Yeadon, West Yorkshire

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Coordinates: 53°52′08″N 1°41′17″W / 53.869°N 1.688°W / 53.869; -1.688

Yeadon
Yeadon High Street
Yeadon  Yeadon shown within West Yorkshire
OS grid reference	SE219398
Metropolitan borough	City of Leeds
Metropolitan county	West Yorkshire
Region	Yorkshire and the Humber
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	LEEDS
Postcode district	LS19
Dialling code	0113
Police	West Yorkshire
Fire	West Yorkshire
Ambulance	Yorkshire
EU Parliament	Yorkshire and the Humber
UK Parliament	Leeds North West, Pudsey,
List of places: UK • England • Yorkshire

Yeadon is a town within the City of Leeds metropolitan borough, in West Yorkshire, England. It is home to Leeds Bradford International Airport.

[edit] History

At the time of the Anglo-Saxons in the early 7th century AD much of the Aire valley was still heavily wooded, although perhaps Yeadon itself stood out above the tree line. The place name is probably derived from two Old English words meaning high hill. Later Viking settlers called the highest point in the area Yeadon Haw. 'Haw' in this sense is derived from the Old Norse word haugr which also means hill.^[1]

Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, Yeadon was a clothing and mill town in the 19th century and had a cattle fair every year on the first Monday in April and the Yeadon Feast in the third week of August, which was held on Albert Square at the top of the High Street. The fair continued until the early 1980s, when old peoples' housing was built on the site.

Avro had a factory next to Yeadon Aerodrome from 1938 to 1946 which produced many of the company's wartime planes, including the Lancaster, Lincoln, York and Anson. Approximately 700 Lancasters were produced at Yeadon. The town still has strong links with Leeds Bradford International Airport, with a considerable percentage of the local population employed there. Aviation heritage in Yeadon is also kept alive by the activities of 2168 (Yeadon) Squadron Air Training Corps. ^[2] The former Yorkshire and England cricket captain Brian Close lived in the town during his childhood.

Yeadon is the location of one of the oldest fish and chip shops in the world,^[3] established in the 1870s. It is located on Sandy Way, a road just off Town Street which is a cobbled hill to be found at the western end of the high street and is known locally as The Steep.

[edit] Features

Yeadon Tarn

Yeadon is situated to the North West of Leeds, and is one of the highest points in the city, making it an unusual choice for the situating of an airport. The town is built mainly of stone buildings, making it perhaps more like neighbouring Bradford in appearance than Leeds.

Yeadon Tarn (also known as Yeadon Dam) is located between High Street and the airport runway. During the Second World War it was drained to prevent enemy aircraft using its reflection as a landmark to identify the nearby Avro factory.^[4] Given its location next to the airport it is a surprisingly quiet and relaxing place to go for a walk. Locals also visit the tarn to go sailing and fishing. Mallard ducks, swans and a sizeable population of Canada Geese can be found at the tarn. There is also a BMX bike track adjecent to it with competitions held in the summer. The national charity Epilepsy Action has its headquarters in the town.

[edit] Governance

Yeadon Town Hall

Yeadon, along with neighbouring towns Guiseley and Rawdon, formed Aireborough Urban District, which was created in 1937 and abolished in 1974, however Yeadon still hosts local Rugby Union side Aireborough RUFC at Nunroyd Park.^[5] Yeadon (except for the area North of Swincar Avenue on Kirk Lane) is now in the Leeds City Council Ward of Otley & Yeadon. It is represented by three Liberal Democrat Councillors, Ryk Downes, Colin Campbell and Graham Kirkland. Leeds City Council now have control of public services in Yeadon. Yeadon falls into two constituencies, the majority falls into Leeds North West which is held by the Liberal Democrats and is represented by Greg Mulholland, whilst some falls into Pudsey which is held by Labour and represented by Paul Truswell. Yeadon Town Hall is the main civic building in the town and is notes for its distinctive clock tower. The building was used as a registrars office in the Yorkshire Television programme, The Beiderbecke Tapes.

[edit] Amenities

The Aviator public house, reflecting the towns aviation heritage.

Yeadon has a developed town centre and most of the businesses are situated around the High Street. There is a Morrison's supermarket as well as several other chain shops, banks, building societies, estate agents and public houses. Slightly further afield, Otley has a larger town centre with more amenities. There are also both Travelodge and Premier Travel Inn hotels situated at the airport.

[edit] Nearby attractions

Nearby visitor attractions include:

• The Chevin - a forest park located on the hill to the south of Otley.
• The Yorkshire Dales national park.
• Nunroyd Park

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• The Yeadon Online web site provides further local information. A short history including photography of the town can be found on the history page.
• The Yeadon Lockout and Hunger Marches are a little known aspect of Yeadon's industrial heritage.
• "The Ancient Parish of Guiseley". GENUKI. http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/YKS/WRY/Guiseley/index.html. Retrieved 2007-10-29.  Yeadon was in this parish
• Yeadon Sailing Club contains a full set of details about the Sailing club which has been at Yeadon Tarn since 1928.