Roundhay Park has proved to be one of the city’s green lungs down the decades. These photos showcase the many ways it has impacted the lives of residents and beyond through the years. The 700 acres of parkland became owned by Leeds Corporation in 1871 but being so far from the centre of Leeds and lacking adequate public transport it took off slowly with some arguing it was a white elephant. However with the coming of the tramway system, in particular the first electric tramway operating on the overhead wire system in Europe, introduced in 1891, the park quickly established itself as a popular visitor attraction for the masses. These photos features landmarks including Waterloo Lake, Canal Gardens, Lakeside Cafe and Hill 60, named to commemorate Leeds soldiers who died in WWI battles around Hill 60 in Ypres, Belgium. These images also showcase major events down the years including Children’s Day, held annually from 1920 to 1963, and Roundhay Gala. The photos are a mix from the YEP archive and others published courtesy of West Yorkshire Archive Service, Thoresby Society, Artemis and photographic archive Leodis, which is run by Leeds Library & Information Service. READ MORE: Memories of Roundhay Park's open air swimming pool LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro on facebook
13. Roundhay Park
Spectators watch a display of physical education drill at the arena area in Roundhay Park on Children's Day in 1928. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
14. Roundhay Park
The Lady Mayoress, Ella Lupton presents a silver cup at Leeds Flower Show held at Roundhay Park in July 1927. | Thoresby Society Photo: Thoresby Society
15. Roundhay Park
A small children's carousel located near the Waterloo Lake side car park in 1967. Run by the Miller family the ride consists of scaled down vehicles for children including a fire engine, a train, a motorcycle and two buses with notices reading 'Do Not Alight Until Bus Stops' on the rear and Miller's Tours, on the front. A sign shows the fare to be 6D, the year 2003 equivalent would be 2.5p. The fairground was removed in the late 1990s. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
16. Roundhay Park
The ornamental Leeds Rose Gardens pictured in August 1966. When the rose gardens were originally planted in 1901 they was known as Coronation Gardens and the glass conservatory was Coronation House, now the site of Tropical World. During the war years the gardens were given over to vegetables but were later restocked with roses. | YPN Photo: YPN
17. Roundhay Park
The fairground at showing the helter skelter and roundabout in June 1967 | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
18. Roundhay Park
The Upper Lake in winter of 1958. The late is frozen, many people on the ice, possibly even skating. | YPN Photo: YPN