7 surprising things about Leeds you might not know

By Daniel Sheridan

Published 28th Feb 2019, 14:03 GMT

Updated 6th Aug 2019, 07:48 GMT

Fancy yourself as a historian?

Here are seven facts about Leeds you might not know:

Leeds

placeholder image — Leeds

Its strange to think hippos were once wandering around Leeds, but a discovery in 1851 found the bones of three hippopotami, thought to be over 130,000 years old.

Now displayed in Leeds City Museum, it is thought they roamed close to Armley Gyratory, one of the busiest road intersections today SWNS — Its strange to think hippos were once wandering around Leeds, but a discovery in 1851 found the bones of three hippopotami, thought to be over 130,000 years old. Now displayed in Leeds City Museum, it is thought they roamed close to Armley Gyratory, one of the busiest road intersections today SWNS

placeholder image — Its strange to think hippos were once wandering around Leeds, but a discovery in 1851 found the bones of three hippopotami, thought to be over 130,000 years old. Now displayed in Leeds City Museum, it is thought they roamed close to Armley Gyratory, one of the busiest road intersections today SWNS

Anyone whos driven down Cardigan Road will be familiar with the sight of a peculiar castle-like structure. However, the now listed building was once home to a bear pit as part of Leeds Zoological and Botanical Garden.

Opened in 1840, the gardens held a number of specimens brought back from far off places in the fast-expanding British Empire. Housing monkeys, eagles and swans, the Victorians were fascinated by the new creatures, but the bears were the main attraction - especially as visitors were able to feed them bananas if they climbed to the top of the pit!

Despite closing in 1848, the remains of the Victorian bear pit are still visible to passersby today. — Anyone whos driven down Cardigan Road will be familiar with the sight of a peculiar castle-like structure. However, the now listed building was once home to a bear pit as part of Leeds Zoological and Botanical Garden. Opened in 1840, the gardens held a number of specimens brought back from far off places in the fast-expanding British Empire. Housing monkeys, eagles and swans, the Victorians were fascinated by the new creatures, but the bears were the main attraction - especially as visitors were able to feed them bananas if they climbed to the top of the pit! Despite closing in 1848, the remains of the Victorian bear pit are still visible to passersby today.

placeholder image — Anyone whos driven down Cardigan Road will be familiar with the sight of a peculiar castle-like structure. However, the now listed building was once home to a bear pit as part of Leeds Zoological and Botanical Garden. Opened in 1840, the gardens held a number of specimens brought back from far off places in the fast-expanding British Empire. Housing monkeys, eagles and swans, the Victorians were fascinated by the new creatures, but the bears were the main attraction - especially as visitors were able to feed them bananas if they climbed to the top of the pit! Despite closing in 1848, the remains of the Victorian bear pit are still visible to passersby today.

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