The focus of this web site is the study of my family.

At least three generations of ancestors on my father's side lived in Leeds, Yorkshire.

1. Charles Lewis Land, born 1767 in Wakefield, moved with his family to Leeds by at least 1797.
2. His son, another Charles Lewis Land, was born in Leeds in 1797. John Land, born 1818 in Leeds, moved to Batley, Yorkshire around 1852.
3. Charles Lewis Land, Jr and his wife Ann Dinsdell remained in Leeds (Holbeck) until their deaths.

There were at least four places in Leeds that included the word LAND: Lands lane, Lands Yard, Lands Court and Lands Mill. Land lane is believed to be named for the common word "land" as in the "field of the L. Lord of the Manor". Land Yard, Court and Mill may have been named for some member of the Land family.

Land lane still exists. Land, court, yard and mill are gone.

The 1822 Leed's Directory only listed Lands lane.

In the 1829 Pigot's Leeds Directory there were two place name with the word Land: Land's Lane (Leeds city) and Land's Court (Water Lane, Holbeck).

In the 1834 Pigot's for Leeds there were three addresses containing the word Land: Lands Lane (in Leeds city proper), Lands Court (Water Lane, Holbeck), Lands Mill, (Water Lane, Holbeck)

In the 1853 Leeds Street Directory there were three Land place names: Lands Lane (Leeds city), Lands Yard, 127 Kirkgate (Leeds City), Land Court (Water Lane, Holbeck).

1. LANDS LANE: between Upperhead Row and Albion Street

   Lands Lane was listed in the Leeds Intelligencer and trade directories as early as 1791.

   Lands Lane was listed on the 1906 Ordnance map of Leeds.

   Lands Lane still exists and is a north-south street which is situated between the Headrow (a continuation of Westgate) and Commercial Street (a continuation of Kirkgate) in the heart of the city.

   Vivien Cartwright of the Leeds Local Studies Library informed me by email in July 2005 that:

   The Placenames of the West Riding of Yorkshire says:

   LANDS LANE....land (here doubtless 'a land of the common field') lane.

   I have also found an item in the Yorkshire Evening Post, 29/3/1975 page 4:

   Under feudalism and the open field system, the arable land of the tenants of the Manor of Leeds was divided into 3 huge fields- North, West and East: Westfield Road, Eastfield Street and Northfield Square (now disappeared) all commemorate this period of local history.

   The field of the Lord of the Manor was known as "Lands" hence Lands Lane. The large fields were divided into strips. The Headrows marked the beginning of the strip cultivation at the end of Briggate, the main street of the village of Leeds.

   This may be the correct derivation of the name.

   However, I would like to put forth the possibility that the lane may have named may after someone in the extended Land family.

   If the derivation of the name comes from the the word "land" [common field] as suggested, there were liable to be other Lands Lanes, Lands Courts, and Lands Yards in other cities and villages in Yorkshire. The only other Lands Lane I could find was in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire.

   The designation "Land" seems to be unique to Leeds, a town that had several families whose surnames were Land. Other place names in the West Riding are derived from family names so it is not inconceivable that the name derived from a family name. The surname LAND is hard to research exactly because of its association with the obvious meaning of the word.

   In May 2006 John Pennington wrote:

   "My attention was drawn especially to references to Lands Lane in Leeds - a distant relative of mine William Bell was living in Lands Lane in 1861. Your interest in the street is obvious!

   Perhaps the reason for other towns not having a street of that name is that it is at the back of Briggate, a fairly unique street, being laid out in the 13th century by the Lord of the Manor Maurice Paynel and being made up of strips of land called burgages meant to be occupied and rented by freemen of the manor. Hence perhaps the name Lands Lane.

   I had a look in a Yorkshire trade directory for the year 1791 and found two tradesman: Osburn W. Brandy-dealer, Lands-lane, Whitehead J. Brandy-dealer, Lands-la.

   And by coincidence there is also a gentleman called Land Philemon, Brandy-dealer, Call-La.. They seem to have drunk a lot of brandy around that time!

   For more information on Philomon Land see Lands in Queen Street Chapel

   I have been trying, without success, to find some record that could indicate how long Lands lane has been in existence. If it predates the arrival of the Lands in Leeds, the "land" theory is surely correct.

2. LANDS YARD: Kirkgate, Leeds City

   Listed in the 1853 directory of Streets in Leeds

   I have not found any other reference to Lands yard.

3. LAND COURT: Land court was located off Water Lane in Holbeck The 1830, 1834, and 1837 Directories listed Land Court. It was listed on the 1906 Ordnance Survey.

   Land Court, 14 Water Lane. Land Court no longer exists. It was on the south side of the Aire River in the Holbeck section of Leeds. There were several Land living at Land's Court in the mid 1800s.

4. LAND MILL: next to Land Court in Holbeck

   Listed in the 1834 Pigots Directory and in the 1906 Ordnance Map (as Land Court Mill a mungo mill)

The "addresses" I have found for the Land ancestors in Leeds indicate that they lived both in the city proper and on the south side of the River Aire in the Holbeck and Hunslet sections of the city.

The Lands were at the following "addresses":

1. Charles Land and Elizabeth Dunford were listed on St James Street in 1797.

2. Charles Lewis Land (the son of Charles Land and Elizabeth Dunford) and his wife, Ann Dinsdell, were listed in Leeds as follow:

   1. Holbeck between 1820 and 1833. They had the more specific "addresses" of :
      1. "Water Lane" in 1826
      2. "Brewery Field" in 1833.

   2. Hunslet between 1834 and 1844:

      1. At 29 Canning Street in the 1834 Leeds Directory as a cloth dresser.
      2. In Hunslet in the 1841 census.
      3. On Canning Street in Hunslet in 1844 at the time of his death

3. John Land (the son of Charles Land and Ann Dinsdell) was listed:
   1. At his marriage in 1840 in Holbeck
   2. At the birth of his son, John, in 1841 on West Street, Leeds
   3. In the 1842 Leeds Directory at 56 and 63 Back Nile Street as a cloth dresser. Note: I do not know if this was a business or home address or both.
   4. At the birth of his son, Samuel in 1843 at 13 Cherry Tree Yard, Kirkgate, North Leeds.

   John Land and his family left Leeds before 1848.

4. James Dunford Land (the son of Charles Land and Ann Dinsdell) was listed in the 1861 Leeds Directory as a traveller (traveling salesman), at 8 Caledonia Terrace. I have not located Caledonia Terrace on a current map.

St James Street no longer exists. It was about where the Leeds General Infirmary is now.

John Land, West Street, City of Leeds, Central

I do not have a Ordnance map that includes West Street.

West Street is on a current map of Leeds. It forms part of the on ramp for junction of the A58 ring road around Leeds.

West Street #s 29. 31. 31A. 33 amd 35

John Land, Back Nile Street, Mabgate, 1842
	John Land, the son of Charles Land and Ann Dinsdell, was listed in the 1842 Leeds Directory on Back Nile Street. I do not know if this was a residential or business address. Back Nile Street, circled in red, is the "back of Nile Street". The current map of Leeds lists the area in Mabgate.
1906 Ordnance Map
Cottages in the working class sections of Leeds were back to back with no yards. There was, on average, one privy to every four cottages. There were no bath facilities. Baths were taken in a tub in the kitchen or in public bath houses.

Leodis, Leeds Library Back Nile Street demolition 1907. The two workmen on the right are holding a measuring rod which indicates that the height of the front of the one story house is 11 feet from the sidewalk to the roof line and the height of the two story house is 17 feet from the sidewalk to the roof line.

Leodis, Leeds Library Back Nile Street demolition 1907. Leodis, Leeds Library Cottages on the north side of Back Nile Street looking from Bridge Street. Leodis, Leeds Library Back Nile Street yard. The access to the street is through the archway. John Land, Cherry Tree Yard, Kirkgate, City of Leeds, North, 1843 Leodis, Leeds Library Cherry Tree Yard where the Lands lived at the birth of Samuel Land in 1843. The Lands in Holbeck Charles Land, Water Lane, Holbeck , 1826 Charles Land was listed in 1826 on Water Lane in Holbeck. Holbeck is on the south side of the Aire River from the city of Leeds. There was, in fact, Land Court, off Water Lane, Holbeck, as shown in the 1906 Ordnance map (marked with the red "X"). Land's Court, Water Lane is between the Victoria Bridge to the west and the Leeds bridge to the east. Holbeck 1857/58 Leeds Directory included a description of the township of Holbeck, the "township" where the family of Charles Lewis Land was living from 1818 to 1833. Holbeck township and Chapelry, on the south side of the Aire (adjoining Hunslet) forms a populous south-western suburb of Leeds, commencing at Christ Church, Meadow lane, and extending westward to the old village of Holbeck, one mile S.W. and to Holbeck Moor and the Folly 1 _ miles S.S.W. of Briggate. It is noted for several copious springs of Spa Water, which is slightly impregnated with sulphur. Though it extends over only about 760 acres it had 14,152 souls in 1851.....The Methodists and Independents have commodious chapels in Holbeck township ....Holbeck cemetery, at Beeston hill, comprises about nine acres of land purchased at the cost of about 2500 pounds in 1856. It was opened in 1857." Other Lands at Land's Court, Water Lane Thomas Land and his wife, Anne Shirt, were listed in the Queen's Street congregation baptismal records at Water Lane in 1817 and 1822. Charles Land and Ann Dinsdell Land also belonged to the Queens Street congregation. The 1830 Leeds Directory listed three Lands on Land's Court, Water Lane: Mrs Mary Land, 24 Land's Ct, Water Ln Thomas Land, flax spinner, canvas and sacking mfr. Land's Ct, Water Ln: h. 10 Providence row Wm Land, flax dresser, 21 Land's Ct, Water Ln. The 1834 Directory listed two Lands at Water Lane: Mrs. Mary Land, 26 Land's ct, Water lane William Land, retail ale and porter dealers, Jolly Sailor, 10 Camp Land Water Lane. The 1837 White's Directory listed three Lands in Leeds: Thomas Land whs man (wholesaled manufacturer ?), Kaye Street William Land, beer house, Camp lane and Land's Ct John Land, druggist, Kaye Street The 1857-58 Leeds directory listed Elizabeth Land, shopkeeper, at 14 Water Ln. The 1861 Leeds directory listed Elizabeth Land, shopkeeper, at 14 Water Ln. I do not know, at this point, if these other Lands were related. For more information on Thomas Land go to Lands in Queen Street Chapel Water Hall, Water Lane cottages, Holbeck, Undated leodis (Leeds Library) Water Lane cottages, Holbeck, 1903 Old cottages scheduled for demolition leodis (Leeds Library) ASDA Headquarters In 1986-8 ASDA (a dairy association) build their headquarters on a seven acre riverside site on the south side of the river Aire between the Leeds Bridge and the Victoria Bridge right on top of where Lands Court was shown in the 1906 Ordnance map. Picture from Leeds Waterfront Heritage Trail by Peter Brears Engraving by William Lodge, Date Unknown Leeds bridge is on the right with St Peter's church in the background. This view is from just about where Land's Court once stood and where the ASDA building stands today. Picture from Leeds Waterfront Heritage Trail by Peter Brears Leeds and Liverpool Canal warehouse beside River Lock, date unknown Just west of Victoria Bridge and the ASDA building is the Leeds Liverpool Canal warehouse and the River Lock. The River Lock marks the entrance to the canal from the River Aire. Picture from Leeds Waterfront Heritage Trail by Peter Brears Leeds and Liverpool Canal warehouse beside River Lock, 2002 The warehouse was built in 1777. Photo by Tom Blanck "Bridge End, looking from Water Land in 1869" Bridge End" is also known as the Leeds Bridge. Changing Leeds "In Water Lane in the past" Changing Leeds Old Leeds Bridge 1849. Looking north to the entrance of Briggate. Engraver T A Prior. Changing Leeds Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck Domestic Street Holbeck, Leeds. I believe that there is now a highway ramp at this location. Posted Holbeck, Leeds 1906 Print collection of Maggie Land Blanck Leeds from Holbeck There is no date on this print. However, I believe that the white tower of the City Hall can be seen in the background on the left. The City Hall was dedicated in 1858. Old Round Foundry, Holbeck Changing Leeds Charles Lewis Land and Ann Dinsdell, Brewery Field, Holbeck Charles Lewis Land and Ann Dinsdell were listed in "Brewery Field", Holbeck in 1833. The only brewery I can find in Holbeck is/was the Tetley Brewery a few short blocks from Land's Court. I cannot find anything marked "Brewery Field". This part of the map shows the relationship between Land's Court, Leeds Bridge, and the Brewery (which is indicated with a red X) 1906 OS Map The Tetley Distillery showing grain courtyard and brewhouse Hunslet, S Clark and M Wilson, Hunslet Social History Group, date unknown, book collection of Maggie Land Blanck Tetley Brewery, Hunslet Lane, 1893 Joshua Tetley took over Sykes brewery at this site in 1822. Picture from Leeds Waterfront Heritage Trail by Peter Brears 1829, Aire and Calder Canal near Leeds Bridge Drawn by N Whittock Leodis, Leeds Library 1829, Aire and Calder Canal near Leeds Bridge Drawn by N Whittock Leodis, Leeds Library A view down river from above the Leeds Bridge Leodis, Leeds Library A view down river from above the Leeds Bridge Date unknown. However, pre 1873 as the bridge was changed from stone to metal in 1873. Leodis A view down river from the Leeds Bridge The steeple of the parish church can be seen in the background. Changing Leeds Another view down river from near the Leeds Bridge The steeple of the parish church can be seen in the background. A Souvenir of Leeds, date unknown A view down river from the Leeds Bridge, 2002 If Charles and Ann lived near the Tetley Brewery, they would have been somewhere to the right of this photo. Photo by Maggie Blanck Looking up river from the Crown Point Bridge, near the Tetley Brewery, 2002 Looking up river the view of the Leeds Bridge is blocked by the buildings. The Tetley Brewery is out of view to the left. Photo by Maggie Blanck Dock Street, 2002 Dock Street connects Water Lane to the Tetley Brewery. Photo by Tom Blanck I had this street incorrectly labeled as "Waterloo Lane" in Mach 2010 Grant Barker wrote to alert me to my error. Dear Maggie, The title and location of one of the photographs on web page http://maggieblanck.com/Land/LandLeeds.html is wrong. The location is given as: "Waterloo Lane, 2002 - Waterloo Lane connects Water lane to the Tetley Brewery." But it is actually Dock Street, one of the very few remaining cobbled streets left in the centre of Leeds. I live right next door to this street and our street (Bowman Lane) lost its original cobbled street last year when the council decided to "renovate" the street and destroyed it, replacing the road with tarmac. Sacrilege! Dock Street retains the original cobbled street. The buildings in your photograph are the original frontage of the warehouse that was there. Only the frontage was retained, to keep the area's character, but the rest of the warehouse was demolished and Victoria Quays (apartments) were built there. Dock Street connects Hunslet Road to Kendell Street. Dock Street and Kendell Street remain in the same location as in the 1906 OS map, however the Bowman Lane parallel to Waterloo Street has disappeared and Waterloo Street now finishes at Kendell Street and continues in an uninterrupted line (with only a street sign denoting this) as Bowman Lane until it comes out near Crown Point Bridge. Best Regards, Grant Barker Holbeck in 1872 "The Mill of Messrs. Marshall and Co., flax spinners, in Marshal Street, is worthy, form an architectural point of view alone, of a far better situation than the one which it occupies in the crowded, dismal, smoke-blackened purlieus of Holbeck. If our readers can picture to themselves an ancient Egyptian temple, set down in the midst of a densely populated region of workmen's cottages, blast furnaces, and glass manufactories, they will have realized the scene completely. The building is, of course, private property; and, when we see such remarkable edifices erected solely at the instance of a single firm of manufacturers, we are prepared to learn that public buildings in Leeds take a high rank among the architectural glories of the kingdom." The Graphic September 31, 1872. Hunslet Charles Lewis Land and Ann Dinsdall, Canning Street, Hunslet Charles Lewis Land and Ann Dinsdell Land were listed in Hunslet from 1834 until Charles' death in 1844. The 1841 censuses describes the Enumeration District where Charles and Ann Land lived as: "All between north side of Ansley Street east side of Dale Street and south side of Charlotte Street to Meadow Lane and all north of Jack Lane to Dewsbury Road on the west side and east side of Meadow Lane. At Charles' death in 1844 the address was given as Canning Street, Hunslet. I do not have any pictures of this area. The 1906 OS map shows Canning Street a bit south of Land court between Meadow Lane and Dewsbury Road. 1905 Ordnance Map Canning Street Hunslet The 1841 census description of the Enumeration District where Charles and Ann Land lived is highlighted in yellow as is Canning Street. Interior of Hunslet church, not dated Postcard collection Maggie Land Blanck Photo collection Maggie Land Blanck Last horse bus to run from Hunslet Carr to Briggate Leeds c. 1904. Part of the Mc Kenna collection. In reply to my inquiry about the McKenna collection Rodger Parnell, on the behalf of Graham McKenna wrote in February 2006 about Graham McKenna: He was many years ago an early member of the Leeds Cine club and filmed in and around Leeds including the last trams to run in Leeds which were shown on T.V. in a programme "All our Yesterdays". About the McKenna collection of photos Rodger Parnell wrote: The photos in the McKenna collection originally belonged to a man called Ramsden Farrar. Apparently he was a sign writer in Leeds and had these photos taken as examples for potential clients. The photos were given to Graham by the daughter of Ramsden Farrar for safekeeping and for Graham to keep and show to future generations, which he has done. Both Ramsden Farrar and his daughter have long since passed away. The photos were copied by the Leeds Library and the original retained by Graham McKenna. Ramsden Farrar Ramsden Farrar born March Quarter 1864 (Leeds, 9b, 364, Free BMD) was the son of John Farrar. He was listed in 1871 at 25 Garden Street Leeds East with his father as follows: John Farrar, head, age 51, silk dyer, Sarah A, wife, age 49, Mary, daughter, age 23, woolen weaver, Sarah A, daughter, age 21, cap finisher, John, son, age 19, butcher, Angelina, daughter, age 17, cap machinist, Thomas son, age 15, grocers assistant, William, son, age 13, drapers assistant, Fred, son, age 9, scholar, Ramsden, son, age 7, scholar, Arthur, son, age 4, scholar all born Leeds He was listed in 1881 at 25a Garden Street Leeds East with his father as follows: John Farrar, head, age 62, dyer and cleaner, Sarah A, wife, age 60, Mary, daughter, age 34, cloth weaver, William, son, age 24, shoe rivitter, Ramsden, son, age 17, sign writer, Arthur, son, age 14, errand boy, Sarah Ann Lyneh (?), granddaughter, age 5 all born Leeds. Next door was Angelina Leneh, wife, age 27, and her husband, Frederick Lyneh, age 30, beer seller, Frederick W Leneh, son, age 1, and Thomas Farrar, bother in law, age 24, brewer and tapster. Ramsden Farrar married Sarah E. Moss St Peter, Leeds September quarter 1885 Leeds (9b 605 Free BMD) They were not listed in the 1891 or 1901 census by Ancestry.com Farr Street Hunslet, undated Leodis (Leeds Library) The Leeds Pottery Leeds Pottery was located in Jack Lane (not far from where the Charles Lewis Land and Ann Dinsdall lived). It established by Richard Humble and John and Joshua Green in 1770. They made creamware that was popular in middle class homes. Leeds Pottery went though some financial ups and downs: it closed in 1806, reopened in 1813, went bankrupt in 1830, reopened again in 1849. It finally closed in 1881. It was made again from 1983-1986. From Hunslet, S Clark and M Wilson, Hunslet Social History Group, undated, book collection of Maggie Land Blanck Hunslet Feast The Hunslet Feast featured shows and rides. It was originally held near the Hunslet church (St Mary's). In 1888 it moved to Hunslet Moor. Leodis, Leeds Library This sketch shows the relationship of Holbeck and Hunslet to the city of Leeds. Leeds Information Charles Land (1767-) Charles Lewis Land (1797-1844) John Land (1818-1877) Pictures of Leeds Lands in Queen Street Chapel Land Introduction Page Lands In Leeds Home If you have any suggestions, corrections, information, copies of documents, or photos that you would like to share with this page, please contact me at maggie@maggieblanck.com If you wish to use any of the images or information on this page please feel free to do so provided that you give proper acknowledgement to this web site and include the same acknowledgments that I have made to the provenience of the image or information. Thanks, Maggie This page was created in 2004: Latest update, June 2010