Leeds nostalgia: The fascinating story of Lee Gap Fair

It’s the Leeds fair which boasts a known history of more than 850 years. Lee Gap Fair officially dates from 1135 when King Henry 1st gave Nostell Priory a Royal Charter to hold fairs at Woodkirk. When his nephew, Stephen, became King he reissued the charter in about 1136 and fairs have been held in West Ardsley ever since. The charter allowed the fairs on two, three day occasions annually - August 13, 14 and 15 and September 6, 7 and 8. Travellers very often stayed from one fair until the next, a period lasting over three weeks. Horse trading has always taken place but the Lee Gap Fair was famous for trading in fleeces and woollen cloth in the Middle Ages, attracting merchants from the continent. The fair is named after Thomas Lee, a commissioner from London sent by Henry VIII to value Nostell Priory and it's lands. After the dissolution of the monasteries Thomas Lee seized the opportunity to purchase the lands from King Henry. These photos, a mix from the YEP archive and others published courtesy of the David Atkinson Archive whose collection is housed on photographic archive Leodis, which is run by Leeds Library & Information Service, showcase photo highlights from the event down the decades. READ MORE: Wonderful photos take you back to West Ardsley in the 1960s LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro on facebook YEP RETRO NEWSLETTER: Sign up for our free monthly email digest of Leeds nostalgia