Queen Square

History

'The Square was projected in 1083 for houses of various descriptions, with warehouse room if wanted, and designedas three terraces around a communal central garden and the fourth side open to Claypit Lane; two large houses with warehouses were commenced on the North side in 1806. Between 1810 and 1815 the nine houses forming the West side were completed but made smaller residences only. Between 1815 and 1822 thirteen small houses filled the East side and three larger houses were added to the North side, leaving it still incomplete, in 1822 the house owners purchased the centre of the Square for a perpetual garden.'
Reference: Maurice Beresford (1988). Thoresby Society: Vols. LX-LXI East End - West End: The face of Leeds during urbanisation 1684-1842

Queen Square is one of the few reminders of the old Georgian town which Leeds once was. It is edged by terraced houses along three sides, which date back to 1822. Queen Square can be classified as a residential garden square in its original design, although today it is no longer a residential area. Historically Queen Square has always been in close proximity of educational institutions with at one time its own academy. Before the ring road Queen Square was part of Little London, at that time still still existing out of a tight network of terraced houses.
The original Georgian layout of the central green space is lost and is currently replaced by an 80’s design. In the City Centre Area Action Plan Queen Square is a conservation area instead of highrise buildings.

The Black and white photograph comes from the Leodis website for more old photographs go to: http://www.leodis.net/