Roundhay Park
The entire estate was purchased by the City of Leeds in 1872 and opened as a public park by His Royal Highness Prince Arthur on the 19th of September 1872.
At the time, the then Lord Mayor John Barran of Leeds was ridiculed for buying a 'White Elephant' - in that the park was too far out of the city for the majority of the population to enjoy, and in any event the park had just one access road - an old 'turnpike' road dating from 1808.
The park was seen as a reckless waste of Leeds ratepayers money - critics even published a booklet under the title: 'The Big White Elephant' in 1879.
In June 1907 an open air swimming pool 'lido' opened, at a cost of just over £1,600, it was built mainly by unemployed citizens. During the 1950's and 1960's about 100,000 people a year visited the 'swimming baths'.
Roundhay Park now covers over 700 acres of parkland, lakes and woodland and is one of the largest urban parks in the world. The Park has a scented for the blind, National Plant Collections, Canal Gardens, the Monet and Alhambra Gardens, plus Tropical World (also known as Butterfly Gardens and Butterfly World) which attracts visitors all year round. Newly opened in 2005 is the Friends Garden, located alongside Canal Gardens and the Rainbow Garden.
Woodpeckers, common warblers in spring and summer, mute swans, visiting whooper swans, great-crested grebes and herons can all be found at the park.
The Upper (smaller) Lake is maintained as a wildlife area, the larger Waterloo Lake is used for fishing. The Park Arena is a natural amphitheatre which, in addition to being both a cricket pitch and a cycle tracks is used as a venue for many special events ranging from sports days to major pop concerts. For many years this was the location for the spectacular annual Roundhay Park bonfire and firework displays in November which are now held on the Soldiers Field.
Facilities at the Park also include tennis courts, skateboard ramps, sports pitches, bowling greens, a sports arena, a golf course, and fishing. A lakeside cafe overlooks Waterloo Lake.
NEW: Take a walk in the Park - guide map here.
5 Day, 10 Day, 15 Day Leeds weather forecast for Roundhay Park.
Latest live Roundhay webcam weather latest 60 minute timelapse sequence.
Recorded at Roundhay, Leeds UK: latitude 53.846314 longitude -1.511049
Leeds live weather webcam view - Beta Summer 2012
Roundhay Leeds - webcams and live weather:
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Average Weather Statistics for Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK
|
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Avg. Max. |
6°C |
6°C |
8°C |
11°C |
15°C |
18°C |
19°C |
19°C |
17°C |
13°C |
9°C |
7°C |
Avg. Min. |
0°C |
0°C |
2°C |
3°C |
6°C |
9°C |
11°C |
11°C |
9°C |
6°C |
3°C |
1°C |
Mean |
3°C |
3°C |
6°C |
7°C |
11°C |
14°C |
16°C |
16°C |
13°C |
10°C |
6°C |
4°C |
Rain (mm) |
56 |
41 |
46 |
46 |
48 |
53 |
51 |
66 |
51 |
51 |
53 |
53 |
Roundhay Park Leeds - a brief history.
Roundhay in the 13th century was a three square mile hunting park for the DeLacy family of Pontefract Castle.
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