Yeadon, West Yorkshire

Yeadon is a town within the metropolitan borough of the City of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.

The town is in Leeds North West parliamentary constituency, most in Otley and Yeadon ward, with a southern part, north of Swincar Avenue on Kirk Lane and south of the A65 in Guiseley and Rawdon ward.

Leeds Bradford Airport is immediately east of the town.

History

Early times

Yeadon's name comes from Old English and meaning steep hill, and the hilly part of the High Street has been known as "the Steep" for centuries. It was one of three hill settlements: Rawdon, Yeadon and Baildon, and it has been suggested that Rawdon was the main one, Yeadon being used for burial (there are burial urns nearby) and other religious purposes.

In the 19th century, the population rose rapidly from 1,695 in 1801 to 4,109 in 1851 and 7,396 in 1891 as Yeadon became a manufacturing rather than farming town. It was particularly noted for making women's apparel. To assist trade, New Road (now A65) was built in 1827 through Yeadon, linking Kirkstall with Guiseley and the railway followed in the 1840s. In 1845 it was administratively separated from Guiseley. By 1853 it had gas from the "Yeadon and Guiseley Gas Light Co". In 1937 it became part of the Aireborough district, being the most populous township of over ten thousand. Leeds Bradford Airport occupies the high plateau of Yeadon Moor to the east.

Public transport

Yeadon had a rail connection from Guiseley that opened in 1894. The line was closed in 1964. It is now a nature path and most of its length can still be walked, from the Old Engine Fields, off Henshaw Lane, past Guiseley retail park where it joined the Guiseley Branch Line. The line continued over Henshaw Lane where an old bridge can still be seen. Immediately after the bridge was the railway station, near the Station Inn in the (now) council storage yard. The line terminated opposite Trinity Church (previously Benton Congregational Church) in Rawdon. Yeadon Station was mostly used for goods, and the line served several large mills directly along its route (Leafield Mill, Kirk Lane Mill, Westfield Mill, Green Lane Mill, a soap works and a dye works). The only passenger trains were special services. The first train to leave Yeadon Station in 1905 held 500 people. The following year, trains took passengers from Yeadon to Blackpool. The nearest railway station is at , to the north-west. Northbound, Yeadon is served by bus route A2 to Harrogate, 33, 34 and 27 to Otley and Guiseley respectively, and the 966 to Guiseley. Southbound, the town is served by the A2 to Bradford via Greengates, the A3 to Bradford via Shipley, 33, 34 and 27 to Leeds

Religion

Yeadon was part of the old, large Guiseley Parish but a church, St John the Evangelist Church, was built in 1844 as a Commissioners' church with a grant of £300. It was designed by Walker Rawsthorne. Its tower was demolished as unsafe in 1970. The New Life Community Church was formerly St Andrew's Parish Church (C of E), built by Thomas Healey of Bradford in 1891 and is Grade II listed. There is a Roman Catholic church (St Peter and St Paul), a Methodist church developed from a Primitive Methodist Chapel, and a meeting hall for members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church.

File:St John the Evangelist - Church Street (geograph 2868983).jpg|St John the Evangelist Church

File:New Life Community Church, Yeadon Jan 2018.jpg|New Life Community Church

File:St Peter and St Paul RC Church, New Road, Yeadon - geograph.org.uk - 100719.jpg|St Peter & St Paul Church

File:Yeadon Methodist Church Front Jan 2018.jpg|Methodist Church

File:Brethren's Meeting Room, Gill Lane Yeadon Jan 2108.jpg|Brethren's Meeting Hall

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Notable features

Town Hall

thumb|right|[[Yeadon Town Hall]]

Facing north on Town Hall Square by the High Street, the Yeadon Town Hall and Mechanics' Institute of 1880 The architect was selected after a competition with more than 200 entries, with a budget of £5,000.

The building was used as a registrar's office in the Yorkshire Television programme The Beiderbecke Tapes in 1985.

Low Hall

thumb|right|Low Hall

Arthur Mee wrote "Though Yorkshire has many greater houses, it has few more charming than Low Hall on the fringe of Yeadon." It is a Grade II listed building on Gill Lane, a former 17th century farmhouse (with a datestone "W S 1658"), remodelled in the 19th century, of coursed sandstone and slate roof. It was built in 1624, and has a porch added by William Sale in 1658, the stone believed to be taken from Esholt Priory following the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

The tarn is used for sailing and fishing. Mallard ducks, swans and a sizable population of Canada geese can be found at the tarn. Adjacent to the tarn is a park of with a BMX bike track, known as Tarnfield Park.

Governance

Yeadon was formerly a township and chapelry, in 1866 Yeadon became a separate civil parish, in 1894 Yeadon became an urban district, on 1 April 1937 the district was abolished to form Aireborough, part also went to the County Borough of Bradford. On 1 April 1937 the parish was abolished to form Aireborough, part also went to Idle. In 1931 the parish had a population of 7,672.

Yeadon, along with neighbouring towns Guiseley and Rawdon formed part of Aireborough Urban District from 1937 to 1974. Yeadon still hosts local Rugby Union side Aireborough RUFC at Nunroyd Park. Yeadon (except for the area north of Swincar Avenue on Kirk Lane, and the area south of the A65) is now in the Leeds City Council Ward of Otley and Yeadon ward. It is represented by three councillors. Leeds City Council now control the public services in Yeadon. Yeadon falls into Leeds North West constituency, which is held by the Labour Party, represented by Katie White.

Amenities

Yeadon has a developed town centre and most of the businesses are situated around the High Street. There is a supermarket and several other chain shops. There are also building societies, estate agents and public houses. Hotels are situated near the airport.

In Town Hall Square there is a public library which is part of Leeds City Council's library network. It also operates as a council One Stop Centre.

Sports

Cricket has been played in Yeadon at least since around 1850 when scores of people were reported to play on Yeadon Moor after work ended on a Saturday teatime. Play continued as long as the light would allow. The origins of cricket in Yeadon are not definitely known, but at that time Yeadon boasted two teams, Topenders and Lowenders. The teams decided to amalgamate at a meeting held in the Old Victoria Hotel, at the junction of Sandy Way and the Green in 1859. The club adopted the name Yeadon United Cricket Club, ‘united’ was dropped soon afterwards.

The legendary W. G. Grace played at the Swan ground in 1877 with a United South XI. Grace was bowled for nought by an elated bowler who was then admonished by his captain for removing the man the crowd had paid to see.

Yeadon Cricket Club plays in the Bradford Premier League with their 1XI in Division One and the 2XI in Division One (2nds) and the 3XI play in the Mid Yorkshire Sunday Cricket League, Championship after winning their Section in 2023.

Yeadon FC won promotion to the FA's Wharfedale Triangle Premier League in the 2018–19 season.

Economy

The Avro factory next to Leeds Bradford Airport from 1938 to 1946 produced many of the company's wartime planes, including the Lancaster, Lincoln, York and Anson. Several different variants of Lancasters were produced at Yeadon, with a final tally of 695.

Aviation heritage in Yeadon is kept alive by the activities of 2168 (Yeadon) Squadron Air Training Corps.

The national charity Epilepsy Action has its headquarters in the town.

Notable residents

Betsy Sawyer, who was born enslaved in Antigua, died in Yeadon on 24 November 1839. A memorial stone was placed in Yeadon Methodist Churchyard after her death to remember her journey to freedom and her life.
The former Yorkshire and England cricket captain Brian Close lived in the town during his childhood.
Moses Ayrton (1878–1950), a New Zealand Methodist minister and socialist, was born in Yeadon.

Location grid

References

Citations

Bibliography

External links

(Yeadon was in this parish)
John Yeadon 1764–1842: diary (copy), Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society.MS1638