The city's coat of arms has three stars taken from the coat of arms of Sir Thomas Danby, its first mayor; fleece to symbolise the wool industry and three owls taken from the coat of arms of first Alderman of Leeds Sir John Saville.placeholder image
The city's coat of arms has three stars taken from the coat of arms of Sir Thomas Danby, its first mayor; fleece to symbolise the wool industry and three owls taken from the coat of arms of first Alderman of Leeds Sir John Saville. | Mel Hulme

Random Leeds facts you (probably) didn’t know about your city

By Andrew Hutchinson
Published 20th Mar 2022, 11:30 GMT

Think you know everything there is to know about Leeds?

Think again. Here are some Leeds facts ranging from the informative and fascinating to the obscure and downright random. READ MORE: 21 famous faces who went to school in Leeds LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro on facebook

Barwick-in-Elmet has the tallest maypole in Britain at 86ft. There have been several attempts to steal it. Villagers from nearby Aberford once tried to carry it to their village but were forced to abandon it on Aberford Road.

1. Barwick-in-Elmet maypole

Barwick-in-Elmet has the tallest maypole in Britain at 86ft. There have been several attempts to steal it. Villagers from nearby Aberford once tried to carry it to their village but were forced to abandon it on Aberford Road. | Jim Moran Photo: Jim Moran

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The A58(M) inner ring road was the country's first urban motorway. The Westgate tunnel also lays claim to being the longest unventilated road tunnel in Europe.

2. A58(M) inner ring road

The A58(M) inner ring road was the country's first urban motorway. The Westgate tunnel also lays claim to being the longest unventilated road tunnel in Europe. | Mark Bickerdike Photo: Mark Bickerdike

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The geographical coordinates of Leeds are latitude: 534747 N; longitude: 13252 W. The elevation above sea level is 50 m = 164 ft.

3. Geographical coordinates

The geographical coordinates of Leeds are latitude: 534747 N; longitude: 13252 W. The elevation above sea level is 50 m = 164 ft. | Simon Hulme Photo: Simon Hulme

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When Sting was a student he worked for one summer at Hunslet in a frozen pea factory. "I worked seven days a week, 12-hour shifts, to save up for a guitar - the rest is history," he recalled.

4. Sting

When Sting was a student he worked for one summer at Hunslet in a frozen pea factory. "I worked seven days a week, 12-hour shifts, to save up for a guitar - the rest is history," he recalled. | Getty Photo: Getty

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Leeds City Station has 17 platforms. Opened in 1938 and has been rebuilt twice in 1967 and 2002.

5. Leeds City Station

Leeds City Station has 17 platforms. Opened in 1938 and has been rebuilt twice in 1967 and 2002. | Danny Lawson/PA Photo: Danny Lawson/PA

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An ancient oak tree used to stand proudly to the north of St Michael's Church in Headingley until 1941, where it stayed for 1,000 years. Known locally as the 'Shire Oak', it served as a meeting point for settling legal disputes and raising armies.

6. Shire Oak

An ancient oak tree used to stand proudly to the north of St Michael's Church in Headingley until 1941, where it stayed for 1,000 years. Known locally as the 'Shire Oak', it served as a meeting point for settling legal disputes and raising armies. | YPN Photo: YPN

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