Mark's History Latest News and Views

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Mark’s History: Memories of Pudsey’s town mayor in the 50s

westleedslife - October 18, 2020 1

When Kathryn Morgan got in touch with me to tell me she had been sorting through some old family photos and other...

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Mark’s History: Denison Hall – the ‘grandest’ house in West Leeds?

westleedslife - October 12, 2020 0

The information for this blue plaque must have been written by an estate agent, writes Mark Stevenson. To say...

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Mark’s History: Newlay Stone Bridge’s past – and a lovely view too!

westleedslife - October 4, 2020 0

Newlay Stone Bridge number 221 is the oldest bridge in Newlay, something I think people forget when they talk about the younger...

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Mark’s History: How Bramley’s McLaren Fields got its name

westleedslife - September 27, 2020 1

The street McLaren Fields in Bramley is not so called because of the rugby ground that once stood there where Bramley Rugby...

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Mark’s History: From Armley Gaol hunger strike to the OBE – the radical journey of Leonora Cohen

westleedslife - September 21, 2020 0

Leonora Cohen lead an interesting life, writes Mark Stevenson. She was born in 1873 in Hunslet where her...

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Mark’s History: A Rodley family’s past unravelled from a Farsley gravestone

westleedslife - September 20, 2020 2

Tucked away in the corner of St John's Church Graveyard in Farsley is a gravestone belonging to the Crossley family of Rodley,...

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Mark’s History: The Farsley carver who created the famous figures in Thornton’s Arcade

westleedslife - September 13, 2020 0

Meet John Wormald Appleyard, one-time resident of Water Lane in 1850s Farsley, writes Mark Stevenson.

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Mark’s History: West Leeds connections scratched into Cow and Calf Rocks

westleedslife - September 6, 2020 0

Sometimes West Leeds connections can pop up in the most unlikely places, writes Mark Stevenson. If you have...

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Mark’s History: The old buildings and ford along a walk in the Kirkstall Valley

westleedslife - August 31, 2020 0

I would not say this walk is unspoilt but I would grab it whilst you can, writes Mark Stevenson.

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Mark’s History: Armley Hall Vicarage and the changing face of Armley

westleedslife - August 30, 2020 1

I wonder what the first Vicar to live in Armley Hall Vicarage felt about the place? writes Mark Stevenson.

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Mark’s History: Forgotten past of Armley’s cemetery lodge (which could be yours for £450k)

westleedslife - August 23, 2020 0

Francis William Parkinson was born in 1858 at Ramsbottom in Lancashire. He came from a large family of eight children, writes Mark...

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Mark’s History: The Wortley man who built a house with a view

westleedslife - August 16, 2020 0

I like to think that when James Bateson (a mill owner from Wortley born in 1776) was looking for somewhere to build...