Cross Gates, Leeds

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 53.806346
longitude= -1.450575
official_name= Cross Gates
population =
metropolitan_borough= City of Leeds
metropolitan_county = West Yorkshire
region= Yorkshire and the Humber
constituency_westminster= Leeds East
post_town= LEEDS
postcode_district = LS15
postcode_area= LS
dial_code= 0113
os_grid_reference=SE3628034590
static_

static_image_caption=Station Road, Cross Gates looking towards the station, Crossgates Centre and the gas holder

Cross Gates (also spelt as Crossgates) is a large, well known suburb in east Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.

It is situated between Seacroft to the north, Whitkirk and Colton to the south, Killingbeck to the west and Austhorpe to the south east. Manston and Pendas Fields are generally regarded as part of Cross Gates.

Location

The suburb is convert|6|km|mi|lk=on|abbr=on|0 to the east of Leeds City Centre and lies in the LS15 Leeds postcode area. Cross Gates is popular with local shoppers as an alternative to Leeds City Centre as it contains its own shopping mall - the Cross Gates Arndale Centre now know as the Crossgates Shopping Centre - complete with branches of some major High Street traders, in addition to many more independent shops and local library services.

History

Until the building of the railway, Cross Gates was a quiet village. However, Leeds' industrialisation, as well as the building of the railway developed Cross Gates into a 'commuter village'. Being as at this time Cross Gates was 'well removed' from the city and the collieries to the West of the village, Cross Gates began to attract Leeds' more affluent residents. Cross Gates' development however had always being attributable to its proximity to Leeds. Before 1900 there was little evidence of Cross Gates, and unlike nearby suburbs such as Halton, Seacroft and Austhorpe there is no mention of Cross Gates in the Doomsday Book. The earliest housing in Cross Gates was built of the workers at Cross Gates Colliery. [ISBN 1-84151-063-7]

The Twentieth century lead to Cross Gates effectively becoming a suburb of Leeds, with the open fields inbetween, being developed into housing. This also lead to much developement around Cross Gates, including the building of the Cross Gates estate (a development of council housing and private development around Austhorpe, Whitkirk and Manston. Cross Gates quickly outgrew its ammenities which lead to the building of the Arndale Centre.

The Barnbow Tragedy

The worst tragedy ever to happen within Leeds (in terms of fatalities) was the Barnbow tragedy of 5 December 1916. 35 workers (all women aged 14 or over) were killed in the Branbow Munitions Factory. The plant employed 16000 workers, from Leeds, Selby, Wakefield, Tadcaster and Wetherby and had its own railway station to cope with the daily influx of workers. The railway station had an 850ft platform and 38 special trains from surrounding towns and cities. An explosion from Hall 42 killed 35 workers and mutilated many more. Mechanic, Mr William Parking was presented with an engraved silver watch for his bravery in saving factory workers during the incident. [http://www.elhas.org.uk/reports/barnbowt.htm]

Cross Gates Shopping Centre

The demolition of Gas Hoder Number Two at the Cross Gates Gas Works, made way for a shopping centre in Cross Gates, Cross Gates was badly lacking in ammenities. This lead to the building of the Cross Gates Arndale Centre. In 2000 this was renamed as the Cross Gates Shopping Centre. This is a large indoor shopping centre, containing amoungst others retailers such as Tesco Metro, Woolworths, Wilkinson, Superdrug and Boots the Chemist. There is also a Wimpy and several banks and building societies.

There are also nearby shopping facilities in Seacroft (the Seacroft Green Shopping centre, with a large Tesco Extra) and Colton (the Colton Retail Park), which has a Sainsbury's and an Argos.

Housing

The area's housing ranges from detached houses, semi-detached houses and terraced houses. More recently, a block of new, low-rise flats has been built opposite the Crossgates Shopping Centre, and apartments are being sold and rented at very high prices. Austhorpe Lane and the areas surrounding Marshall Street are made up largely of Victorian through terraces. There are some upmarket Victorian villas around Tranquility Avenue.

Manston Park

Manston Park is a large park in Cross Gates with football pitches, a bowling green, tennis courts and a playground.

History

Cross Gates means "crossroads" from Old English "cros" "cross" (as in Crossens) and Old Norse "gata" "street, gait" (not 'gate'). The name was recorded as "Crosget" in 1129. Cross Gates was originally part of Austhorpe, as were Colton and Barrowby, which is indicated through various streets in Cross Gates beginning with "Austhorpe".

Transport in Cross Gates

Cross Gates has a railway station on the Leeds - York and Selby line. It is a well used stop for residents commuting to Leeds or York city centres. In June 2006 Cross Gates won the award for "Best Kept Railway Station" in all of Yorkshire, having made major strides in the refurbishment of the station.

Cross Gates is also close to the A64 dual carriageway and the M1. The A6120 Leeds Outer Ring Road "Station Road" is the main road through the area.

Industry

A Royal Ordnance Factory, ROF Leeds, was built at Barnbow, off Manston Lane, producing guns & ammunition for the army and navy. The building was bought by Vickers Defence Sytsems and produced the Challenger 2 tank before it closed in 2004. The bus manufacturer Optare, formerly "Charles H. Roe Ltd", also have a factory on Manston Lane and the haulage company, J Long & Sons are based on Sandleas Way. Electronics manufacturer, most noted for their speakers, Wharfedale were founded in Cross Gates in 1932. They still have a factory there producing audio equipment.

Comparison

Cross Gates lies in the LS15 postcode area. Here is a population breakdown of the postcode area in comparison with the UK population.

Location Grid

External links

* [http://www.crossgatestoday.co.uk/ YEP Cross Gates Today Community Website]
* [http://www.crossgates-shopping.co.uk/ Crossgates Shopping Centre]
* [http://www.leeds.gov.uk/files/2006/week32/inter__e2ee765b-698e-4c1c-a2b5-ad733b297fef_280935ca-fefd-4329-b848-a3225914eabe.pdf Crossgates Town Centre regeneration - Leeds City Council]
* [http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/leeds/local/TRA28213.html?ixsid=5io4GgtHOqE VE Day 60 Years:Leeds - Manufacturing at Cross Gates]

* - Cross Gates was described as being in the parishes of Whitkirk and Barwick in Elmet
* - Cross Gates was described as being in the parishes of Whitkirk and Barwick in Elmet

References