City's charter party will run for a year
Eight centuries of growth to be celebrated
Leeds is the 3rd-biggest city in Britain after London and Birmingham with a population of 750,000. This year it celebrates its 800th birthday. 800 years ago, it had a population of just 200.
RUINED: Kirkstall Abbey in Leeds is more than 850 years old
By ALISON BELLAMY
A YEAR-long celebration is to mark the 800 years since Leeds officially became a booming town.
From humble beginnings as a village with only 200 inhabitants, the city now has a population of 750,000.
The year-long Celebrate Leeds 2007, was launched today by the leader of the city council, Mark Harris; the executive member for leisure, Councillor John Procter, and the chief executive of the Royal Armouries Museum, Paul Evans.
The 12-month programme of events and projects will mark 800 years since the day in 1207 when the first charter was granted creating the 'borough of Leeds' around Briggate.
The historic signing of the original charter was re-created today, featuring an actor from the Royal Armouries Museum dressed in authentic costume from the period.
As part of the celebrations, every primary school child in Leeds will learn about the history of their city and all Leeds high schools will be involved in the celebrations..
A city council spokesman said: "In 1207 Maurice de Paynel granted a charter creating the borough of Leeds, a 'new town' built along a street running north from the crossing point on the River Aire, where Leeds Bridge now stands, to the southern edge of Woodhouse open fields. This street became known as Briggate, meaning 'the road to the bridge.
Wealth
"Thirty plots of land were laid out on either side of the new street. Whereas before people of the manor had to work for the Lord in order to get a piece of land for their own use, this new charter allowed people to rent a plot instead. This was intended to encourage skilled craftsmen to live in the borough and bring trade and wealth into the area.
"The outline of the plots can still be seen in today's arcades and the huge variety and quantity of shops in this area serve to show that Briggate is still the heart of this vibrant city."
Celebrate Leeds 2007 will be marked by prestigious events, including: the Genee International Ballet Competition in September or October 2007; the International Holocaust Conference on March 22; Breeze International Youth Festival 2007 and the 40th anniversary celebrations of the Leeds West Indian Carnival.
alison.bellamy@ypn.co.uk
From Domesday village to thriving metropolis
1086: The former Saxon village of Leeds has a population of around 200 at the time of the Domesday Book.
1152: Kirkstall Abbey founded by Cistercian Monks
1207: The first charter of the borough of Leeds was signed
1552: First Leeds grammar school founded
1626: The town was incorporated – given a corporation and mayor.
1636: St John's Church built.
1694: Leeds's first piped water supply.
1700: The rivers Aire and Calder were made navigable from Leeds to Wakefield.
1801: The first census showed the population of Leeds had reached 30,000.
1816: Leeds-Liverpool canal opened.
1819: Gas street lighting arrived.
1822: Tetley Brewery founded.
1836: Leeds's first modern police force founded
1851: Population tops six figures for the first time
1858: Town Hall built
1863: Corn Exchange built for the trading of grain.
1868: Leeds General Infirmary founded
1872: Roundhay Park opened – as did Leeds's first public library
1878: Grand Theatre opened, followed five years later by the City Varieties music hall.
1893: Leeds was made a city.
1894: Electric trams replaced horse-drawn trams.
1901: Census showed population has reached 178,000.
1904: Leeds University founded and St Annes RC Cathedral built – as was Leeds city market.
1920: Leeds United formed.
1925: St James hospital founded
1933: Leeds Civic Hall built.
1964: Merrion Centre opened
1974: City extended to include 10 other boroughs and urban districts.
1993: NHS headquarters at Quarry House opened.
1995: Royal Armouries museum opened.
From a small village 800 years ago, Leeds is now Britain's 3rd-biggest city
1) London (England) 7,072,191
2) Birmingham (England) 977,087
3) Leeds (England) 750,409
4) Glasgow (Scotland) 577,869
5) Sheffield (England) 513, 234
6) Bradford (England) 467, 665
7) Edinburgh (Scotland) 448,624
8 ) Liverpool (England) 439, 477
9) Manchester (England) 392, 819
10) Bristol (England) 380,615
11) Cardiff (Wales) 305, 353
http://www.leedstoday.net/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=39&ArticleID=1729573
Eight centuries of growth to be celebrated
Leeds is the 3rd-biggest city in Britain after London and Birmingham with a population of 750,000. This year it celebrates its 800th birthday. 800 years ago, it had a population of just 200.
RUINED: Kirkstall Abbey in Leeds is more than 850 years old
By ALISON BELLAMY
A YEAR-long celebration is to mark the 800 years since Leeds officially became a booming town.
From humble beginnings as a village with only 200 inhabitants, the city now has a population of 750,000.
The year-long Celebrate Leeds 2007, was launched today by the leader of the city council, Mark Harris; the executive member for leisure, Councillor John Procter, and the chief executive of the Royal Armouries Museum, Paul Evans.
The 12-month programme of events and projects will mark 800 years since the day in 1207 when the first charter was granted creating the 'borough of Leeds' around Briggate.
The historic signing of the original charter was re-created today, featuring an actor from the Royal Armouries Museum dressed in authentic costume from the period.
As part of the celebrations, every primary school child in Leeds will learn about the history of their city and all Leeds high schools will be involved in the celebrations..
A city council spokesman said: "In 1207 Maurice de Paynel granted a charter creating the borough of Leeds, a 'new town' built along a street running north from the crossing point on the River Aire, where Leeds Bridge now stands, to the southern edge of Woodhouse open fields. This street became known as Briggate, meaning 'the road to the bridge.
Wealth
"Thirty plots of land were laid out on either side of the new street. Whereas before people of the manor had to work for the Lord in order to get a piece of land for their own use, this new charter allowed people to rent a plot instead. This was intended to encourage skilled craftsmen to live in the borough and bring trade and wealth into the area.
"The outline of the plots can still be seen in today's arcades and the huge variety and quantity of shops in this area serve to show that Briggate is still the heart of this vibrant city."
Celebrate Leeds 2007 will be marked by prestigious events, including: the Genee International Ballet Competition in September or October 2007; the International Holocaust Conference on March 22; Breeze International Youth Festival 2007 and the 40th anniversary celebrations of the Leeds West Indian Carnival.
alison.bellamy@ypn.co.uk
From Domesday village to thriving metropolis
1086: The former Saxon village of Leeds has a population of around 200 at the time of the Domesday Book.
1152: Kirkstall Abbey founded by Cistercian Monks
1207: The first charter of the borough of Leeds was signed
1552: First Leeds grammar school founded
1626: The town was incorporated – given a corporation and mayor.
1636: St John's Church built.
1694: Leeds's first piped water supply.
1700: The rivers Aire and Calder were made navigable from Leeds to Wakefield.
1801: The first census showed the population of Leeds had reached 30,000.
1816: Leeds-Liverpool canal opened.
1819: Gas street lighting arrived.
1822: Tetley Brewery founded.
1836: Leeds's first modern police force founded
1851: Population tops six figures for the first time
1858: Town Hall built
1863: Corn Exchange built for the trading of grain.
1868: Leeds General Infirmary founded
1872: Roundhay Park opened – as did Leeds's first public library
1878: Grand Theatre opened, followed five years later by the City Varieties music hall.
1893: Leeds was made a city.
1894: Electric trams replaced horse-drawn trams.
1901: Census showed population has reached 178,000.
1904: Leeds University founded and St Annes RC Cathedral built – as was Leeds city market.
1920: Leeds United formed.
1925: St James hospital founded
1933: Leeds Civic Hall built.
1964: Merrion Centre opened
1974: City extended to include 10 other boroughs and urban districts.
1993: NHS headquarters at Quarry House opened.
1995: Royal Armouries museum opened.
From a small village 800 years ago, Leeds is now Britain's 3rd-biggest city
1) London (England) 7,072,191
2) Birmingham (England) 977,087
3) Leeds (England) 750,409
4) Glasgow (Scotland) 577,869
5) Sheffield (England) 513, 234
6) Bradford (England) 467, 665
7) Edinburgh (Scotland) 448,624
8 ) Liverpool (England) 439, 477
9) Manchester (England) 392, 819
10) Bristol (England) 380,615
11) Cardiff (Wales) 305, 353
http://www.leedstoday.net/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=39&ArticleID=1729573