Sponsored by
It's a debate that has raged for about as long as the community has existed.
And we want YOU to tell us what you think.
We want you to vote on whether name of the east Leeds suburb be written using one word, as in Crossgates, or two: Cross Gates.
The vote panel on the side bar to the right offers two options - Cross Gates or Crossgates. You decide.
And you can also leave your comments at the top of this story. We want you to tell us your views on the issue.
The signs scattered around the town only add to, rather than clear up, the confusion.
Some local businesses chose the two-word version, others the all in one.
Even the train station welcomes passengers to Cross Gates on one side of the platform and Crossgates on the other.
To add to the confusion, the suburb's shopping mecca, this year celebrating its 40th birthday, has gone by three names.
To most of the locals, the place will always be The Arndale Centre, at one point it was known as Cross Gates Shopping Centre, then later became Crossgates Shopping Centre.
Speaking after a major revamp at the centre saw it get its current name, manager Steve Seymour said: "It has been an on-running saga as to what the area is called and even the railway station features both names, which is quite confusing.
"It has always been my thinking that it was Crossgates and following discussions with the new owners it was decided to change."
The area's name is in fact derived from Crossyates, which was first mentioned in Whitkirk's parish records in the 15th century.
Yate was the old English word for gate and it is thought the name came from the gates used to divide land in the area and keep in cattle.
Since then it has been written as both one word and two, with neither said to be wrong.
David Owens, president of the East Leeds History and Archaeology Society, admitted he was as stumped as anyone else.
"I've looked into all the historical records for the area and there doesn't seem to be a definitive answer, " he said.
"It just seems to be an interesting quirk that no one is ever going to solve. Whichever way you write it, you are neither right nor wrong."
But Edna White of York Road, Leeds, who used to live in Austhorpe, was adamant there are two words in the name.
"Cross Gates has always been two words in my view, " she said.
"It always used to be like that and it's only recently that signs have appeared with it as one word.
"It looks wrong and it is wrong I think the council should be made aware of this and told to correct any wrong signs."
Email to a friend
Print this page- Web poll: Who is to blame for Leeds United’s league position? VOTE HERE
- Leeds United: Redfearn among bookmakers’ favourites for job UPDATED
- Leeds United: Billy Davies will listen if Whites come calling
- Leeds United: A Bristol breeze! - Gray
- Bristol City v Leeds United: Redfearn focused on the here and now
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Leeds
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -7 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 0 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: South west
