Alwoodley
Encyclopedia
Alwoodley is a civil parish and suburb of Leeds
in West Yorkshire
, England
. It is 5 miles (8 km) north of central Leeds
. The name Alwoodley is said to be a corruption of 'Aethelwaldley', as it was originally known in the Middle Ages
, meaning the woodland clearing (ley), at Aethelwald's farm. Alwoodley lies in Leeds 17 which was reported to contain the most expensive housing area in Yorkshire and the Humber
by The Times
.
and the surrounding countryside. On either side of Alwoodley is Adel
, to the west, and Shadwell, to the east. Most of the housing is between Nursery Lane and Alwoodley Lane. The area to the North is mainly countryside, including the Eccup Reservoir
and two golf courses.
on the West, the A61 Harrogate Road
on the East. The northern boundaries are in countryside between Harewood
to the Northeast and Arthington
to the Northwest. Note that Alwoodley Gates is an area to the East of the A61 in the Harewood civil parish.
. This article will include this larger area, which includes certain institutions associated with the area but just outside the civil parish boundary.
Wetherby Road to the East, thus including Shadwell. They also include part of Moortown south of the Ring Road around Moortown Corner.
The centre is a large open area, including Moortown Golf Club and Rugby Club and former farmland known as Alwoodley Moss. Around it are 4 regions of housing, nearly all low-rise, semi-detached or detached. In the Northwest corner (junction bounded by King Lane to the West and Alwoodley Lane to the North) is housing called Alwoodley Park and includes street names such as "The Avenue", "The Lane", "The Drive" etc. reflecting the former more isolated nature of the original village. In the Northeast corner (junction bounded by Alwoodley Lane on the North and Harrogate Road on the East) is the Sandmoor Estate. In the Southeast corner (bounded by Nursery Lane on the South and Harrogate Road on the East) is the Primley Park area. Where Sandmoor and Primley Park join is Sandmoor Court, a block of flats. The Southwest region of housing is the Black Moor estate, mainly council-built properties.
The residential areas on and around the Sandmoors, Alwoodley Lane and Wigton Lane are amongst the most exclusive in Leeds, with many large detached family homes, imposing mansions and exclusive flat developments.
and The Grammar School at Leeds Junior & Senior site. Allerton High School is however outside of the boundary for Alwoodley but is one of the two main schools that serve the suburb. It contains the Brodetsky Primary School, a Jewish faith school
.
was also the home of the 1929 Ryder Cup
. Alwoodley Cricket Club dates back to 1935. There are two rugby clubs in the area: Leodiensian RUFC and Moortown Rugby Club.
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
in West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is 5 miles (8 km) north of central Leeds
Leeds City Centre
Leeds city centre is the central business district of Leeds, England. It is within the Leeds Central parliamentary constituency, represented by Hilary Benn as MP since a by-election in 1999...
. The name Alwoodley is said to be a corruption of 'Aethelwaldley', as it was originally known in the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, meaning the woodland clearing (ley), at Aethelwald's farm. Alwoodley lies in Leeds 17 which was reported to contain the most expensive housing area in Yorkshire and the Humber
Yorkshire and the Humber
Yorkshire and the Humber is one of the nine regions of England and formally one of the government office regions. It covers most of the historic county of Yorkshire, along with the part of northern Lincolnshire that was, from 1974 to 1996, within the former shire county of Humberside. The...
by The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
.
Geography
The area comprises a large part of the postcode LS17, which contains most of North LeedsLeeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
and the surrounding countryside. On either side of Alwoodley is Adel
Adel, Leeds
Adel is a suburb in North Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It is situated between Cookridge, Holt Park, Weetwood and Alwoodley. To the north are the villages of Arthington and Bramhope and the market town of Otley...
, to the west, and Shadwell, to the east. Most of the housing is between Nursery Lane and Alwoodley Lane. The area to the North is mainly countryside, including the Eccup Reservoir
Eccup reservoir
Eccup reservoir is a reservoir in Alwoodley, a suburb of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It was first constructed in 1843, and later expanded. The reservoir and the surrounding woodlands are both Sites of Special Scientific Interest. The open water area is 91.3 hectares, making it largest area of...
and two golf courses.
Civil Parish
The civil parish boundaries are from Nursery Lane on the South, following the Meanwood Valley TrailMeanwood Valley Trail
The Meanwood Valley Trail is a waymarked footpath and annual footrace route in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It runs for a distance of from the statue of Henry Rowland Marsden, 1878, on Woodhouse Moor, close to the University of Leeds, through Headingley, Meanwood and Adel to Breary Marsh,...
on the West, the A61 Harrogate Road
A61 road
The A61 is a major trunk road in England. It runs from Derby to Thirsk in North Yorkshire. From Derby, it heads north via Alfreton, Clay Cross, Chesterfield, Sheffield, Barnsley, Wakefield, Leeds, Harrogate and Ripon...
on the East. The northern boundaries are in countryside between Harewood
Harewood
Harewood is a village and civil parish in the City of Leeds metropolitan borough, West Yorkshire, England. The A61 runs through the village, from Leeds city centre in the south to Harrogate in the north...
to the Northeast and Arthington
Arthington
Arthington is a small village in Wharfedale, in the City of Leeds metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. It is a civil parish which, according to the 2001 census, had a population of 561 and is in the LS21 postcode district with Otley as its post town...
to the Northwest. Note that Alwoodley Gates is an area to the East of the A61 in the Harewood civil parish.
Electoral Ward
The Electoral Ward includes the above area, but also Alwoodley Gates to the East and southwards part of Moortown as far as the Leeds Outer Ring RoadLeeds Outer Ring Road
The Leeds Outer Ring Road is a main road that runs around most of the perimeter of the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. The ring road is approximately long and consists of single and dual carriageways....
. This article will include this larger area, which includes certain institutions associated with the area but just outside the civil parish boundary.
Church of England Parish
The Church of England parish of Alwoodley is based upon the church of St Barnabas, in the Diocese of Ripon and Leeds. The parish boundaries extend from King Lane in the West to the A58A58 road
The A58 is a major road in northern England that runs between Prescot, Merseyside and Wetherby, West Yorkshire.It runs north east from Prescot on the outskirts of Liverpool via St Helens, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Hindley, Westhoughton, Bolton, Bury, Heywood, Rochdale and Littleborough then over the...
Wetherby Road to the East, thus including Shadwell. They also include part of Moortown south of the Ring Road around Moortown Corner.
Housing
The former mansion, Alwoodley Old Hall, was close to the south side of Eccup Reservoir: it was demolished in 1969, and the grounds were used for Sandmoor Golf Club, north of Alwoodley Lane.The centre is a large open area, including Moortown Golf Club and Rugby Club and former farmland known as Alwoodley Moss. Around it are 4 regions of housing, nearly all low-rise, semi-detached or detached. In the Northwest corner (junction bounded by King Lane to the West and Alwoodley Lane to the North) is housing called Alwoodley Park and includes street names such as "The Avenue", "The Lane", "The Drive" etc. reflecting the former more isolated nature of the original village. In the Northeast corner (junction bounded by Alwoodley Lane on the North and Harrogate Road on the East) is the Sandmoor Estate. In the Southeast corner (bounded by Nursery Lane on the South and Harrogate Road on the East) is the Primley Park area. Where Sandmoor and Primley Park join is Sandmoor Court, a block of flats. The Southwest region of housing is the Black Moor estate, mainly council-built properties.
The residential areas on and around the Sandmoors, Alwoodley Lane and Wigton Lane are amongst the most exclusive in Leeds, with many large detached family homes, imposing mansions and exclusive flat developments.
Education
The two largest schools in the area are Allerton High SchoolAllerton High School
Allerton High School Business and Enterprise is an 11-19 comprehensive in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England specialising in Business and Enterprise.-Admissions:...
and The Grammar School at Leeds Junior & Senior site. Allerton High School is however outside of the boundary for Alwoodley but is one of the two main schools that serve the suburb. It contains the Brodetsky Primary School, a Jewish faith school
Faith school
A faith school is a British school teaching a general curriculum but with a particular religious character or has formal links with a religious organisation. It is distinct from an institution mainly or wholly teaching religion and related subjects...
.
Sport
There are 3 golf clubs within the area, namely Alwoodley, Moortown and Sandmoor Golf Clubs. Moortown Golf ClubMoortown Golf Club
Moortown Golf Club is a golf club located in Alwoodley, near Leeds, England. It was founded in 1909, and the championship golf course was designed by Dr Alister MacKenzie.Moortown hosted the Ryder Cup in 1929....
was also the home of the 1929 Ryder Cup
1929 Ryder Cup
The 2nd Ryder Cup Matches were held at the Moortown Golf Club in Leeds, England. It was very cold, with hail and at one point heavy snow on the greens. About two thousand spectators saw America gain a narrow lead before the Great Britain team won singles on the final day and thus the competition...
. Alwoodley Cricket Club dates back to 1935. There are two rugby clubs in the area: Leodiensian RUFC and Moortown Rugby Club.
Location grid
External links
- YEP Moortown Today community website covering Alwoodley
- Alwoodley Parish Council website
- The Ancient Parish of Harewood at GENUKIGENUKIGENUKI is a genealogy web portal, run as a charitable trust. Its aim is "to serve as a "virtual reference library" of genealogical information that is of particular relevance to the UK & Ireland"...
: Alwoodley was in this parish - Photographs of Alwoodley on Leodis, database from database from Leeds Library and Information Service