Historic Weetwood
Weetwood (originally Wet Woods) was once part of the great estate of Kirkstall Abbey. Through it ran Addle Lane, the original route north from Leeds via Headingley through Adel to Otley. Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the Abbey’s estate was divided and Weetwood was acquired by the Foxcrofts, who built Weetwood Hall in 1625, west of the Lane. By the nineteenth century, the land was further divided and sold in large plots along the Lane for grand Victorian villas (including Weetwood Lodge, Weetwood Villa, Weetwood Croft, Weetwood Grove) with capacious grounds (like The Hollies). The Lane became known as Weetwood Lane. Then in the twentieth century, many of these plots, as well as remaining fields, were divided again for housing developments, such as the Hollins and the Foxhills.
For a brief general description of the area, go to Weetwood South and Weetwood North, and their Listed Buildings. Explore the area with guided walks, Wandering through Weetwood or A Millside Meander. Read about the history of Weetwood in David Hall, Far Headingley, Weetwood and West Park, Far Headingley Village Society (2000).
Acknowledgements: David Hall for all his advice and support; Ian Ballantine; Helen Pickering; Far Headingley Village Society; Leeds Library and Information Servic at www.leodis.net; University of Leeds Library, Special Collections, Godfrey Bingley Collection. Some of these photos are copyright and should not be reproduced without the owner's permission. Every effort has been made to contact all copyright owners. We would be pleased to rectify at the earliest opportunity any omissions and errors brought to our notice.
See also The Hollies in the Past and Meanwood Park in the Past.
For photos of Weetwood now, go to the Weetwood gallery.
For other neighbourhoods in the past, see Historic Headingley.
