The Thoresby Society

THE THORESBY SOCIETY’S LEEDS DICTIONARY

In 2013 when David Thornton’s Leeds; a Historical Dictionary of People, Places and Events was published it attempted to do something no other Leeds history had done; to bring together in easily accessible alphabetical order, information regarding people, places and events which had played a significant part in the history of the city. To attempt such a reference work as that was to walk a minefield. Any author is as good as the sources available and if they are incorrect mistakes get perpetuated. Dates are a particular cause for concern, as indeed, are statistics where sources often vary in the figures given.

The book’s reception by the public, however, made us believe that a web-based version would be equally welcomed. Thus entries have been adapted for the web and each entry given sources for further reading. Some entries had to be specifically researched for the book and consequently the dictionary itself is the main source of reference; other entries were compiled specifically for this website.

Further entries will be added over the years and we would ask your help should you identify any inaccuracies or unearth further information which should be added, please get in touch.

David Thornton

The Thoresby Society
2020

Use the links on the left or below to get to your letter of interest.

A      Abbots of Kirkstall Abbey, Aldermen, Alphabet Streets, Arcades, Armley Jail (Gaol)

B      Banks, Baths, Becks, Bishops of Leeds, Blue Plaques, Breweries, Bridges, Building Clubs

C      Cemeteries, Chantry Chapels, Churches, Cinemas, Clocks, Coaching Inns, Constituencies, Councils

D      Directories of Leeds, Disasters, Domesday Book, Dukedom of Leeds

E      Emergency food and rest centres during WWII, Enclosures, Epidemics

F      Farming, Festival Chorus Society, Fascist Fifth Colum in Leeds, First aid posts WWII, Freemen of the city,

G      German Plans for Leeds, Ghosts in Leeds, Gurdwaras

H      Hindu Temple, Historiography of Leeds, Hospitals

I       Industries, Improvement Acts, International Pianoforte Competition Winners, Irwin Viscountcy

J      Justice

K      Kingdoms

L       Leeds Records, Leeds Tapestry 2000, Listed Buildings, Lord Mayors

M     Mandela, Maps, Mayors,  Mosques, Murders, Museums, Music Hall

N      Names of Places, Newspapers & Journals founded in Leeds, Nobel Prize winners

O      Owls

P      Parishes, Parks, Police, Police Stations, Political Organisations, Political Parties, Population

Q      Queens

R      Railways, Reeves Accounts, Religions, Richmond Sixteen, Riots in Leeds, Royal Visits

S      Schools, Shopping, Spas, Sports, Statues, Street Names, Strikes, Synagogues

T      Theatres, Turnpike Roads, Twin Cities

U      Universities of Leeds

V      Vicars of Leeds, Victoria Cross

W      Wars, Waterloo Churches, Weather, Womens Suffrage, Wortley Church Disaster