| Description | Roundhay Park in Leeds was designated as a Registered Park and Garden by English Heritage. The Park contains a number of Listed Buildings including the Grade II Listed Mansion Hotel, a full account of the other Listings can be found in 'Department of National Heritage 1996, Parts 2 and 3).
Morkill states that 'Roundhay, or Roundhaigh, was a deer park which is said to have existed there is Saxon times; and its name, derived from the Saxon 'paza' , a fence, had reference, no doubt, to the round or circular shaped paling by which it was enclosed' (Morkill 1891, 216). The derivation of the place name is given a 'rond, (ge) haeg' which has been interpreted as 'The round hunting enclosure', although the first reference to the name appears to date from 1153 (Smith 1961, 113).
Morkhill provides a comprehensive account of the historical sources relating to the 'Manor and Park of Roundhay' (Morkill 1891). This accounts includes details and descriptions of the park paling and lodge, the provisions made for the care of the deer (14th century) and a 1537 survey of the land parcels of the park (the latter appears to have been roughly of the acreage of the township) (Morkill 1891, 230). Further evaluation of the Morkhill descriptions is likely to produce more information as to the origins, components and characteristics of the early park.
The park remained under a single ownership until 1803, when part of the estate (to the north of the present Wetherby Road) was purchased by the businessman Thomas Nicholson (Sheeran 1990, 113). The section of the park to the south of Wetherby Road was further sub divided and was subsequently built over. After his purchase, Nicholson went onto to construct an estate, with further additions being undertaken by Stephen Nicholson between c1821 and 1850 (English Heritage. 1984). The Nicholson estate is described by Sheeran as 'one of the most outstanding landscape gardens in the county' (Sheeran 1990, 113).
Central to Thomas Nicholson's park is (what is now known as) 'The Mansion Hotel', described by Pevsner as 'The grandest of the Late Georgian mansions of Leeds' (Pevsner 1979, 332). The building was built in 1811 by John Clark in a 'Neoclassical Style' in Ashlar with a slate roof and is a Grade II Listed Building (Department of National Heritage 1996, Parts 2, 651). The gardens consisted of a pleasure garden, an Arboretum, lawns and parallel walks with avenues. Between c1805 and 1815 Waterloo Lake was constructed, covering an area of some 13 hectares with a waterfall at its south end (English Heritage 1984). A sham ruined castle gatehouse was constructed during the early 19th century (Grade II Listed ref 714 1/7/1063), with other Listed structures including the two lodges at the south gate of the park (Ref 714 1/7/1062) (Department of National Heritage 1996, Part 3, 886 887).
In 1872 the estate was purchased by Leeds Corporation. Although part of the estate land was developed for middle class housing, the largest part was retained and developed into a municipal park. The 1871 sale plan is in existance, however, it has not at present (2001) been consulted by the West Yorkshire Archaeology Service.
'Rounda' is recorded on Warburton's 1720 map and 'Rounday' is recorded on Jeffrey's map of 1775, although none of these cartographic sources shown an enclosed park. The Ordnance Survey First Edition map of 1851 shows the extent of the estate prior to its sale and subsequent division in 1871.
Roundhay Parks' importance is shown by its inclusion in the Register of Parks and Gardens. A detailed investigation and assessment of the sources described in Morkhill may provided a greater understanding of the earlier history and archaeology of Roundhay Park. |