Above. A Leeds water taxi makes its way from Leeds Dock to the City Centre. In the background is the David Oluwale Memorial Bridge.
There is a gallery of pictures at the end of this piece, many of which show landmarks that define the waterfront. To view them simply click on any of the images.
Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper. Jeremiah Ch29 v7.
Few can deny that over the last fifty or so years many parts of Leeds have change almost beyond recognition. And no more so than the area around the towpaths that skirt the River Aire and the Leeds Liverpool Canal.
Leaving The Dark Arches and heading east, Granary Wharf and then both Clarence and Leeds Dock, each jam packed with appartments, studios and flats make what I imagine set out to become a booming oasis of trendy bars and bistros but which seemed somewhat out of place to someone like me, someone who to this day is still a tad wary of what happens “south” of the river.
Fortunately, last Thursday, I survived, but as I made my way back towards the bus station I couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness as I thought back to the good old days, the days when the Hunslet Engine Company made trains, when each week Petty’s Printers rattled off tens of thousands of glossy magazines, when Tetley’s brewed barrell after barrell of bitter and when Fairbairn Lawson did whatever it was that Fairbairn Lawson did.
One reason for me telling you all this is in part an attempt to satisfy my literary aspiration, another is to tell you about how last Saturday a group from MBC, led by Howard Dews, spent the afternoon walking and praying their own way along and around the Leeds waterfront.
Beginning in City Square and taking in the what used to be the Majestic Cinema they made their way along Wellington Street, past the old Leeds Central Station’s wagon hoist and into the amazing Wellington Place – a seemingly space age complex of glass faced offices, hotels and suites that almost defy description.
From there is was over the canal. Passing a number of well know city landmarks, the group soon arrived at the Dark Arches. Next it was a case of crossing under the railway, dropping down onto the River Aire towpath and either following their noses past the David Oluwale Memorial Bridge until they reached Leeds Dock, the home of the Royal Armouries, or taking a three pound ride on one of the river’s lovely little yellow water taxis.
An interesting diversion, en route, however, is to pop as I did slightly inland and view what used to be Tetley’s HQ, Salem Chapel and, set in a lovely park the wonderful Hibiscus Rising instalation which was erected in 2023 in memory of David Oluwale, a Nigerian born British citizen who in 1969 drowned in the River Aire after being systematically harrased by officers from Leeds City Police.
Never intending to write as much as I have (that’s what happens when your literary juices take hold) I initially asked Howard, who incidentlly is a volunteer with the Leeds Civic Trust, if he could let me have a brief summary of their adventure. This he did, and as it runs so well I thought it best to simply copy and paste Howard’s words into this post exactly as he sent them to me.
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Some reflections and things to pray about. By Howard Dews.
We were surprised by the scale of the new developments but on the whole we thought what we saw was good.
We are fortunate to live in a city which is developing in this way and creating a place which is attractive to visit and live in.
Thought it was good the way historical buildings have been preserved amongst the new.
We need to be to the grateful for the staff and councillors in the council who have been responsible for bringing this about,
We also need to pray for them in the difficult job in responding to the scale of development taking place in the city.
We were struck by the 1000s of flats being built all along the canal and river area.
Will this lead to an age divide in the city with people 21-35 living in the city centre and a gap in people in this age group in the suburbs.
What does this mean for the nature of community and the ability of people of different ages to live together and relate?
Living in rented accommodation in flats in the city centre doesn’t come cheap.
Will people be able to save up the money to buy a house?
What does this mean for society in the future?
There are parks, places to walk by the canal, gyms, restaurants and bars but what about the spiritual life of these areas?
There are no new churches in the developments. For existing churches in and near the city centre the developments present an opportunity and challenge as to how to serve these new communities.
The city council has plans for development of the city centre but do the churches in Leeds have plans for how to respond to this and are they working together?
