Building facades and adornments

Martyn · Post by **Martyn** » Wed 28 Feb, 2007 1:52 pm

I didn't know that there was so much Burmantofts stuff in Leeds.I once went to Highroyds hospital at Menston, no, not as a patient. I know it's only just in Leeds, the boundary runs along the edge of the grounds but the tiles in the entrance hall are quite stunning. I can't say if it's Burmantofts but it's very similar. Maybe it would be worth a trip with your box brownie Bagpuss. The site is being developed for housing now but the building is listed so won't be touched.The film Asylum with Ian McKellen was set there. Maybe if you rent the video it would be easier than trying to blag your way in.You can't see any in this clip.http://www.lovefilm.com/visitor/product ... _trailer=1

bagpuss · Post by **bagpuss** » Wed 28 Feb, 2007 9:15 pm

Hi Martyn,thanks for the clip link, I really enjoyed watching it. Your intuition was correct, they are Burmantofts tiles in the main entrance of the large house and also along one of the old corridors. I am lucky to have one of the tiles from the old corridor, a part of it that was redeveloped. The tiles were thrown out and someone collected the unbroken ones out of a skip and eventually one came to me.There are more buildings in Leeds with Burmantofts features but I ran out of time trying to upload them. I am glad you liked the pictures.Cheers mate

Peter · Post by **Peter** » Mon 17 Aug, 2009 4:06 pm

Hi there, i'm making a performance for Leeds Light Night in October for various locations around the cit centre. Its inspried by the animals found in facades and buildings around the place. Does anyone know any interesting facts or stories about animals in Leeds architecture, any forgotten ones or anyhting to do with the dragons/lizards down by the victoria quarter, the owls on the civic hall or the lions with armour in front of the victoria quarter?Pete

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Tue 18 Aug, 2009 1:12 pm

One of my all time favourites is the beautiful statue of "Atlas" supporting The Globe. Fortiunately he has survived all the redevelopment and may still be seen guarding over the corner entrance of the former Atlas Insurance Chambers at the junction of King Street and St. Paul's Street. The ground floor is now a decent looking restaurant, and the rest of the unspoilt building is let to sundry tenants. Another gem may be found in Cross Arcade and brings a tear to the eyes of lovers of the good old days of live theatre in the city. Forget the incredible pretentiousness of that famous London store, and its alfresco cafe in the Victoria Quarter and walk into the short Cross Arcade - there, above the small entrance to "HN"s, remain in the lovely original brickwork those immortal words "EMPIRE PALACE." Lights down, curtain up - those WERE the days

BIG N · Post by **BIG N** » Thu 20 Aug, 2009 2:42 am

bagpuss wrote: For those of you who know about the positioning of the horses feet on a military statue, you will know that the Black Prince only fell once in battle and survived- hence the horse having one leg raised. The story goes that on any military statue on horseback, if the horse is on all four feet then the rider survived service unscathed, if it has one hoove raised then the rider was injured in battle but if the horse is rearing up then the rider died in active service.Sadly bagpuss this is nothing more than an urban myth and the positioning of horses legs on statues is due to nothing more than the sculptors personal choice.