In the 1950s my mother used to take me to Roundhay Park on the number 4 tram from Kirkstall Road to the city centre, where we got the number 3 to Roundhay Park. I used to enjoy exploring the castle and the lakes.
I lived in Leeds until 1968 and loved Roundhay Park, so much of its elements have disappeared eg the donkey rides, the swimming pool, the fabulous old conveniences. Does Children’s Day happen now? With all the building going on on every square inch of green land why is nobody thinking we still need public parks?
I remember going to Big Pop concert in 1963/64/65 where The Who Dave Clark Five and lots of other bands appeared. Jimmy Saville compared. Can’t seem to find any info about it now tho’. We went to the phonograph Club after and saw George Best. Anyone remember this?!?
I used to love the open air swimming pool at Roundhay. As a boy I used to bike there from Garforth with my mates, going there through Garforth Golf Course, and Cross Gates. The water was not heated, so it needed to be hot weather. There used to be lots of pretty girls there, lolling on the grassy surrounds.. That was about seventy years ago, and I now live in New Zealand
Thanks for another great production! IAs a primary school kid, I was involved in the school maypole dancing in the arena. I think it was 1965. Much as I loved the park, I couldn´t wait for the dancing to end!! The following year, I was "conscripted" into the English country dancing group for the same event (probably children´s day). Fortunately, it chucked it down just as the dancing was about to begin!! Best wishes from Spain.
Great video. I left Leeds in 1970, but would love to return and walk around Roundhay Park again. It brings back happy memories of when my Dad would take me there on the tram. We always pronounced it Roundy park with a silent H.
I worked at the mansion in the 90s. What a beautiful building. I saw Phil collins and Madonna for free . The grounds were my back garden. Absolutely beautiful place. I felt privileged to work there.
Thank you for this video, very clear speaking to listen to. I can tell you're from Yorkshire. I was born in Farsley and lived in Pudsey also and worked in Leeds in three fashion shops in all back in early to mid 60s. I don't usually stop to look at videos if they seem too long though 16mns isn't really a long time. I'm glad the Canal Gardens were shown as I was beginning to think they wouldn't. I had my first trip back from Oz after 20yrs in the summer of '87 and we went to Roundhay Park. Lots different since I was a child and teenager. I have a memory of being in the Club House I think it was when I was about 7yrs after the heavens had opened and everyone charged in there. After it stopped, everyone was pushing and shoving to get out again, making for the door. I got stuck in the crowd, lost sight of my parents who weren't looking to see if I was following and got my hair caught on a bloke's button on his waistcoat. He didn't know and was dragging me along with him with me screaming for my Mother at the top of my lungs! We were really sandwiched in like sardines! I eventually got my Mum's attention and she told him. Another was going to see The Dave Clarke Five when I was about 16yrs in early 60s, but before all those others you mentioned. You could hardly call it a concert as he just performed in the middle of the grass in a made-up stage covered in tarpaulins. He was the drummer as well as singing and he just rattled off his well-know songs as quickly as possible, didn't interact with the audience at all and then buzzed off back into his car with the others, no autographs. Even though we were a small crowd we were squashed in and no seats, just standing up. Thanks for the memories though. Canal Gardens weren't there when I was a child. Canal Cafe was lovely looking out over the lake, in '87.
@@GeogJuice I've subscribed. I can see a video for Kirkgate, but is the Briggate one a separate one? I worked in my first job at 15yrs at Collette's Fashions in Commercial St near Briggate end opposite where Crockett's dry cleaners used to be. Then I went next door but one to Paige's Fashions. There was a little sweet shop/tobacconists in between. Then I went to J. Jones in Boar Lane near Briggate end next to the Trinity Church, and Modelia dress shop with Saxone shoe shop on the corner I have a postcard of it that my manageress sent me soon after I emigrated to Oz. I've put it on FB a few times showing how Boar Lane looked in 60s when C & A was there which you can see plainly.
@@GeogJuice I was going to ask where the play lists were, but then I remembered that when I've subscribed to people's videos etc it's been in the left-hand column of my TH-cam Favourites, so went and looked and there you were. It only shows Briggate Parts I and 2. Should the other one be there. I can see some more interesting things on there. Quarry Hill flats for instance. Unfortunately they'd been pulled down on my first visit back to UK in the summer of '87. I was going to show them to my de facto partner of the time but there was a blow! Other parts of Leeds too, City Square. Must have a look now and again. Got the times of the videos on too so that's good.
Nice video Bryan, well researched and presented. I was at the stones concert in 82 and spent lots of summer afternoons in the lido as a kid before it closed. It really is a splendid park.
Love Roundhay park ,it was always an adventure making our way there early 1970s from seacroft with our fishing gear through the bulls field 🤣great video 😊😊
I lived very close to that, heard Queen and Michael Jackson concerts that they held there. Also seen Saville loads of times running around the park. Hill 60 is a great spot when it's snowed.
thats really interesting........I was born and brought up in Roundhay and know every inch of it by day and night and still visit to this day sometimes to hear the dawn chorus. You a very very lucky indeed to be born in Roundhay.
I remember going to the open air pool many, many times in the long hot summer of 1976, aged 17. And who, from my Roundhay contemporaries, would forget the Phoenix Bar on the side of the Mansion, in the same year?! What a summer that was!
very detailed video, I've enjoyed a lot of the content you put out. I'm currently a 1st year geography student at university and would be interested about the history of Roundhay and the differences between the neighbouring harehills.
I would like to see a history of Chapeltown, including Potternewton Park. I was once told that there are bunkers beneath the ground there, dating from the Second World War. I wonder how many revellers at the Leeds West Indian Carnival are aware of that story ?
Children's Day on hill 60. Took part in maypole and country dancing. 1964 (I think) the heavens opened and we sat on the bus instead of performing the Scarf Dance. The queen for the day was from our school (Intake CS School). She had to be crowned in the mansion. We went home still dry and a bit fed up. Just remembered, I broke a finger when practising the dance, slippy gym floor :)
I went to Braim Wood Middle School which was right on the edge of Roundhay Park. Every other PE lesson was to run round the lake while the PE teacher smoked cigarettes.
Great presentation of Leeds greatest asset for it's people. It's a shame that those trams that carried thousands of people to the park are long gone. It's a pity that today's wealthy don't give back like Sir John Barron did.
I wonder how many times the sale of Roundhay Park has come up for discussion over the years. There must be many unscrupulous property developers dying to get their greedy hands on it. Fingers crossed LCC never allows that to happen.
When I first saw it written down, I didnt know what area they were talking about as we always called it Roundy Park. Duh !! We used to go in the early 60's when the army used to have an exhibition at the park with all their equipment on display, along with the police force. That possibly could have been Children's Day as I seem to remember little brown flags that we pinned on.
it is fascinating to study the roots of how the 5 kingdoms became one, and all the invasions Britons had leaving us all a mix of Roman, Dane, Saxon, Anglo-Saxon (Angles/Saxons), Doggerlanders, Norsemen, and the xxxin' Normans.. and ironic how the working class of leeds consider themself 'English' when all we are really is a mishmash of bloodlines, with a German Royalty
More Irish than German i reckon most of us working class in Leeds ,I am partial to a Bratwurst and frankfurter sausage sandwich though so maybe im "German royalty " after all 🤣🤣🤣
Do you anything about the Band Stand in the woods beside Waterloo Lake? It one of those really cool hidden parts of the park. I heard it was to be restored but locals didn't want it despite it being in urgent need of such. I really enjoy the video but I don't know if it different for the locals but everyone I've known calls it Round-i Park rather than Round-hay park. Either way, very interesting. I didn't know about the military connection or the gala (In fairness, I like on the other side of the city).
Thanks for commenting Sterling. I am from Leeds and call it Roundy Park too, but I have to speak clearly for the video subtitles :) I wonder which bandstand you mean? I will have to look in to it.
Yes, we and the locals of Leeds and surrounding areas called it Roundie Park too. It's just a Yorkshire dialect way of saying it as it's quicker. I was a long time as a child before I knew it was actually Roundhay Park, but too awkward to say. :-)
Walk towards the park from the old Lido and take the track to the right hand side of the lake. Just as you approach the brow of the hill, turn right and walk up a steep incline through rhododendron bushes almost as far as you can go and you will find the ridge path that runs high above the lakeside walk, keep to your right and you will discover the old Band Stand/Shelter. Its really overgrown and difficult to make out. The view over the lake is now blocked by trees, but in its day It would have had a wonderful spot to sit and take in the view. Walked my dogs around that part of the Park on so many occasions and was always saddened to see how it had become so overgrown and uncared for.
The maker of this vidio missed out the latest atraction to this park , the fairy glen in Ram Wood , started during the covid pandemic by the mistory builder and maintainer The Fairy King Which attracts many visitors to this part of the park .
The park is indeed a beautiful place but the council stripped it of its finery long ago no amenities except an over priced cafe the play area is for toddlers only the mansion used to be a bar & restaurant the outdoor pool was done away with in 1980 before it got listed status! It’s a ghost of the past now!
Did you know that the oldest surviving motion film. Was filmed in Roundhay. A piece called "Roundhay Garden Scene". I have no facts to back this up, but you can read about it on Wikipedia, so it must be true 😂
Roundhay park is an absolute jewel in Leeds, i once had the privilege to run for my school on the arena on children’s day.
You are right! Thanks for commenting.
In the 1950s my mother used to take me to Roundhay Park on the number 4 tram from Kirkstall Road to the city centre, where we got the number 3 to Roundhay Park. I used to enjoy exploring the castle and the lakes.
Thanks for adding that George
So many memories from the galas, fishing, wedding do’s at the mansion a real treasure of Leeds
I lived in Leeds until 1968 and loved Roundhay Park, so much of its elements have disappeared eg the donkey rides, the swimming pool, the fabulous old conveniences. Does Children’s Day happen now? With all the building going on on every square inch of green land why is nobody thinking we still need public parks?
I remember going to Big Pop concert in 1963/64/65 where The Who Dave Clark Five and lots of other bands appeared. Jimmy Saville compared. Can’t seem to find any info about it now tho’. We went to the phonograph Club after and saw George Best. Anyone remember this?!?
I used to love the open air swimming pool at Roundhay. As a boy I used to bike there from
Garforth with my mates, going there through Garforth Golf Course, and Cross Gates. The water was not heated, so it needed to be hot weather. There used to be lots of pretty girls there, lolling on the grassy surrounds.. That was about seventy years ago, and I now live in New Zealand
Great memories Lawrie. Thank you.
One of my favourite places on earth. Love it.
A superb piece, evoking many happy memories. Many thanks!
Thank you
Thanks for another great production! IAs a primary school kid, I was involved in the school maypole dancing in the arena. I think it was 1965. Much as I loved the park, I couldn´t wait for the dancing to end!! The following year, I was "conscripted" into the English country dancing group for the same event (probably children´s day). Fortunately, it chucked it down just as the dancing was about to begin!! Best wishes from Spain.
Thank you for adding that.
Great video. I left Leeds in 1970, but would love to return and walk around Roundhay Park again. It brings back happy memories of when my Dad would take me there on the tram. We always pronounced it Roundy park with a silent H.
Thanks for commenting Richard. Roundy Park it is!
I worked at the mansion in the 90s. What a beautiful building. I saw Phil collins and Madonna for free . The grounds were my back garden. Absolutely beautiful place. I felt privileged to work there.
Enjoyed the video, it brought back many happy memories., thank. You.
U2 were brilliant there on the Zooropa tour.
Can you do a history of chapeltown and history of harehills and sheepscar and little london
I will add them to my list
Thank you for this video, very clear speaking to listen to. I can tell you're from Yorkshire. I was born in Farsley and lived in Pudsey also and worked in Leeds in three fashion shops in all back in early to mid 60s.
I don't usually stop to look at videos if they seem too long though 16mns isn't really a long time. I'm glad the Canal Gardens were shown as I was beginning to think they wouldn't. I had my first trip back from Oz after 20yrs in the summer of '87 and we went to Roundhay Park. Lots different since I was a child and teenager. I have a memory of being in the Club House I think it was when I was about 7yrs after the heavens had opened and everyone charged in there. After it stopped, everyone was pushing and shoving to get out again, making for the door. I got stuck in the crowd, lost sight of my parents who weren't looking to see if I was following and got my hair caught on a bloke's button on his waistcoat. He didn't know and was dragging me along with him with me screaming for my Mother at the top of my lungs! We were really sandwiched in like sardines! I eventually got my Mum's attention and she told him.
Another was going to see The Dave Clarke Five when I was about 16yrs in early 60s, but before all those others you mentioned. You could hardly call it a concert as he just performed in the middle of the grass in a made-up stage covered in tarpaulins. He was the drummer as well as singing and he just rattled off his well-know songs as quickly as possible, didn't interact with the audience at all and then buzzed off back into his car with the others, no autographs. Even though we were a small crowd we were squashed in and no seats, just standing up. Thanks for the memories though. Canal Gardens weren't there when I was a child. Canal Cafe was lovely looking out over the lake, in '87.
Thank you for sharing your story. Have a look at my Briggate videos if you get the chance. They should bring back more memories.
@@GeogJuice I've subscribed. I can see a video for Kirkgate, but is the Briggate one a separate one? I worked in my first job at 15yrs at Collette's Fashions in Commercial St near Briggate end opposite where Crockett's dry cleaners used to be. Then I went next door but one to Paige's Fashions. There was a little sweet shop/tobacconists in between. Then I went to J. Jones in Boar Lane near Briggate end next to the Trinity Church, and Modelia dress shop with Saxone shoe shop on the corner I have a postcard of it that my manageress sent me soon after I emigrated to Oz. I've put it on FB a few times showing how Boar Lane looked in 60s when C & A was there which you can see plainly.
@@Mum60 Thanks for subscribing. Have a look at the playlists and hopefully you can spot them. The Briggate video is in three parts.
@@GeogJuice I was going to ask where the play lists were, but then I remembered that when I've subscribed to people's videos etc it's been in the left-hand column of my TH-cam Favourites, so went and looked and there you were. It only shows Briggate Parts I and 2. Should the other one be there. I can see some more interesting things on there. Quarry Hill flats for instance. Unfortunately they'd been pulled down on my first visit back to UK in the summer of '87. I was going to show them to my de facto partner of the time but there was a blow! Other parts of Leeds too, City Square. Must have a look now and again. Got the times of the videos on too so that's good.
@@Mum60 Hi, the third one is called New Briggate. Its about the section from the Headrow to North Street. I hope you enjoy them.
Nice video Bryan, well researched and presented. I was at the stones concert in 82 and spent lots of summer afternoons in the lido as a kid before it closed. It really is a splendid park.
Thanks Gordon, it’s good to hear from you and thank you for commenting.
Love Roundhay park ,it was always an adventure making our way there early 1970s from seacroft with our fishing gear through the bulls field 🤣great video 😊😊
I lived very close to that, heard Queen and Michael Jackson concerts that they held there. Also seen Saville loads of times running around the park. Hill 60 is a great spot when it's snowed.
thats really interesting........I was born and brought up in Roundhay and know every inch of it by day and night and still visit to this day sometimes to hear the dawn chorus. You a very very lucky indeed to be born in Roundhay.
You are indeed!
I remember going to the open air pool many, many times in the long hot summer of 1976, aged 17. And who, from my Roundhay contemporaries, would forget the Phoenix Bar on the side of the Mansion, in the same year?! What a summer that was!
Thank you for adding your memories Bev
Excellent Bryan ... Thank You for making these lovely videos ❤
Thank you Andy
Oh dear. I remember many halcyon days at the park and the lido.
Excellently produced film.
Thanks and regards from London
Thanks Francis
Great , but no mention of the waterfall
Spent many happy days there at children's day, later helped organise and run the priners gala which replaced children's day.
Thank you for adding that Steve
Was lovely sitting at the Mansion having a beer. Before the clowncil decided it should be offices
yeah its a bad decision ,hopefully there will be a pop up bar or something this summer its shite without a beer
very detailed video, I've enjoyed a lot of the content you put out. I'm currently a 1st year geography student at university and would be interested about the history of Roundhay and the differences between the neighbouring harehills.
Hi Lewis, thank you for commenting and thanks for the tip. Good luck with your studies
I went to Parklands School {Seacroft] in the early 60s and we did Maypole dancing at Roundhay Park great days great place to visit
I would like to see a history of Chapeltown, including Potternewton Park. I was once told that there are bunkers beneath the ground there, dating from the Second World War. I wonder how many revellers at the Leeds West Indian Carnival are aware of that story ?
Thank you for the suggestion
@@GeogJuice And thank you for this video, by the way. Well made, and it pointed out local history facts that I would not otherwise have known.
Super piece of history. Many thanks for sharing. ……
Thank you
Children's Day on hill 60. Took part in maypole and country dancing. 1964 (I think) the heavens opened and we sat on the bus instead of performing the Scarf Dance. The queen for the day was from our school (Intake CS School). She had to be crowned in the mansion. We went home still dry and a bit fed up. Just remembered, I broke a finger when practising the dance, slippy gym floor :)
Thanks for adding that Janet
I saw simple minds there in 1989 fantastic
I went to Braim Wood Middle School which was right on the edge of Roundhay Park. Every other PE lesson was to run round the lake while the PE teacher smoked cigarettes.
They were different times 😂
Excellent video
Enjoyed it immensely
Thank you David
Expected mention of the upper lake boathouse, the walkway across the pointy end and the Hermitage along the castle path?
Great presentation of Leeds greatest asset for it's people. It's a shame that those trams that carried thousands of people to the park are long gone. It's a pity that today's wealthy don't give back like Sir John Barron did.
Thanks Dave
I wonder how many times the sale of Roundhay Park has come up for discussion over the years. There must be many unscrupulous property developers dying to get their greedy hands on it. Fingers crossed LCC never allows that to happen.
When I first saw it written down, I didnt know what area they were talking about as we always called it Roundy Park. Duh !!
We used to go in the early 60's when the army used to have an exhibition at the park with all their equipment on display, along with the police force.
That possibly could have been Children's Day as I seem to remember little brown flags that we pinned on.
I took part in the Maypole Dancing while in the infants and in The Country Dancing while in juniors during Children's Day.
No mention of the old maze that once stood near the cricket club or the funfair
Really interesting thank you, new subscriber
Thank you
Good video, really interesting. I have subscribed.
Thank you
Ram Wood is next to the upper lake . If you would like to visit .
Great stuff
Thanks David
nicely made video
Thank you
Great video 👍
Thank you Lucy
Did you say that Leeds had the first overhead electric tram way in the uk?
It was the first public electric tram with overhead power in Britain.
it is fascinating to study the roots of how the 5 kingdoms became one, and all the invasions Britons had leaving us all a mix of Roman, Dane, Saxon, Anglo-Saxon (Angles/Saxons), Doggerlanders, Norsemen, and the xxxin' Normans.. and ironic how the working class of leeds consider themself 'English' when all we are really is a mishmash of bloodlines, with a German Royalty
More Irish than German i reckon most of us working class in Leeds ,I am partial to a Bratwurst and frankfurter sausage sandwich though so maybe im "German royalty " after all 🤣🤣🤣
I was interested in your pronunciation of Roundhay and Sheepscar in the video. Is that the way the locals would say them?
Hi, many people in Leeds would pronounce them Roundy and Sheepsca', myself included. I have to be clear in my pronunciation is for the subtitles.
Do you anything about the Band Stand in the woods beside Waterloo Lake? It one of those really cool hidden parts of the park. I heard it was to be restored but locals didn't want it despite it being in urgent need of such.
I really enjoy the video but I don't know if it different for the locals but everyone I've known calls it Round-i Park rather than Round-hay park. Either way, very interesting. I didn't know about the military connection or the gala (In fairness, I like on the other side of the city).
Thanks for commenting Sterling. I am from Leeds and call it Roundy Park too, but I have to speak clearly for the video subtitles :)
I wonder which bandstand you mean? I will have to look in to it.
Yes, we and the locals of Leeds and surrounding areas called it Roundie Park too. It's just a Yorkshire dialect way of saying it as it's quicker. I was a long time as a child before I knew it was actually Roundhay Park, but too awkward to say. :-)
I believe it was a rain shelter belonging to nearby Elmete Hall.
Walk towards the park from the old Lido and take the track to the right hand side of the lake. Just as you approach the brow of the hill, turn right and walk up a steep incline through rhododendron bushes almost as far as you can go and you will find the ridge path that runs high above the lakeside walk, keep to your right and you will discover the old Band Stand/Shelter. Its really overgrown and difficult to make out. The view over the lake is now blocked by trees, but in its day It would have had a wonderful spot to sit and take in the view. Walked my dogs around that part of the Park on so many occasions and was always saddened to see how it had become so overgrown and uncared for.
In Leeds we call it roundi or roundi park not roundhay or roundhay park
Hi Gareth, I agree, I am from Leeds, I do too. I have to pronounce it for the subtitles.
@@GeogJuice sorry mate if it sounded like it was directed at you. Just said it for anyone who isn't from Leeds. Have a good night bro
No problem Gareth. I did consider mentioning how it is said when I made the video, but didn’t in the end. Thanks for commenting.
The maker of this vidio missed out the latest atraction to this park , the fairy glen in Ram Wood , started during the covid pandemic by the mistory builder and maintainer The Fairy King
Which attracts many visitors to this part of the park .
Jimmy Saville lived there
Think!
Amazing to think that some small minded locals could call this beautiful park a White 🐘.
The park is indeed a beautiful place but the council stripped it of its finery long ago no amenities except an over priced cafe the play area is for toddlers only the mansion used to be a bar & restaurant the outdoor pool was done away with in 1980 before it got listed status! It’s a ghost of the past now!
Well ill be blowed! i didnt know all that!!
Thanks David
Did you know that the oldest surviving motion film. Was filmed in Roundhay. A piece called "Roundhay Garden Scene". I have no facts to back this up, but you can read about it on Wikipedia, so it must be true 😂