Headingley - History

History

Headingley is first mentioned in the Domesday Book as Hedingelei or Hedingeleia in 1086 where it is recorded Ilbert de Lacy held 7 carucates (about 840 acres) of land. The name is widely thought to mean "clearing of Hedda's people", with the -ley suffix identifying an Anglo-Saxon origin and Hedda sometimes being identified with Saint Hædde. However, a stone coffin found near Beckett Park in 1995 suggests there may have been an earlier settlement in late Roman or post-Roman times.

From Viking times, Headingley was the centre of the wapentake of Skyrack, or Siaraches, the "Shire oak". The name may refer to an oak tree that was used as a meeting place for settling legal disputes and raising armies. An ancient oak, said to be the Shire Oak, stood to the north of St Michael's Church until 1941, and gives its name to two pubs, The Original Oak and The Skyrack.

During the 13th century William de Poiteven gave land in Headingley to Kirkstall Abbey, and in 1341 the remainder of the township of Headingley-cum-Burley was given to the monastery by the then owner, John de Calverley.

A map of 1711 shows Headingley as having a chapel, cottages, and farmsteads scattered around a triangle of land formed by the merging of routes from north, west and south. Enclosed fields were situated around the settlement with a large tract of common land, Headingley Moor, to the north. In an 1801 census, Headingley's population is given as 300.

An 1829 Act of Parliament enclosed Headingley Moor and the land was placed for sale. Around 30 workers' cottages had by then encroached upon the fringes of the moor prior to 1829. Land in this vicinity was generally cheaper than that at Headingley Hill as it failed to attract the building of affluent villas. This brought about the building of smaller terraced housing around Moor Road and Cottage Road. In the mid 19th century, Far Headingley had begun to develop over what was largely unclaimed common land.

Headingley continued to be a village until the expansion of Leeds during the industrial revolution and became a popular suburb where the rich moved to escape the filth and pollution of the city.

In 1840, it became the site of Leeds' Zoological and Botanical Gardens. Despite the opening of Headingley railway station, serving the gardens, in 1849, the zoo was a loss-making venture and closed in 1858. The bear pit still survives and can be seen on Cardigan Road.

The Meanwood Beck, to the east of the village, was a source of water for the early inhabitants and later provided a source of power for the Victorians of Leeds.

The Leeds Tramway terminated at a depot at Far Headingley from 1875 to 1959, improving the accessibility of Headingley from Leeds city centre. Improved transport facilitated further growth and attracted many more affluent middle class inhabitants. The tramway perhaps ended Headingley's village status and made it into a suburb of Leeds.

With exception of Beckett Park and the surrounding area, most of Headingley had been developed by the beginning of the twentieth century. In a 1911 census the population of Headingley was in excess of 46,000.

The area has a history of student inhabitation, with Leeds Metropolitan University having a campus at Beckett Park in Headingley. Much of the housing around Kirkstall Lane is rented to students. The conversion of Leeds Polytechnic into a University and its subsequent growth has brought about an increased student population in Headingley in the last ten years.

Throughout Headingley's modern era, the Rugby and Cricket stadiums have been significant in the fabric of the area. A major England test match or a Rugby League derby brings many spectators to the area. The cricket ground has been enlarged in recent years to maintain its eligibility for test matches while in 2006 the Eastern terraces on the Rugby ground were replaced with the current Carnegie stand. The winter shed cricket pavilion has been replaced with a new stand and media centre.