boxfrenzy
08-11-2010, 01:00 PM
Look at any old map from over a century ago and you'll see it. The ribbon of buildings alongside the rivers and streams, the becks, the brooks and the burns that flow through the towns and the cities. The demand for water to power the great mills and waterwheels was great, and water became a vital part in any towns develpment and evolution. Leeds is no exception.
This is the Hol beck. It means low beck. Like the low country. Holland.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1316/5149217332_ebd55b638b.jpg
It rises in West Leeds and spends much of its time now underground, covered and culverted as it winds its way towards the River Aire.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4049/5149218020_38f10bb82c.jpg
It reaches Holbeck, the part of the city named after it and for a short period of time is above ground. In the past this place would have been heavily polluted from the tanneries and the dye works along it's banks.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/5149222930_ea8df65d83.jpg
Across it are numerous dridges that would have once lead to works along the side. This picture from Leodis was taken on 25th August 1948. It shows one of the bridges over the Hol Beck on Water Lane. The premises of 'Arthur Sharman, Scrap Metal Merchants', is visible on the bridge with piles of metal and wooden planks. Tyres can be seen in the beck. The bridge was constructed in 1849 and has been marked on the side.
http://www.leodis.net/imagesLeodis/screen/61/7461.jpg
The bridge today, with 1849 clearly visable.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1111/5149218388_2703878ef4.jpg
The sets on the floor of the river were laid in the 1840's, and for much of the time the beck flows through the channel. During periods of heavy rain it can surge through at head height, carrying branches and other debris. To the side, through a tiny hole is this room. Originally these would have had pipes in, but they have long gone. One is full of water. it was almost like being in a quiet room in a cathederal in here. Except you were in a culvert. Nice colours though.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1081/5149219000_daf710c2cc.jpg
Throughout the length that I walked (about half a mile) water dripped from pipes and trickled from archways in the walls. At the end of this part were four giant mouse holes.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4054/5148615009_0d6e39335a.jpg
Inside were four flaps of doom.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1387/5148615743_bd477b5dc9.jpg
In the background is Leeds tallest building, Bridgewater place.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4090/5149220698_03f0db7b01.jpg
Originally the beck would have been heavily polluted with the dyes and the chemicals from the industry in Leeds.Today, conditions have improved considerably. This little fellow and his friend were just two of hundreds of little fishes in the beck. I don't know what type of fish it is though. Maybe you do?
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4026/5148617071_e3e3531eaa.jpg
This is a weak photograph. At sometime in the last 9 months a tiny tomato seed was washed along down here, germinated and became quite a big tomato plant. There were a few of these along this stretch. I was unable to tell whether the original seed had come from a bird who had dropped it or perhaps human faeces.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1376/5148618391_687d550b99.jpg
Alas, without the correct equipment - a ship perhaps - I was unable to travel any further. The snap below is where the Hol beck empties into the River Aire.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4145/5149221140_14fcf4f28b.jpg
This is the Hol beck. It means low beck. Like the low country. Holland.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1316/5149217332_ebd55b638b.jpg
It rises in West Leeds and spends much of its time now underground, covered and culverted as it winds its way towards the River Aire.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4049/5149218020_38f10bb82c.jpg
It reaches Holbeck, the part of the city named after it and for a short period of time is above ground. In the past this place would have been heavily polluted from the tanneries and the dye works along it's banks.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/5149222930_ea8df65d83.jpg
Across it are numerous dridges that would have once lead to works along the side. This picture from Leodis was taken on 25th August 1948. It shows one of the bridges over the Hol Beck on Water Lane. The premises of 'Arthur Sharman, Scrap Metal Merchants', is visible on the bridge with piles of metal and wooden planks. Tyres can be seen in the beck. The bridge was constructed in 1849 and has been marked on the side.
http://www.leodis.net/imagesLeodis/screen/61/7461.jpg
The bridge today, with 1849 clearly visable.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1111/5149218388_2703878ef4.jpg
The sets on the floor of the river were laid in the 1840's, and for much of the time the beck flows through the channel. During periods of heavy rain it can surge through at head height, carrying branches and other debris. To the side, through a tiny hole is this room. Originally these would have had pipes in, but they have long gone. One is full of water. it was almost like being in a quiet room in a cathederal in here. Except you were in a culvert. Nice colours though.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1081/5149219000_daf710c2cc.jpg
Throughout the length that I walked (about half a mile) water dripped from pipes and trickled from archways in the walls. At the end of this part were four giant mouse holes.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4054/5148615009_0d6e39335a.jpg
Inside were four flaps of doom.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1387/5148615743_bd477b5dc9.jpg
In the background is Leeds tallest building, Bridgewater place.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4090/5149220698_03f0db7b01.jpg
Originally the beck would have been heavily polluted with the dyes and the chemicals from the industry in Leeds.Today, conditions have improved considerably. This little fellow and his friend were just two of hundreds of little fishes in the beck. I don't know what type of fish it is though. Maybe you do?
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4026/5148617071_e3e3531eaa.jpg
This is a weak photograph. At sometime in the last 9 months a tiny tomato seed was washed along down here, germinated and became quite a big tomato plant. There were a few of these along this stretch. I was unable to tell whether the original seed had come from a bird who had dropped it or perhaps human faeces.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1376/5148618391_687d550b99.jpg
Alas, without the correct equipment - a ship perhaps - I was unable to travel any further. The snap below is where the Hol beck empties into the River Aire.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4145/5149221140_14fcf4f28b.jpg