Hawksworth, West Yorkshire
Encyclopedia
Hawksworth is a small, early twentieth-century council estate in the Kirkstall
area of Leeds
, West Yorkshire
, England
.
It is situated on a hill between West Park
and Horsforth
and is circled by Butcher Hill, the A65
and Vesper Road. Hawksworth comes under the LS5 Kirkstall
postcode and is commonly known as The Hawk, The Hawkie or The Hawkie Estate
The name Hawksworth Wood, probably originates from the wood that stood to the west of Kirkstall Abbey. It provided shelter, fuel, pannage and building resources such as thatch tp the abbey; timber was generally brought from elsewhere since Alexander, the founding abbot of Kirkstall who completed the initial building work, was concerned to preserve the woodland at Hawksworth.
The woodland around the Hawksworth estate lies within the framework of the Upper Aire Valley. part of these sites were formerly quarried or gleaned for millstone grit but have now reverted back to woodland and scrub.
The woodlands are predominantly mixed broadleaves mainly containing oak and sycamore, with the understories consisting of rowan, hazel, holly and guelder rose. Small pockets of heather can also be found. These woodlands provide considerable colour and diversity to this suburban and formerly industrial area and are currently managed to ensure a continuity of multi-aged tree cover. Great Hawksworth has received active management in recent years through the removal of invasive tree species and the promotion of understorey and ground flora.
Another interesting fact concerning the area is that the 1933 Penny of George V, a classic rarity had been placed under the foundation stone of St. Mary’s Church in the area. Most accounts indicate that a mere seven pieces were struck for special presentation purposes, and only three currently reside in private collections. In 1933 there was no requirement for the Mint to produce any pennies because there were already enough in circulation. Requests were, however, received for sets of coins dated 1933 to be placed under the foundation stones of buildings erected in that year, and the Mint obliged by striking a small number of coins. The result was to create a rarity that many people thought could turn up in their change.
Reports indicate that in 1970, during construction at Church of St. Cross, Middleton, one of these examples was stolen. In response, the Bishop of Ripon ordered that the St. Mary's Church 1933 Penny be unearthed and sold as a protective measure to prevent its theft.
Numerous public rights of way run through the woods which are accessible via Butcher Hill, Hawksworth Road, New Road Side, Abbey Road, Vesper Road, Cragside Walk and Cragside Close.
There is a metal hatch in Hawksworth Woods which is actually the entrance to an old explosives store from when the woods were once quarried for stone, this has been mistaken for a World War II
shelter.
Shops in the area include a post office, co-op, bakers and several fast food establishments. Hawksworth Wood Primary School is the only school on the estate, it was originally Hawksworth Wood Primary School but was split into two in the 1970s, the Broadway building became Hawksworth Wood Primary and the Cragside building was redeveloped with old and new buildings to become Vesper Gate Middle School, in recent times the Broadway building was closed and changed to part of Park Lane College and is now a day centre whilst the Cragside building is now called Hawksworth Wood Primary again.
There is a licensed restaurant called "Hand Food's" on Vesper Road. TV series A Touch Of Frost starring David Jason
has been filmed on the Hawksworth Estate.
Kirkstall
Kirkstall is a suburb of north-west Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, on the eastern side of the River Aire. To the west is Bramley, to the east is Headingley and to the north is West Park. Kirkstall is around from the city centre and is close to the University of Leeds and Leeds Metropolitan...
area of Leeds
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...
, 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 situated on a hill between West Park
West Park, Leeds
West Park is a suburb of north-west Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, north of Headingley. It is a mixed area of private suburban housing and suburban council estates. The name derives from its main park containing playing fields together with a conservation area of grassy meadow ending in woodland...
and Horsforth
Horsforth
Horsforth is a town and civil parish within the metropolitan borough of the City of Leeds, in West Yorkshire, England, lying to the north west of Leeds. It has a population of 18,928....
and is circled by Butcher Hill, the A65
A65 road
The A65 is a major road in England. It runs north west from Leeds in Yorkshire via Kirkstall, Horsforth, Yeadon, Guiseley, Ilkley and Skipton, passes west of Settle, then continues through Ingleton and Kirkby Lonsdale before terminating at Kendal in Cumbria....
and Vesper Road. Hawksworth comes under the LS5 Kirkstall
Kirkstall
Kirkstall is a suburb of north-west Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, on the eastern side of the River Aire. To the west is Bramley, to the east is Headingley and to the north is West Park. Kirkstall is around from the city centre and is close to the University of Leeds and Leeds Metropolitan...
postcode and is commonly known as The Hawk, The Hawkie or The Hawkie Estate
History
After the First World War councils were encouraged to build 'Homes fit for Heroes', and by 1930 7,000 new council houses had been built in Leeds, these were on estates that included the Hawksworth Wood.The name Hawksworth Wood, probably originates from the wood that stood to the west of Kirkstall Abbey. It provided shelter, fuel, pannage and building resources such as thatch tp the abbey; timber was generally brought from elsewhere since Alexander, the founding abbot of Kirkstall who completed the initial building work, was concerned to preserve the woodland at Hawksworth.
The woodland around the Hawksworth estate lies within the framework of the Upper Aire Valley. part of these sites were formerly quarried or gleaned for millstone grit but have now reverted back to woodland and scrub.
The woodlands are predominantly mixed broadleaves mainly containing oak and sycamore, with the understories consisting of rowan, hazel, holly and guelder rose. Small pockets of heather can also be found. These woodlands provide considerable colour and diversity to this suburban and formerly industrial area and are currently managed to ensure a continuity of multi-aged tree cover. Great Hawksworth has received active management in recent years through the removal of invasive tree species and the promotion of understorey and ground flora.
Reports indicate that in 1970, during construction at Church of St. Cross, Middleton, one of these examples was stolen. In response, the Bishop of Ripon ordered that the St. Mary's Church 1933 Penny be unearthed and sold as a protective measure to prevent its theft.
Numerous public rights of way run through the woods which are accessible via Butcher Hill, Hawksworth Road, New Road Side, Abbey Road, Vesper Road, Cragside Walk and Cragside Close.
There is a metal hatch in Hawksworth Woods which is actually the entrance to an old explosives store from when the woods were once quarried for stone, this has been mistaken for a World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
shelter.
Other Origin
An other origin for the name might have something to do with the 16C village of Hawksworth 5 miles away with manor house which owned a large estate around the area.Facilities
There are a few shops on the estate but no pubs, there once was a pub on Vesper Road called "The Woodway" which no longer exists. The nearest public house is either "The Vesper Gate" on Kirkstall Road or the "Hark to Rover" on Spen Lane. The only drinking place left on the estate now is the Conservative Club on Cragside Walk.Shops in the area include a post office, co-op, bakers and several fast food establishments. Hawksworth Wood Primary School is the only school on the estate, it was originally Hawksworth Wood Primary School but was split into two in the 1970s, the Broadway building became Hawksworth Wood Primary and the Cragside building was redeveloped with old and new buildings to become Vesper Gate Middle School, in recent times the Broadway building was closed and changed to part of Park Lane College and is now a day centre whilst the Cragside building is now called Hawksworth Wood Primary again.
There is a licensed restaurant called "Hand Food's" on Vesper Road. TV series A Touch Of Frost starring David Jason
David Jason
Sir David John White, OBE , better known by his stage name David Jason, is an English BAFTA award-winning actor. He is best known as the main character Derek "Del Boy" Trotter on the BBC sit-com Only Fools and Horses from 1981, the voice of Mr Toad in The Wind In The Willows and as detective Jack...
has been filmed on the Hawksworth Estate.