Oakwood, Leeds
Encyclopedia
Oakwood is an affluent suburb of north-east Leeds
, West Yorkshire
, England
, that lies between Gipton
and Roundhay Park
. It is within the LS8 postcode and part of the Roundhay
City Council
Ward
.
It is home to Oakwood Clock, a large clock that was built in 1904 by Potts and Sons to the design of Leeming and Leeming and is sited at the bottom end of Roundhay Park
; it was first designed as the centrepiece of Kirkgate Market, Leeds
. After the design of Kirkgate Market
was revised it was considered that this clock would no longer be suitable for the building, and the idea to place it in Oakwood came about. Eight years after it was first built this clock was erected in Oakwood.
Opposite the Clock on Roundhay Road is the Fish Bar, a Grade II Listed Building with an Art Deco
frontage of black glass panels, which has been selling fish and chips
since 1934.
It was in the garden of Oakwood Grange that Louis Le Prince
filmed the Roundhay Garden Scene
in 1888, credited as the first motion picture.
Oakwood Grange was demolished in 1972 to make way for Oakwood Grange housing estate but what would have been the adjacent stately home, Oakwood Hall still remains as a nursing home.
, a Co-op Supermarket
(formerly Somerfield
and before that Safeway
), a Tesco
, a Homebase
and several shops and banks. The Post Office and Tesco refer to their location as 'Roundhay', while Oakwood is in the Roundhay ward, these businesses are generally considered to be in Oakwood, particularly as there is a Post Office in the heart of Roundhay on Street Lane. Oakwood public library is at number 1 Oakwood Lane on the corner of the junction diagonally opposite the Oakwood clock.
has become a regular feature. Organised by local residents in conjunction with Roundhay Environmental Action Project the Oakwood Farmers' Market's goal is to provide quality local produce, some of which is organic
, with local being defined at produce traveling no more than 20 miles to the market.
Receiving FARMA
accreditation, being the second farmers' market in Leeds to have done so, has meant that the Oakwood Farmers' Market can display the FARMA logo to prove its status as a true farmers' market.
Regular stalls and 'feature' stalls provide a range of local products including: jams
, meats, eggs, chocolates, bread and wide range of locally grown fruits and vegetables. Seasonal holidays are celebrated with local musicians, artists and performers.
postcode boundary includes Fearnville
, Lady wood, Gipton Wood and Hollin Wood, these are sometimes considered part of Oakwood. This means that the A58 Easterly Road
, built in 1930s, cuts across the area. For example, Oakwood Primary School is south of this road.
Gipton Wood refers to either an area of woodland or an area of housing adjacent to the wood in Leeds. The woodland is now triangular, bounded by the Oakwood Boundary Road on the northeast, Roundhay Road on the west and Copgrove Road on the southeast. It has an area of 8.2 hectares and is part of the Forest of Leeds
. It is ancient woodland, predominantly oak
, sycamore
, beech
and hornbeam
. It is maintained by the City of Leeds and a voluntary group, the Friends of Gipton Wood.
The residential area known as Gipton Wood is south of the wood down to Easterley Road.
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...
, that lies between Gipton
Gipton
Gipton is a suburb of East Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, between the A58 to the north and the A64 to the south. It is joined with Harehills as a City Council Ward...
and Roundhay Park
Roundhay Park
Roundhay Park in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, is one of the biggest city parks in Europe. It has over of parkland, lakes, woodland and gardens which are owned by Leeds City Council. The park is one of the most popular attractions in Leeds, nearly a million people visit each year...
. It is within the LS8 postcode and part of the Roundhay
Roundhay
Roundhay is a large suburb and City Council ward of north-east Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, largely within the LS8 postcode. The ward boundary is the A6120 ring road on the north and the A58 Wetherby Road on the south and east. The boundary follows Gledhow Valley Road to the west before heading...
City Council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
Ward
Wards of the United Kingdom
A ward in the United Kingdom is an electoral district at sub-national level represented by one or more councillors. It is the primary unit of British administrative and electoral geography .-England:...
.
Notable features
Roundhay Park
Roundhay Park in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, is one of the biggest city parks in Europe. It has over of parkland, lakes, woodland and gardens which are owned by Leeds City Council. The park is one of the most popular attractions in Leeds, nearly a million people visit each year...
; it was first designed as the centrepiece of Kirkgate Market, Leeds
Leeds Kirkgate Market
Leeds Kirkgate Market is a market in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England located on Vicar Lane. It is the largest covered market in Europe. There are currently 800 stalls which attract over 100,000 visitors a week.-History:...
. After the design of Kirkgate Market
Leeds Kirkgate Market
Leeds Kirkgate Market is a market in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England located on Vicar Lane. It is the largest covered market in Europe. There are currently 800 stalls which attract over 100,000 visitors a week.-History:...
was revised it was considered that this clock would no longer be suitable for the building, and the idea to place it in Oakwood came about. Eight years after it was first built this clock was erected in Oakwood.
Opposite the Clock on Roundhay Road is the Fish Bar, a Grade II Listed Building with an Art Deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
frontage of black glass panels, which has been selling fish and chips
Fish and chips
Fish and chips is a popular take-away food in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada...
since 1934.
It was in the garden of Oakwood Grange that Louis Le Prince
Louis Le Prince
Louis Aimé Augustin Le Prince was an inventor who is considered by many film historians as the true father of motion pictures, who shot the first moving pictures on paper film using a single lens camera....
filmed the Roundhay Garden Scene
Roundhay Garden Scene
Roundhay Garden Scene is an 1888 short film directed by inventor Louis Le Prince. It was recorded at 12 frames per second, runs for 2.11 seconds and is the oldest surviving film.-Overview:...
in 1888, credited as the first motion picture.
Oakwood Grange was demolished in 1972 to make way for Oakwood Grange housing estate but what would have been the adjacent stately home, Oakwood Hall still remains as a nursing home.
Amenities
On Roundhay Road is the Post OfficePost office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
, a Co-op Supermarket
The Co-operative Food
The Co-operative Food, abbreviated sometimes to the Co-op, is a brand devised for the supermarket and convenience store business of the UK's consumers' co-operative movement. It is the name of the largest division of The Co-operative Group, and is used by other independent consumer co-operatives...
(formerly Somerfield
Somerfield
Somerfield was a chain of small to medium sized supermarkets operating in the United Kingdom. The company was taken over by the Co-operative Group on 2 March 2009 in a £1.57 billion deal, creating the UK's fifth largest food retailer. The name is currently being phased out and replaced by the...
and before that Safeway
Safeway (UK)
Safeway was a chain of supermarkets and convenience stores in the United Kingdom. It started as a subsidiary of the American Safeway Inc., before being sold off in 1987....
), a Tesco
Tesco
Tesco plc is a global grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Cheshunt, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues and the second-largest measured by profits...
, a Homebase
Homebase
Homebase is a British home improvement store and garden centre, with 350 stores across the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. It is well known by its green and orange colour scheme. Together with its sister company Argos , it forms part of Home Retail Group. Homebase recorded sales figures...
and several shops and banks. The Post Office and Tesco refer to their location as 'Roundhay', while Oakwood is in the Roundhay ward, these businesses are generally considered to be in Oakwood, particularly as there is a Post Office in the heart of Roundhay on Street Lane. Oakwood public library is at number 1 Oakwood Lane on the corner of the junction diagonally opposite the Oakwood clock.
Oakwood Farmers' Market
Held on the third Saturday of the month since March 15, 2008 around the Oakwood Clock, Oakwood Farmers' MarketFarmers' market
A farmers' market consists of individual vendors—mostly farmers—who set up booths, tables or stands, outdoors or indoors, to sell produce, meat products, fruits and sometimes prepared foods and beverages...
has become a regular feature. Organised by local residents in conjunction with Roundhay Environmental Action Project the Oakwood Farmers' Market's goal is to provide quality local produce, some of which is organic
Organic food
Organic foods are foods that are produced using methods that do not involve modern synthetic inputs such as synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers, do not contain genetically modified organisms, and are not processed using irradiation, industrial solvents, or chemical food additives.For the...
, with local being defined at produce traveling no more than 20 miles to the market.
Receiving FARMA
FARMA
FARMA is a co-operative association of farmers, producers and farmers' market organisations in the United Kingdom.-Overview:FARMA, the National Farmers' Retail and Markets Association is an organisation that was set up to represent farmers and organisations such as farmers markets and farm shops...
accreditation, being the second farmers' market in Leeds to have done so, has meant that the Oakwood Farmers' Market can display the FARMA logo to prove its status as a true farmers' market.
Regular stalls and 'feature' stalls provide a range of local products including: jams
Fruit preserves
Fruit preserves are preparations of fruits and sugar, often canned or sealed for long-term storage. The preparation of fruit preserves today often involves adding commercial or natural pectin as a gelling agent, although sugar or honey may be used, as well. Prior to World War II, fruit preserve...
, meats, eggs, chocolates, bread and wide range of locally grown fruits and vegetables. Seasonal holidays are celebrated with local musicians, artists and performers.
Associated areas
Because the LS8LS postcode area
The LS postcode area, also known as the Leeds postcode area, is a group of postcode districts around Leeds, Wetherby, Tadcaster, Pudsey, Otley and Ilkley in England...
postcode boundary includes Fearnville
Fearnville
Fearnville is a small area of Leeds which has boundaries with Roundhay, Seacroft, Oakwood, Gipton and Harehills. Fearnville is commonly described as being part of Roundhay or Oakwood, although it is classed as being in the Killingbeck and Seacroft ward....
, Lady wood, Gipton Wood and Hollin Wood, these are sometimes considered part of Oakwood. This means that the A58 Easterly Road
A58 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...
, built in 1930s, cuts across the area. For example, Oakwood Primary School is south of this road.
Gipton Wood
Forest of Leeds
The Forest of Leeds was originally the Forest of Loidis in which what is now Leeds arose. It now refers to patches of woodland throughout the metropolitan district, managed by Leeds City Council amounting to 1200 hectares...
. It is ancient woodland, predominantly oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
, sycamore
Sycamore
Sycamore is a name which is applied at various times and places to three very different types of trees, but with somewhat similar leaf forms....
, beech
Beech
Beech is a genus of ten species of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America.-Habit:...
and hornbeam
Hornbeam
Hornbeams are relatively small hardwood trees in the genus Carpinus . Though some botanists grouped them with the hazels and hop-hornbeams in a segregate family, Corylaceae, modern botanists place the hornbeams in the birch subfamily Coryloideae...
. It is maintained by the City of Leeds and a voluntary group, the Friends of Gipton Wood.
The residential area known as Gipton Wood is south of the wood down to Easterley Road.