Historic Hyde park

Hyde Park originated as the hamlet of Wrangthorn (perhaps meaning ‘crooked hedge’), on the edge of Woodhouse Moor, where the lane from Leeds entered Headingley township (later, ward).  The name survives in the local Parish of Woodhouse & Wrangthorn, and in local streets.  The name ‘Hyde Park Corner’, it seems, was adopted early in the 19th century by a local farmer, in honour of a visit to London (and doubtless intended to capitalise on the rising reputation of the area).  It was generally adopted by the end of the century, by which time, villas and terraces had developed to the north, and brick terraces had proliferated to the south, with an inn, two churches and a school on the Corner.
For a brief general description of the area, go to Hyde Park; see also, the Listed Buildings. See also Woodhouse Moor in the Past.

Photographs by kind permission of Leeds Library and Information Service, The Thoresby Society, Leeds Transport Historical Society, Alamy and Helen Pickering. Some of these photos are copyright and should not be reproduced without the owner's permission. Every effort has been made to contact all copyright owners. We would be pleased to rectify at the earliest opportunity any omissions and errors brought to our notice.

For photos of the area now, go to the Hyde Park gallery.
For other neighbourhoods in the past, see Historic Headingley.