During the 1980s Roundhay Park played host to some of the biggest names in music. Acts hitting the stage included The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, Genesis and Madonna. U2 and Robbie Williams also rocked Roundhay Park in 1997 and 2006 respectively.
Tour de France
The start of the Tour de France generated approximately £130million and was watched at the roadside by crowds of 4.8m. The report ‘Three Inspirational Days’ examines the economic and social impact of hosting the world’s largest annual sporting event, which began on Saturday 5 July in Leeds with the first of a two-day Grand Départ in Yorkshire followed by a third stage in Cambridgeshire, Essex and London.The event earned worldwide admiration for its success, with Tour director Christian Prudhomme describing it as “the grandest Grand Départ” in the 111-year history of the race.
The Blackburn Type D Plane
The Blackburn Type D is the oldest flying aeroplane in Britain and it was made in Leeds. Robert Blackburn built his one seat monoplane for Cyril Foggin in 1912, and considering that it came just a decade after the Wright Brothers’ famous flight, it’s not bad going.
Middleton Colliery Railway
Leeds is home to the first ever commercial railway. Middleton Colliery railway is the world’s oldest working railway, so you can jump on board to do the same mile long journey it’s been doing since 1758.
Louis Le Prince
Louis Le Prince is film royalty and Leeds is where it all began. He filmed the first motion pictures at Oakwood Grange and on Leeds Bridge in 1888. Though the likes of Thomas Edison and the Lumiere brothers have been given credit for their roles since, it was Le Prince who set the ball rolling.
Hurricane of '62
Back in February 1962, just a few months after a tropical storm had battered Ireland and North West England, a hurricane rolled through Yorkshire causing chaos in Leeds and the surrounding towns. Leeds Train Station had to close and Otley Market was shut for the first time in 30 years.
Maurice Paynel
Maurice Paynel was the Lord of the Manor at the start of the 13th century and he set about improving what was then a village – it was he who laid down the first plans for Briggate and the surrounding area in 1207, with King John going on to grant the people of Leeds the ability to do business by their own accord for the first time.
West Indian Carnival
The Leeds West Indian Carnival is the longest running West Indian carnival in Europe. They’ve been going since 1967, and celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2017.
Festival of Britain
Back in 1951, Woodhouse Moor was one of the venues for the landmark Festival of Britain. Designed to help promote Britain and show signs of post-war recovery, it went all over the UK with different events taking place in different cities. The Land Travelling Exhibition stopped in Leeds throughout June and July in a 35,000 square foot marquee – it held 5,000 exhibits that showed the growth of Britain through the ages, as well as looking at what the future might hold with the development of technology and discovery.
Leeds Castle
Leeds Castle has been a Norman stronghold; the private property of six of England’s medieval queens; a palace used by Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon; a Jacobean country house; a Georgian mansion; an elegant early 20th century retreat for the influential and famous; and in the 21st century, it has become one of the most visited historic buildings in Britain.
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