Holbeck and its Fancy Factories
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Just outside Leeds city centre lies the area of Holbeck. Named
after the stream that runs through it, Holbeck was once a very
industrialised area. The area was once an important centre for the flax spinning industry. It was here that John Marshall with the help of engineer Matthew Murray mechanised the industry in much the same way as Richard Archwright had earlier done to the cotton spinning industry along the Derwent Valley of Derbyshire. The area also became an important centre for the manufacture of machinery. This began with the mill machinery such as had been used in flax spinning. Stationary steam engines were built, and later the first successful railway locomotives. One company specialised in producing something as simple as needles for the textile industry, yet with so many mills producing textiles this was a big business. It is no exhageration to say that the Holbeck area played an important part in the industrial revolution and the innovation that was happening amongst the firms here can still be appreciated by looking at the buildings
that survive.
All |
Dark Arches |
Victoria |
Canal |
Tower |
Round Foundry |
Marshall |
Temple |
Midland |
Viaduct |
Low |
Shed |
Village
Seen in a painting of 1844 (this is part of a large veiw of Leeds displayed in the Abbey House Museum at Leeds) the Holbeck area looks nothing special, a typical 'dark satanic mills' sort of scene, close up however there were some very interesting buildings.
The first half of the 19th Century saw a massive increase in the population as well as the number of businesses opperating. To attract business it was essential to attract attention, there was much greater use of advertising and here we see the buildings themselves used as adverts. In the centre of the picture is a round brick building, this was part of a steam engine works and was said to be reminicent of an engine cylinder itself. Other interesting examples were a flax mill built to look like an Egyptian temple and a works with chymneys disquised as Italianate towers. Some of these buildings survive to this day
The Railway Viaduct
A dominant feature of much of Holbeck is the massive railway
viaduct that seems to weave its way through the old buildings.
Completed in 1882 this was another part of the expansion in Leeds
railways that saw the construction of the 'New' station and Dark
Arches. The viaduct in 1500 yards long and has 85 arches as well as 6
metal bridges. An interesting feature is the old public footpath that
runs from Bridge Lane to Marshall Lane, at one point this path is
crossed by the Midland Railway line to Sheffield and the viaduct at
the same point, what must have been an interesting problem for the
engineers.
Bibliography
A History of the Middleton Railway Leeds, ISBN 0-9516205-5-X,
Available from the Middleton Railway Shop
John Blenkinsop of Middleton, John Bushell, Old Middleton Railway
publication.
The Leeds & Liverpool Canal, ISBN 1-85936-013-0
Old Ordinance Survey Maps, Holbeck & New Wortley 1906, ISBN0-85054-111-5, Available in most local books shops.
Victorian Society Walks No6, Leeds – 3 suburban walks, from
1987, copies can be found in the Leeds Civic Society shop.
Further Reading on the Internet
History
section of the Holbeck Urban Village Site.
Acknowledgements
This article was produced by Kris Ward, any feedback or contributions about the Leeds engine making industry would be greatly appreciated.