Leeds: Part One

I've only ever been to Leeds once, three weeks ago for the open day at the University. Upon arrival I was instantly captured by the beautiful architecture that surrounded me. My eyes were glued to the wonderful shapes of buildings, and the juxtaposition of the old and new. This stirred something in me, I wondered how Leeds started, how it became a magnificent city surrounded in culture and history. 

In 1207, the Lord of the Manor, Maurice DeGant created a new town, just west of the one that existed as Leeds then. He created Brigg Gata (translating into Bridge Street), a new street of houses and divided the plots for buildings, where the tenants payed DeGant rent. The streets were filled with butchers, bakers and blacksmiths, but are now lined with fast food chains, shopping complexes and banks, under a simpler name - Bridggate. However, wool was the catalyst that rocketed Leeds into city status, and eventually the second largest commercial town in Britain, after London. Leeds had a population of 1,000 in medieval times, whereas most villages had a population of 150 people. Trade was booming at this period in time, with weekly markets and two annual fairs held in the town, bringing business and people together, improving the community of Leeds and therefore boosting productivity. However it was the sixteenth and seventeenth century when they saw the impact of this...