City Square, Leeds

City Square and Park Row

City Squareis a paved area north ofLeeds railway stationat the junction ofPark Rowto the east and Wellington Street to the south. It is a triangular area where six roads meet: Infirmary Street and Park Row to the north,Boar Laneand Bishopsgate Street to the south-east, and Quebec Street and Wellington Street to the south-west.The only building with a direct frontage is the former General Post Office, on the north-west side.

History

The original laying out of City Square in 1897. Behind is the original Queen's Hotel.

Proposals were made in 1893 to transform the area in front of the station. The demolition of Leeds' ColouredCloth Halland Quebec House gave an open space in which a new General Post Office was constructed in 1896 with a public space in front.One proposal was to name the development afterJohn Smeaton,the famous local engineer, but the council unanimously opted to call it City Square, as Leeds was being made a city that year. The initial plan had tramway waiting rooms, and public lavatories welcoming new visitors to Leeds.However, ColonelThomas Walter Harding(Lord Mayor of Leedsbetween 1898 and 1899) was so dismayed that he commissioned William Bakewell to design a square more in the style of anItalian piazza,with statues and trees.

In theSecond World War,during anair raidon Leeds, theLuftwaffebombed City Square. It was at the time the site of a publicair raid shelter,which did not withstand the bombing and was significantly damaged.

In 1997, traffic that went through the City Square, mainly buses and taxis, was diverted to the Leeds City Centre "Loop" traffic scheme. The City Square area was refurbished in 2003, which included closing off one side of the square to traffic, rearranging the statues and adding fountains and traditionalstreet furnitureto the square.The fountains were removed in 2013.

Statuary

All are in bronze and larger than life. There is a large equestrian statue, four statues of famous men, and a ring of female nudes, or nymphs, acting as lampholders. The statues were part of a celebration of Leeds changing status from a town to a city.All are at least Grade IIlisted buildings.

Black Prince

The Black Prince

The large equestrian statue is ofEdward, the Black Prince(1330–1376), and is a major work ofThomas Brock(1847–1922). Edward had no specific connection with Leeds, and the choice of subject therefore caused something of a stir. The statue is on a pedestal with relief panels depicting some of the prince's notable victories. It (along with most of the statues) was funded by Colonel Thomas Walter Harding. Brock took seven years to make it, and it had to be cast inBelgiumbecause it was too big for any British foundry. It was carried by sea toHull,then on a barge along theRiver Aireto Leeds. It was unveiled on 16 September 1903 to cheering crowds.It is Grade II* listed.

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  Panel on plinth of a land battle
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  Panel on plinth of a sea battle
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  Plaque identifying the donor and sculptor
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  Plaque identifying the subject

James Watt

Though againJames Watthad no specific connection to Leeds, he was a famous engineer and typified the technological change which had made Leeds into a city. This was erected in 1903. It is byHenry Charles Fehrand the gift of Richard Wainwright.

John Harrison

John Harrison(1579–1656) was a local cloth merchant and benefactor of Leeds, having built a church and agrammar school.This was erected in 1903. It is also by H. C. Fehr and the gift of Councillor Richard Boston.

Dr Hook

Dr Walter Hook(1798–1875) was a vicar of Leeds and a major influence on both religion and education in the city. He was responsible for rebuilding the parish church (nowLeeds Minster) and thirty schools. This was erected in 1902. It is byF. W. Pomeroyand the gift of Colonel Thomas Walter Harding.

Joseph Priestley

The famouschemistandtheologianJoseph Priestleylived in Leeds from 1767 to 1773, and was the minister atMill Hill Chapel,which is on the square. He usedcarbon dioxidefrom the local brewery to continue his experiments on gases. This was erected in 1903. It is byAlfred Druryand the gift of Colonel Thomas Walter Harding.

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  James Watt
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  John Harrison
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  Dr Walter Hook
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  Joseph Priestley

Eight Nymphs

The most controversial feature of the square was a ring of eight nude females holding lamps, which attracted critical letters to theYorkshire Postwhen unveiled in 1899.They are byAlfred Drury,now celebrated as a pioneer of theNew Sculpture.They are of two forms, one named as "Morn" holding a lamp in her right hand and clutching some flowers, and the other named as "Even" holding a lamp in her left hand, with her other hand to her head.

They were originally arranged on the points of the compass in a circle around the Black Prince. In 1956 they were removed from this arrangement and put in two rows of four.In the 1990s, it was planned to remove them altogether, as Victorian public art was considered by many to be worthless. However, this was resisted and they were placed in their present positions of a three-quarter circle.

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  "Morn"
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  "Even"

Buildings

General Post Office

Close-up of the old Post Office. The building, the statues and the telephone booths are all Grade II listed buildings

The former Leeds General Post Office covers the northwest side of the square. It is a Grade II listed building, in classical style by architectSir Henry Tanner.It is inAshlar,with slate and lead roofs of four stories and two main entrances with columns on the square, with a central clock tower. There are other entrances to the sides on Quebec Street and Infirmary Street.The telephone booths outside the former post office areK6design and also Grade II listed buildings.

It opened 18 May 1896. Two figures byWilliam Silver Frithrepresenting "Reading" and "Writing" are over one entrance, while "Reading" and "Philosophy" are over the other. Four figures above have been said to represent Time, Air, Light and Earth.Along with other smaller decorations are two owls on the front.

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  Clock tower
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  Reading and Writing and an owl
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  Reading and Philosophy and an owl
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  Upper storeys, including figures for Time, Air, Light, and Earth
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  Sculpture of owl on a ledge

Surrounding buildings

The square is overlooked by the listed buildingsQueens Hotelon the South andMill Hill Chapelon the East, plus a modern skyscraper, No. 1 City Square (Norwich Union Building) completed 1998 by Abbey Hanson Rowe on the North.The sculpture "Legs walking" by Leeds-bornKenneth Armitagewas erected outsideMill Hill Chapelin 2018.On the Southwest between Quebec Street and Wellington Street is the formerMajestic Cinema and Ballroom(1921), a Grade II listed building interracottaby theLeeds Fireclay Co.On the Southeast corner is thePark Plaza Hotel,a 2003 recladding of a 1965 office tower block called Exchange House, and the former Yorkshire Bank (1899, Grade II listed), now a bar, in granite with a distinctive copper dome.

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  Queens Hotel
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  Mill Hill Chapel and the sculpture "Legs Walking"
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  No 1 City Square (1998)
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  Majestic Cinema and Dance Hall
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  Park Plaza Hotel
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  Former Yorkshire Bank

White Rose Way

The Square is the official start point for the 104 mile long-distance walkThe White Rose Waywhich finishes inScarborough, North Yorkshire.

See also

• Leeds city centre
• Millennium Square, Leeds
• Park Square, Leeds