ground', 'New Peacock Ground' or something else?4. If Holbeck cricket club folded in 1962, and we presume the ground was used for Sunday league football thereafter, when did the ground close?5. Did the New Peacock close and get demolished in 1974?6. I know Holbeck Cricket & Rugby Club moved from the Holbeck Recreation Ground in 1897 when it was demolished for housing. The Rugby club moved onto the Elland Road site that is now the football club (bought from Bentley's Brewery) and the cricket club moved next door over Lowfields Road, but who owned that land before? 7. On a slightly different subject, there are several mentions on Leodis of a 'Slum Clearance' around Elland Road in 1959. What exact area was this and was this prompted by the eventual building of the M621?Sorry for all the questions, but thought it sensible to get them all in one place. Thanks for any help you can give.

The Parksider · Post by **The Parksider** » Sat 29 Oct, 2011 2:40 pm

Jon Howe wrote: To pull all this together I thought it made sense to make a definitive list of questions that I have, so please see below. Any help with these is much appreciated.6. I know Holbeck Cricket & Rugby Club moved from the Holbeck Recreation Ground in 1897 when it was demolished for housing. The Rugby club moved onto the Elland Road site that is now the football club (bought from Bentley's Brewery) and the cricket club moved next door over Lowfields Road, but who owned that land before? In 1878 the coal mines had closed in the immdiate area of the Soccer ground and the land was flattened enough to turf it with colliery waste being used to bank up around the pitch. First users were the Leeds Athletic RFC and even at that time it was estimated 23,000 could be accomodated. I Believe that Bentleys Yorkshire Brewery were responsible for the ground and rented it out. I guess they owned it. In 1897 Holbeck RFC bought the ground outright for £1,100.Leeds City took the lease in 1904 and "improved the terracing" and built a new stand. 1905 saw 22,000 in for the Derby with Bradford City once Manningham RCF and 1906 saw 4.2 acres of extra land acquired with the pitch beng turned around accordingly

The Parksider · Post by **The Parksider** » Sat 29 Oct, 2011 2:49 pm

Jon Howe wrote: To pull all this together I thought it made Who owned that land before? Hird, Dawson and Hardy Ltd. owned the Elland Road Colliery up to 1880 and the Wortley Fireclay Company owned the Holbeck pit...No sign of Monk Bridge Ironworks as colliery owners, nearest were The Farnley Iron Company.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Sat 29 Oct, 2011 3:13 pm

When I used to see Leeds United at their Elland Road ground many years back now I was always amused (and confused) that the newer looking pub opposite the ground was called the 'Old Peacock' and an older looking pub near the ground (on the left going to Leeds) was called the 'New Peacock'.

The Parksider · Post by **The Parksider** » Sat 29 Oct, 2011 7:02 pm

Jon Howe wrote: Several websites detailing the history of the ground state that the club bought land on the Gelderd Road and Churwell side of the ground in 1906 The land purchased was the land that the current kop sits on - as the pitch was turned around so the scratchin shed end was at the elland road end, the geldered end or kop needed that bit more land to be created. I first stood on the kop in 1966 and it was uncovered.Of course southwards toward churwell the club got land that in later years was the car park and training pitches.