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

Architect Cuthbert Brodrick £200 for his design for what would become Leeds Town Hall which was opened in September 1858 by Queen Victoria. Brodrick moved to an office on Park Row and acquired the nickname 'Town Hall, Leeds'.

7. Leeds Town Hall

Architect Cuthbert Brodrick £200 for his design for what would become Leeds Town Hall which was opened in September 1858 by Queen Victoria. Brodrick moved to an office on Park Row and acquired the nickname 'Town Hall, Leeds'. | YPN Photo: YPN

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Leeds comic Leigh Francis's character Avid Merrion isn't named after the shopping centre but Laimonis Mierins, his former lecturer at Leeds College of Art.

8. Avid Merrion

Leeds comic Leigh Francis's character Avid Merrion isn't named after the shopping centre but Laimonis Mierins, his former lecturer at Leeds College of Art. | Getty Photo: Getty

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The 71-mile-long River Aire passes through Leeds city centre and 38 other settlements on its way to the River Ouse. PIC: Jonny Wolfe

9. River Aire

The 71-mile-long River Aire passes through Leeds city centre and 38 other settlements on its way to the River Ouse. PIC: Jonny Wolfe | Jonny Wolfe Photo: Jonny Wolfe

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Leeds may not have a tram system in place like many UK cities, but the city does have a hidden subway system. Built in 1903, a network of subway tunnels were constructed under New York Street.

10. Subway tunnels

Leeds may not have a tram system in place like many UK cities, but the city does have a hidden subway system. Built in 1903, a network of subway tunnels were constructed under New York Street. | YPN Photo: YPN

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Woodhouse Moor is ideal for a walk, but the grounds do hide a rather less idyllic view just below the surface. The large mound on the moor actually hides an abandoned air raid shelter from World War Two.

11. Woodhouse Moor

Woodhouse Moor is ideal for a walk, but the grounds do hide a rather less idyllic view just below the surface. The large mound on the moor actually hides an abandoned air raid shelter from World War Two. | James Hardisty Photo: James Hardisty

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A converted synagogue in Chapel Allerton was the proud host of legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix in 1967. The poorly attended gig at the International Club won't go down as Hendrix's finest, the next one in Ilkley proved a hit.

12. Jimi Hendrix

A converted synagogue in Chapel Allerton was the proud host of legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix in 1967. The poorly attended gig at the International Club won't go down as Hendrix's finest, the next one in Ilkley proved a hit. | Getty Photo: Getty

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