History of Hunslet

Last updated November 03, 2021

Ever since its early days Hunslet has been the 'Workshop of Leeds'. Although from the Industrial Revolution onwards there have been other areas in Leeds to have a large industrial base, such as Holbeck, Armley, Kirkstall and Harehills, none so much as Hunslet. Like neighbouring Holbeck, Hunslet benefited from its close proximity with the River Aire, Leeds city centre, coal mining communities to the south, extensive railways and some of Leeds' best infrastructure. From the 1960s onwards the motorways would also drive industry and commerce in Hunslet.

Hunslet grew from an unremarkable area at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution to a major industrial area only a few years later. The growing industries in Hunslet were not the textile industries, for which Leeds was becoming best known, but generally heavier industries such as steel and iron foundries, engine works and railway works.

1906

By 1906, Hunslet was home to Leeds’ second largest gas works, the city's main rail goods yards, known at the time as ‘Midland Goods Station’ (now the site of Crown Point Retail Park), as well as a large number of factories, below is a rough inventory of the major industrial premises in Hunslet at the time.^[1]

Joshua Tetley and Son's Brewery - South Brook Street/ Crown Point Lane
Sun Foundry - Dewsbury Road
Potterdale Mill - Dewsbury Road
Well House Foundry - Dewsbury Road
Oil Works - Dewsbury Road
Malthouse and Maltkiln- Dewsbury Road
Railway Works - Butterley Street
Printing Works - Butterley Street
Union Mills - Holmes Street
Leeds Corporation Refuse Destructor - Kidacre Street
Malthouse - Gold Street
Stafford Pottery (disused) - Leathley Road
Crown Point Printing Works - Hunslet Road
Boyne Engine Works - Jack Lane
Hunslet Engine Works - Jack Lane/Cancel Street
Steam Plough and Locomotive Works - Hunslet Road/ Leathley Road
Airedale Foundry (Iron and Steel) - Hunslet Road/ Grape Street/ Pearson Street
Railway Foundry (Iron) - Jack Lane
Midland Engine Works - Jack Lane
St Helen's Mills - Whitehouse Street
Brush Works - Glasshouse Street
Larchfield Engineering Works - Hunslet Road
Larchfield Woollen Mills - Pym Street
Hunslet Glass Works - South Accommodation Road
Goodman Street Works (Iron and Steel) - Goodman Street
Lock Works - South Accommodation Road
Aire Bank Mills - South Accommodation Road
Airedale Chemical Manure Works - Clarence Road
Dolphin Foundry (Iron) - Sayner Road
Hunslet Nail Works - Atkinson Street
Victoria Mills - Goodman Street
Hunslet Linen Works - Goodman Street
Nevin's Foundry - Goodman Street
Malthouse - Larchfield Road
Progress Works (Mineral Water) - Stafford Street
Albert Tool Works - Donisthorpe Street
Yorkshire Steel Foundry - Black Bull Street
Victoria Chemical Works - Clarence Road
Providence Works - Cudbear Street
Saw Mills - Cudbear Street
Iron Works - Crown Point Road
Union Foundry (Iron) - Brookefield Street
Airedale Works - Albury Road
Globe Mills (Cabinet Works) - Chadwick Street
New Dock Wagon Works - Black Bull Street
Bowman Lane Dye Works - Crown Point Road
Leather Works - Hunslet Lane

Hunslet was home to Leeds' second largest gasworks, the site had a large column guided gasholder, which was replaced in the 1960s by two spiral guided gasholders (which still stand). The site no longer produces town gas, storing natural gas instead.

1960s

In 1968, a widespread slum clearance project led to the construction of the Hunslet Grange Flats, also informally known as the Leek Street Flats.^[2] The 2,500 flats were commissioned by Leeds City Council and constructed by Shepherd Building Group. The flats were built as a large complex, sprawling over much of Hunslet. While the flats enjoyed a degree of popularity in their first few years, this did not last, the layout of the complex and severe condensation lead to them being attributed to many health and social problems in the area, and only 13 years after construction began, in 1983, the council began to demolish the complex.^[3]

The 1960s also saw the M1 motorway come to Hunslet, since the rerouting of the M1 around the East of Leeds taking it to the A1(M) motorway at Aberford, the Hunslet stretch of the former M1 is now part of the M621.^[4]

1980s

Following the demolition of Hunslet Grange, the area was again redeveloped with low rise council housing in the early 1990s.^[5]

2000s

The 2000s saw the redevelopment of the former industrial area surrounding Clarence Dock.^[6]

Future

The proposed HS2 railway line will run through Hunslet adjacent to the Leeds to Pontefract railway line on a new viaduct. It was at one time planned to terminate at Leeds New Lane station to the west of Hunslet, but will now terminate at Leeds station.

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References

↑ South Leeds, 1906, Ordnance Survey, ISBN 0-85054-250-2
↑ "Leek St, Hunslet, Leeds". Tower Block. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
↑ "Where I Live - Hunslet". BBC. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
↑ "M621". CBRD database. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
↑ "UK contract Leeds West Yorkshire Trafalgar House Construction". Construction News. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
↑ "Clarence Dock wins 'Waterways Renaissance Award'". Davis Langdon. Retrieved 27 October 2012.

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[1] South Leeds, 1906, Ordnance Survey, ISBN 0-85054-250-2

[2] "Leek St, Hunslet, Leeds". Tower Block. Retrieved 27 October 2012.

[3] "Where I Live - Hunslet". BBC. Retrieved 27 October 2012.

[4] "M621". CBRD database. Retrieved 27 October 2012.

[5] "UK contract Leeds West Yorkshire Trafalgar House Construction". Construction News. Retrieved 27 October 2012.

[6] "Clarence Dock wins 'Waterways Renaissance Award'". Davis Langdon. Retrieved 27 October 2012.

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