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Ad Untitled Page 1 of 1 Article Soc : Rosicr: in Anglia. " LEEDS." Page 1 of 3 Article Soc : Rosicr: in Anglia. " LEEDS." Page 1 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ad00902
t ^^^^^^^^ M23 GREAT QUEEN STREET , W . C .
Soc : Rosicr: In Anglia. " Leeds."
Soc : Rosicr : in Anglia . " LEEDS . "
A Taper read before the York College , at a Begnlar Meeting held in the Masonic Hall Carlton Hill , Leeds , on the 2 lst August 1880 , hjW . Fra . Walter Eowley , VI ° . H . W . OH . ADEPT AND FBATJIES ,
Leeds tinder the British m Pre-IIistoric Times , up to 55 B . C . Leeds can justly claim to bo a place of great antiquity . There is some evidence that in the pre-historic days of the ancient Britons it was a locality of some importance originating with them , and of which Leeds may well be prond , for its ancestors date from the earliest race
known to have dwelt in the land : thus Leeds is not indebted for its ori gin to either the Romans or the Normans , who afterwards conquered and ruled over this land . The earliest records of Leeds that are known are those of Nennins ( Abbot of Bangor in the ninth century ) , who describes twenty-eight
towns which owed their origin to the Britons , and which the Romans , upon their invasion , found to have had a previous existence . In these records Leeds is described as Caer-soid-Ooit , or City in the Wood ( the latter meaning wood ) , and consisted , probably , in those early days ( as its name infers ) of a wood , possibly fortified , after the manner of
the ancient people , by ditches and ramparts , within which fortifications our ancestors probably erected huts and stalls , for the shelter and abode of themselves and their cattle ; and by means of the earthen fortifications and trees they would protect themselves from the attacks of enemies .
Considering that these people are often described as our barbarian ancestors , it is well to remember that the conquests of them by Caesar 55 B . C ., ; by Agricola ' s 7 th and last campaign , 84 A . D ., at the time he was Governour of Great Britain , 28 years later ; and by Severus , who died at York , 274 A . D ., testify that our remote ancestors possessed
features of such merit as to justify Julius Caesar in describing very fully their habits and customs ; ancl when we consider the fact that at the present time , Leedsis one of the most important centres of the iron i ndustry of this country , it is well to remember what we owe to these progenitors of tho English race , who , according to the story of the invasion of
Julius Caesar , 55 B . C ., and the writings of Ptolemy , were skilled in the use of metal , and made bronze ( a mixture of copper ) . They also possessed one of the great characteristics of civilisation—a stamped gold coinage about 200 B . C ., and conducted mining operations in Cornwall , and probably elsewhere . They possessed roads of
primitive character , by * means of which they possibly carried on commerce with people outside of their own domains , thus indicating , by their habits ancl productions , an origin of an exceedingly remote period . But few memorials are left in this part of the country of these
ancient British inhabitants , except some few names of rivers and places , which I have not had time to fully investigate , but there are many proofs that at this period they were not without some knowledge of those mechanical arts that have contributed so much to the growth and prosperity of Leeds in more recent times .
Leeds during the Roman Period , from B . C . 75 to l . D . 415 . We now pass , in the history of Leeds , to the invasion of this country ( by the Romans , who found the British people a valiant race , whoso much retarded the efforts of the Romans to subdue them
that it was more than a hundred years after the first invasion , during the rei gn of Vespasian , that the country to the North of the Humber ( in whioh Leeds is situated , was brought under subjection .
During the Roman occupation and rule , Leeds seems to have had a recognised position in this country , but with the civilization of Rome we have a great change in the habits of onr British forefathers , who by degrees learned the habits of the Romans , although in a school of great severity , amounting practically to slavery .
Amongst other things which the Romans did was the improvement and the making of good roads , ancl some of them in the district of Uieds have been tweed , in which work they evinced great skill . ± bose roads best known in this district are the following , ( and which have been fully described by Dr . Whitaker ) . — l road to
, - ^ e Danum , or Doticaster ; Legeolium , or Castleford , to Calcaria ( Tadcaster ) , and from thence to Eboracum ( York ) . , J' ^ r ° ad from Calcaria , or Tadcaster , through Cambodunnm ^ 8 ) lack ) to Mancunian * ( Manchester ) , whioh passed through Leeds in une a little near to Briggato , and continuing past Morley and Gil . onie
. ine road from Calcaria to Mancunian * , passing Carnbot ; naU ^ ' ^ Slack > being afterwards abandoned and taken in the direction of Cleckheaton . imn t ° - fl ' ° m Casfcleford through Addle , or Adel ( where most portant discoveries of Roman altars , pottery , bronzes , & c , and unr . ev , £ ence of an extensive and important settlement have been acovered ) towards Olicana ( Ilkeley ); but to those who care to pur-Levla l w furfcher I refer them to Leland and ( more recently ) / ana , Holmes , and others , who have traced with great accuracy ,
Soc : Rosicr: In Anglia. " Leeds."
after fifteen centnries , these wonderful works ; and described in their writings tho marvellous skill with which theso works woro cons rnoted . It wns near to these roads that tho principal Roman stations were formed , and them is little doubt but that there was a Roman station , or camp , at Leeds , on the road from Calcaria ( or Tadcaster ) to Cambudumira ( or Slack ) , and the discovery of Roman remains in Leeds all
confirm what is now generally admitted , that tho Romans made Leeds a settlement of some importance , and during the Roman period this district seems to have had a very intimate relationship to York , which was a town greatly favoured by them , and in which some of their Emperors and distinguished men occasionally resided ; evidences of whose domestic luxury , tho vessels , personal ornaments , and the remains of tho dead , testify ; thus York received many advantages arising from their wealth and courtly surroundings .
Leeds during the Saxon Period , from A . D . 415 to A . D . 1069 . This district was the scene of many of the fearful ravages of Saxon days , but no special reference is made to it nntil the time of the Venerable Bede , who was born in 6 fi 4 . He mentions Leeds , calling it Loidis-en-Elmete . From the fifth century to A . D . 828 this locality was under the rule
of one of the many Chieftains who held supremacy during the interregnum which preceded tho supremacy of Egbert , the first Saxon king of England of whom we have any record , and the only association with Leeds that is known , during this period , is that of Edwin , the first Christian chieftain , a monarch of Northumbria , who had one of his residences at Osmondthovpe , in Leeds .
This truly great monarch was defeated and killed at Hatfield , near Doncaster , by Penda , King of Mercia , and his successors—Ostio , and Eaufrid , ancl Oswald—during the latter period of whose reign Christianity was extended amongst the Northumbrians . Iu the year 665 Winmoor ( Winacdfield ) , situate at Seaoroft , near Leeds , was the scene of a great battle between Penda and Oawry , the brother and
successor of Oswald . Oswry was victorious , and as a thankolTering for the victory which Providence had given him , he devoted his daughter , Elfleda to a conventual life , in tho Abbey of St . Hilda , at Whitby . This battle is associated with the River Aire , by the Record of Venerable Bode ( born a few years after ) , who states that more of the Mercians were drowned as they fled in the Winwaed , or Aire ,
( whose banks overflowed at the time ) than hacl fallen by the swords of the Northumbrians . During the Scandinavian—or wars of the Sea Kings , as they were called—whioh followed tho recognition of Egbert ' s rule , and who finally subdued Yorkshire , wo find a record that theso Sea Kings had a settlement at Grant ' s Hill , Armley , near Leeds , and thus settling
in the district , were amalgamated with the Saxon population , both of whom in 860 submitted to tho rule of Alfred ( truly called the Great ) , who restored this country to order , and inaugurated a period of great progress in arts and commerce . Amongst many local associations which havo been traced in names and places of our Saxon ancestors iu this district , the writer has
discovered their footprints in a locality so near to his own hearth , that he hopes ho may he p irdoned for introducing tho subject here . The tract of land on which he now resides , is specially referred to and described by onr Saxon forefathers as " Alep" from its abounding with the Alder trees , so that "A lop don" signifies the Alder-hill , by which name the place is known at the present time .
At Barwiek-inElrnete , Osmondthorpe , Gipton , Burdsay ( all very near to Leeds ) , remains of Saxons have been f onnd ; also at Dewsbury , a town a few miles from Leeds , both of wbich towns were the scene of the great labours of Paulinas , a missionary Bishop of the Northumbrians , about A . D . 625 . A subsequent historian refers to an ancient cross which was inscribed—Paulinas hie proedicavit et celebravit
"Pauhnus here preached and administered the ordinances ; " and it is probable , therefore , that Leeds formed part of a very extensive Saxon parish in which he often preached ancl administered the ordin . ances of the church . It comprised , probably , within its Jurisdiction the whole or largest portion of that independent kingdom of Elmete of which Leeds appears to have been at the time the capital , and wbich
formed part of the territory ruled over by those great Saxon kings , Alfred , Athelstan , Edmund , and the pions ancl truly great Edward ; men who , in the so-called darkness of those ages , possessed qualities greatly to he admired , and hy which the character of the English nation was moulded so as to gradually combine all the attributes which have conduced to its success and power in subsequent times .
Leeds from the Norman Period A . D . 1066 to 1603 . In the opinion of Thoresby and the most reliable historians of this district , Leeds in the Roman ancl Saxon times was a place of some importance . According to Bede , the population of Leeds A . D . 664 would not probably exceed 300 ; and the entire parish not more than 1200 ; but I think it may be safely assumed , considering the many
records we have of Leeds and the district in Roman and Saxon times , that in the space of 400 years , to the time of William the Conqueror , the population had increased to some extent . History informs us that , soon after the Norman Conquest , the Manor of Leeds was given by the Conqueror to Jebert-de-Lacy , who at that time owned the whole of this district .
Leeds Castle was probably built by him or by Ralph Paynel , about this time to whom was ttibinfendated the Manor by De Lacy ; it stood upon Mill Hill , not far from the river . We have the record of the extensive moat or park which usually surrounded Norman Castles iu the existing names of i ark Lane , Park Row , and Park Place .
The Castle was besieged by Stephen in 1139 , ancl about 1399 Richard 2 nd was confined in it prior to his removal to Pontefract Castle . Ralph Paynel during his jurisdiction founded the Priory of the Holy Trinity in York , and gave to it the Churches of Leeds aud Adel in 1089 , the latter is at the present time one of the most perfect and interesting memorials of the church from its earliest days in
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ad00902
t ^^^^^^^^ M23 GREAT QUEEN STREET , W . C .
Soc : Rosicr: In Anglia. " Leeds."
Soc : Rosicr : in Anglia . " LEEDS . "
A Taper read before the York College , at a Begnlar Meeting held in the Masonic Hall Carlton Hill , Leeds , on the 2 lst August 1880 , hjW . Fra . Walter Eowley , VI ° . H . W . OH . ADEPT AND FBATJIES ,
Leeds tinder the British m Pre-IIistoric Times , up to 55 B . C . Leeds can justly claim to bo a place of great antiquity . There is some evidence that in the pre-historic days of the ancient Britons it was a locality of some importance originating with them , and of which Leeds may well be prond , for its ancestors date from the earliest race
known to have dwelt in the land : thus Leeds is not indebted for its ori gin to either the Romans or the Normans , who afterwards conquered and ruled over this land . The earliest records of Leeds that are known are those of Nennins ( Abbot of Bangor in the ninth century ) , who describes twenty-eight
towns which owed their origin to the Britons , and which the Romans , upon their invasion , found to have had a previous existence . In these records Leeds is described as Caer-soid-Ooit , or City in the Wood ( the latter meaning wood ) , and consisted , probably , in those early days ( as its name infers ) of a wood , possibly fortified , after the manner of
the ancient people , by ditches and ramparts , within which fortifications our ancestors probably erected huts and stalls , for the shelter and abode of themselves and their cattle ; and by means of the earthen fortifications and trees they would protect themselves from the attacks of enemies .
Considering that these people are often described as our barbarian ancestors , it is well to remember that the conquests of them by Caesar 55 B . C ., ; by Agricola ' s 7 th and last campaign , 84 A . D ., at the time he was Governour of Great Britain , 28 years later ; and by Severus , who died at York , 274 A . D ., testify that our remote ancestors possessed
features of such merit as to justify Julius Caesar in describing very fully their habits and customs ; ancl when we consider the fact that at the present time , Leedsis one of the most important centres of the iron i ndustry of this country , it is well to remember what we owe to these progenitors of tho English race , who , according to the story of the invasion of
Julius Caesar , 55 B . C ., and the writings of Ptolemy , were skilled in the use of metal , and made bronze ( a mixture of copper ) . They also possessed one of the great characteristics of civilisation—a stamped gold coinage about 200 B . C ., and conducted mining operations in Cornwall , and probably elsewhere . They possessed roads of
primitive character , by * means of which they possibly carried on commerce with people outside of their own domains , thus indicating , by their habits ancl productions , an origin of an exceedingly remote period . But few memorials are left in this part of the country of these
ancient British inhabitants , except some few names of rivers and places , which I have not had time to fully investigate , but there are many proofs that at this period they were not without some knowledge of those mechanical arts that have contributed so much to the growth and prosperity of Leeds in more recent times .
Leeds during the Roman Period , from B . C . 75 to l . D . 415 . We now pass , in the history of Leeds , to the invasion of this country ( by the Romans , who found the British people a valiant race , whoso much retarded the efforts of the Romans to subdue them
that it was more than a hundred years after the first invasion , during the rei gn of Vespasian , that the country to the North of the Humber ( in whioh Leeds is situated , was brought under subjection .
During the Roman occupation and rule , Leeds seems to have had a recognised position in this country , but with the civilization of Rome we have a great change in the habits of onr British forefathers , who by degrees learned the habits of the Romans , although in a school of great severity , amounting practically to slavery .
Amongst other things which the Romans did was the improvement and the making of good roads , ancl some of them in the district of Uieds have been tweed , in which work they evinced great skill . ± bose roads best known in this district are the following , ( and which have been fully described by Dr . Whitaker ) . — l road to
, - ^ e Danum , or Doticaster ; Legeolium , or Castleford , to Calcaria ( Tadcaster ) , and from thence to Eboracum ( York ) . , J' ^ r ° ad from Calcaria , or Tadcaster , through Cambodunnm ^ 8 ) lack ) to Mancunian * ( Manchester ) , whioh passed through Leeds in une a little near to Briggato , and continuing past Morley and Gil . onie
. ine road from Calcaria to Mancunian * , passing Carnbot ; naU ^ ' ^ Slack > being afterwards abandoned and taken in the direction of Cleckheaton . imn t ° - fl ' ° m Casfcleford through Addle , or Adel ( where most portant discoveries of Roman altars , pottery , bronzes , & c , and unr . ev , £ ence of an extensive and important settlement have been acovered ) towards Olicana ( Ilkeley ); but to those who care to pur-Levla l w furfcher I refer them to Leland and ( more recently ) / ana , Holmes , and others , who have traced with great accuracy ,
Soc : Rosicr: In Anglia. " Leeds."
after fifteen centnries , these wonderful works ; and described in their writings tho marvellous skill with which theso works woro cons rnoted . It wns near to these roads that tho principal Roman stations were formed , and them is little doubt but that there was a Roman station , or camp , at Leeds , on the road from Calcaria ( or Tadcaster ) to Cambudumira ( or Slack ) , and the discovery of Roman remains in Leeds all
confirm what is now generally admitted , that tho Romans made Leeds a settlement of some importance , and during the Roman period this district seems to have had a very intimate relationship to York , which was a town greatly favoured by them , and in which some of their Emperors and distinguished men occasionally resided ; evidences of whose domestic luxury , tho vessels , personal ornaments , and the remains of tho dead , testify ; thus York received many advantages arising from their wealth and courtly surroundings .
Leeds during the Saxon Period , from A . D . 415 to A . D . 1069 . This district was the scene of many of the fearful ravages of Saxon days , but no special reference is made to it nntil the time of the Venerable Bede , who was born in 6 fi 4 . He mentions Leeds , calling it Loidis-en-Elmete . From the fifth century to A . D . 828 this locality was under the rule
of one of the many Chieftains who held supremacy during the interregnum which preceded tho supremacy of Egbert , the first Saxon king of England of whom we have any record , and the only association with Leeds that is known , during this period , is that of Edwin , the first Christian chieftain , a monarch of Northumbria , who had one of his residences at Osmondthovpe , in Leeds .
This truly great monarch was defeated and killed at Hatfield , near Doncaster , by Penda , King of Mercia , and his successors—Ostio , and Eaufrid , ancl Oswald—during the latter period of whose reign Christianity was extended amongst the Northumbrians . Iu the year 665 Winmoor ( Winacdfield ) , situate at Seaoroft , near Leeds , was the scene of a great battle between Penda and Oawry , the brother and
successor of Oswald . Oswry was victorious , and as a thankolTering for the victory which Providence had given him , he devoted his daughter , Elfleda to a conventual life , in tho Abbey of St . Hilda , at Whitby . This battle is associated with the River Aire , by the Record of Venerable Bode ( born a few years after ) , who states that more of the Mercians were drowned as they fled in the Winwaed , or Aire ,
( whose banks overflowed at the time ) than hacl fallen by the swords of the Northumbrians . During the Scandinavian—or wars of the Sea Kings , as they were called—whioh followed tho recognition of Egbert ' s rule , and who finally subdued Yorkshire , wo find a record that theso Sea Kings had a settlement at Grant ' s Hill , Armley , near Leeds , and thus settling
in the district , were amalgamated with the Saxon population , both of whom in 860 submitted to tho rule of Alfred ( truly called the Great ) , who restored this country to order , and inaugurated a period of great progress in arts and commerce . Amongst many local associations which havo been traced in names and places of our Saxon ancestors iu this district , the writer has
discovered their footprints in a locality so near to his own hearth , that he hopes ho may he p irdoned for introducing tho subject here . The tract of land on which he now resides , is specially referred to and described by onr Saxon forefathers as " Alep" from its abounding with the Alder trees , so that "A lop don" signifies the Alder-hill , by which name the place is known at the present time .
At Barwiek-inElrnete , Osmondthorpe , Gipton , Burdsay ( all very near to Leeds ) , remains of Saxons have been f onnd ; also at Dewsbury , a town a few miles from Leeds , both of wbich towns were the scene of the great labours of Paulinas , a missionary Bishop of the Northumbrians , about A . D . 625 . A subsequent historian refers to an ancient cross which was inscribed—Paulinas hie proedicavit et celebravit
"Pauhnus here preached and administered the ordinances ; " and it is probable , therefore , that Leeds formed part of a very extensive Saxon parish in which he often preached ancl administered the ordin . ances of the church . It comprised , probably , within its Jurisdiction the whole or largest portion of that independent kingdom of Elmete of which Leeds appears to have been at the time the capital , and wbich
formed part of the territory ruled over by those great Saxon kings , Alfred , Athelstan , Edmund , and the pions ancl truly great Edward ; men who , in the so-called darkness of those ages , possessed qualities greatly to he admired , and hy which the character of the English nation was moulded so as to gradually combine all the attributes which have conduced to its success and power in subsequent times .
Leeds from the Norman Period A . D . 1066 to 1603 . In the opinion of Thoresby and the most reliable historians of this district , Leeds in the Roman ancl Saxon times was a place of some importance . According to Bede , the population of Leeds A . D . 664 would not probably exceed 300 ; and the entire parish not more than 1200 ; but I think it may be safely assumed , considering the many
records we have of Leeds and the district in Roman and Saxon times , that in the space of 400 years , to the time of William the Conqueror , the population had increased to some extent . History informs us that , soon after the Norman Conquest , the Manor of Leeds was given by the Conqueror to Jebert-de-Lacy , who at that time owned the whole of this district .
Leeds Castle was probably built by him or by Ralph Paynel , about this time to whom was ttibinfendated the Manor by De Lacy ; it stood upon Mill Hill , not far from the river . We have the record of the extensive moat or park which usually surrounded Norman Castles iu the existing names of i ark Lane , Park Row , and Park Place .
The Castle was besieged by Stephen in 1139 , ancl about 1399 Richard 2 nd was confined in it prior to his removal to Pontefract Castle . Ralph Paynel during his jurisdiction founded the Priory of the Holy Trinity in York , and gave to it the Churches of Leeds aud Adel in 1089 , the latter is at the present time one of the most perfect and interesting memorials of the church from its earliest days in