Beeston, Leeds

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Beeston is an area of south Leeds, West Yorkshire, England with a population of about 16,000.[1]

Contents

[edit] History

Beeston is mentioned as Bestone in the 1086 Domesday Book. Cad Beeston manor house has been dated by dendochronology to about 1420, and is a grade II* listed building; it is used as private offices with no public access. Beeston was one of the chapelries of the ancient parish of Leeds. Beeston was a township and civil parish 1866-1904, then was absorbed into Holbeck civil parish before this was absorbed into Leeds in 1925.[2]

[edit] Geography and Demographics

Beeston is primarily an inner-city area. While located close to Leeds City Centre, Beeston is severed from the areas to the North by the M621 motorway. Beeston is two distinct areas separated by Cross Flatts Park: Beeston Hill to the east, and Beeston to the west.

[edit] Beeston Hill

Beeston Hill is comprised largely of areas of terraced housing and social housing. As a particularly deprived area, Beeston Hill along with Holbeck was the beneficiary of [Objective 2] European funding. In April 2008, a £93m PFI scheme to build 700 new private and housing association dwellings and regenerate some existing stock was announced[3].

Beeston Hill has a significant Asian and ethnic minority population.

[edit] Beeston Village

Beeston village is centred around a shopping centre comprising a large Co-operative store and a number of smaller shops. Housing in Beeston village is comprised largely of late Victorian and early 20th Century terraaced housing to the east of Old Lane, and newer family and housing association properties to the West of Old Lane.

[edit] Local facilities

Beeston probably has the best facilities of any area in Leeds. It has two large health centres, the White Rose shopping centre on its doorstep, Elland Road stadium and the John Charles Centre for Sport which includes indoor bowling, indoor Tennis Centre, athletics stadium, rugby pitches and five a side pitches and a full size swimming and diving pool. The city centre of Leeds is only a short bus ride away and the M1 and M62 motorways are easily accessed.

[edit] London bombings

Main article: 7 July 2005 London bombings

Beeston was the focus of unwanted attention following the 7 July 2005 London bombings when it was revealed that the bombers had lived in the area. On 12 July, two properties in Beeston were raided by police in connection with the attacks. According to West Yorkshire Police, a significant amount of explosive material was found in the raids and a controlled explosion was carried out at one of the properties.

[edit] After-effects

Following the 7th July bombings, the Muslim population of Beeston was in a state of both shock and fear. When news began to emerge of the Beeston link to the attacks, the majority of the population came out to condemn the atrocities. Since that time the community has cooperated closely with the police, but the local economy is still recovering from much of the negative media attention.

There was a significant pulling together of people across the community with two Beeston Together for Peace marches being held. Each were joined by hundreds of people, some as the procession passed. The second procession ended at Millennium Square in Leeds city centre, uniting with people from other parts of Leeds for an interfaith vigil.

[edit] The Clerk of Beeston

"Let's begin again like the Clerk of Beeston" is an expression that refers to an occasion in the 18th century when the clerk realised that they were singing the wrong tune to a psalm and reportedly shouted out to them, "Stop lads, we've got into the wrong metre, let's start again". The expression was hugely popular in the Leeds area, but has begun to fall into disuse. [4]

[edit] Location Grid


North: Holbeck, Wortley
West: Cottingley Beeston, Leeds East: Belle Isle, Hunslet
South: Middleton

[edit] References

  1. ^ Area Statistics for Beeston Ward (as it existed before June 2004), based on 2001 census.
  2. ^ A vision of Britain through time. Relationships / unit history of BEESTON. Retrieved on 2007-11-05.
  3. ^ At long last Leeds is in the money. Yorkshire Evening Post (2008-04-03). Retrieved on 2008-05-27.
  4. ^ "Yorkshire saying: Let's Begin Again Like the Clerk of Beeston", The Every-day Book and Table Book; or, Everlasting Calendar of Popular Amusements, Sports, Pastimes, Ceremonies, Manners, Customs, and Events, Each of the Three Hundred and Sixty-Five Days, in Past and Present Times; Forming a Complete History of the Year, Months, and Seasons, and a Perpetual Key to the Almanac, Including Accounts of the Weather, Rules for Health and Conduct, Remarkable and Important Anecdotes, Facts, and Notices, in Chronology, Antiquities, Topography, Biography, Natural History, Art, Science, and General Literature; Derived from the Most Authentic Sources, and Valuable Original Communication, with Poetical Elucidations, for Daily Use and Diversion. Vol III., ed. William Hone, (London: 1838) p 420. Retrieved on 2008-06-06

[edit] External links

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