LEEDS. A town in the northwest of the %Vest Riding of Yorkshire, England, in the valley of the Aire, •2 miles west-southwest of York (Map: Eng land, li 3). It is the first town in the county and the fifth in England in point of population. It lies in an extensive coal-field and in a productive agricultural and grazing region. The Aire River, which has been open for navigation since 1659, flows into the Humber, and affords communica tion with the sea on the cast : to the west water eimmumiention is afforded by the Leeds and Liv erpool Canal, finished in ISI0. The railway facili ties are exceptionally fine. The notable include the Church of Saint Peter's, a noble edi fice: and Saint •ohn's, New Briggate, consecrated by Archbishop Neale in 1634, an almost unique example of a 'Laudian' church still retaining the original fittings. There is also the town hall. with a tower 225 feet high. Its great hall, NH feet long, 72 feet wide, and 75 high, is richly decorated, and contains one of the largest and most powerful organs in Europe. There is a colossal statue of Queen Victoria in the vestibule, and one of Wellington in the front of the build ing. Kirkstall Abbey, about 3 miles from Leeds. was founded between 1147 and 1153 by henry de Laeie for the Cistercian Order of monks. It is a fine old ruin. remarkable for its simple gran deur and unity of design. It was bought by Colonel North and presented to the borough in ISS8. Adel Church. about four miles from Leeds, is an interesting building, erected in Ilt0. Year it was a Roman station where antiquities have been found. There are many charitable institu tions, among which are the Harrison almshouses, the fever and smallpox hospitals of the muniei pality, an excellent infirmary. etc. The York shire College, affiliated with the Victoria Uni versity, has several fine college buildings, with well-equipped departments of chemistry, engi neering, biology, art, and technical training, as well as a medical department, which is located near the Leeds Infirmary. The public recrea tion grounds. owned by the corporation. are Woodhouse Moor. Hunslet Moor. Ivy House Es tate, East End Park. and Armley Park. Round hay Park, one of the most beautiful demesnes in England. at a distance of 2 miles from Leeds, was bought by the corporation of the town in 1872 for LI40.000, and converted into a reerea
tion-ground for the use of the public. The muni cipal activity of the City Council is indicated by (15 committees, comprising 15 standing, com mittees, 40 sub-committees. and S sections. The borough is divided into 16 wards, and is g.nv erned by a mavor. 16 aldermen, and 48 councilors. The municipality owns fish, cattle, fruit. and corn markets, gas and water works, and electric lighting plant. tramways, baths. free libraries, and cemeteries; subsidizes institutions for techni cal education: and maintains a fire brigade, an effective police Form, and bands of music for the o+11111111er season. It provides for arti sans and other people of small means, and has moilern ge-Wo irks for converting the refuse into fertilizers.
Leeds is the great centre of the British woolen trade. Among the staple manufactures are tine broadcloths, army clothing, and fancy cloth, sent from neighboring towns to be finished in Leeds. There are also important manufactures of felt carpeting and Ilrugget. The iron industry include, the smelting of ore, founding, and the manufacture of machinery, engines. agricultural implements. etc. There are extensive manufac of fine decorative cart henwa re, leather, shoes. ready•made clothing, chemical, Ilax. silks, glass, railway ears, tobacco. paper. fire•briek. etc. The estimated annual value of Leed's prod ucts is $55,000,imil.
Probably named after a British chief, Lytle or Lei!. in Saxon times Leeds was an important (-entre. and called Loides-in-Elmeto by Bode. It, Antlers, the first dating front 1208, were granted in the reigns of Kings .John. Charles 1.. Charle, I I., an• dames II. It was made a city in 1893, and sends live members to Parliament. At her jubilee in 1897, Queen Victoria created the chief magistrate Lord Mayor. Population, in 1801. 53.200; in 1551, in 1891. 367, 500; in 1901, 429.000. Consult: Thoresby, liaratus Lendiensis 1715); \Vhitaker. Loidis and Miele (Leeds, 1810 ; Baines. His toric Nketeh of Leeds (Leeds. 18221; Jackson. thride to Leeds (Leeds. 18891: Kidson, Histori ea/ Notices of the Leeds Potteries (Leeds, 1892).