Leeds Dock

The dock was constructed for boats using the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the Aire and Calder Navigation to tranship goods and commodities from Leeds city centre in 1843.{{cite web|url= http://www.insidermedia.com/insider/yorkshire/124553-/|title=Approval secured for “unique” Leeds plans|date=1 October 2014|publisher=Yorkshire News|accessdate=7 October 2015}} It was primarily used to bring coal from collieries around Rothwell and Wakefield to supply heavy industries in Hunslet and business and commerce in Leeds city centre.{{cite web|url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/photo-essay-leeds-dock-waterway-destination-unites-past-and-present-1-8722038|title=Leeds Dock - waterway destination unites past and present|work=Yorkshire Evening Post|accessdate=11 August 2018}}

The western side of the dock once had a large crane on tracks along the side of the dock to load and unload goods from canal barges. In the 1990s the surrounding area was made up of Victorian industrial buildings most of which were derelict. Throughout the second half of the 20th century the area suffered steady industrial decline. The mills and many heavy engineering works began to close, move further out of town or scale down.{{cite web|url=https://leeds-list.com/discussion/3-developments-intricately-entwined-with-leeds-history/|title=Three Developments Intricately Entwined with Leeds’ History|date=4 April 2016|publisher=Leeds List|accessdate=11 August 2018}}

Construction of the £42.5 million purpose-built Royal Armouries Museum marked the start of the area's redevelopment which opened in March 1996.{{cite web|url= http://www.visitleeds.co.uk/thedms.aspx?dms=3&venue=1500165#|title=Royal Armouries Museum|publisher=Visit Leeds|accessdate=7 October 2015}} No further development was made until 2004 when a multi-storey car park opened followed by an Express hotel in August 2006.{{cite web|url= http://leisureopportunities.co.uk/detail.cfm?pagetype=detail&subject=news&codeID=16715|title=130-room hotel opens at Clarence Dock|date=21 August 2006|publisher=Leisure Opportunities| accessdate=7 October 2015}} The retail and leisure sector was launched on 11 October 2008 with fashion shows from celebrity fashion consultant and TV presenter Gok Wan.{{cite web|url= http://www.contactmusic.com/pictures/73a30a55/gok_wan_host_the_leeds_shopping_week_at_clarence_dock_2117088#slider-10|title=Gok Wan hosts the Leeds Shopping Week at Clarence Dock|publisher=Contract Music|date=11 October 2008|accessdate=7 October 2015}} However few retail chains were attracted to the area and the site failed to take off as a shopping centre.{{cite news|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/features/video-failed-corner-of-leeds-desperate-to-make-a-splash-1-6445457|title=Failed corner of Leeds desperate to make a splash|work=Yorkshire Post|accessdate=8 September 2014}}

The site, which had been known as Clarence Dock, became New Dock in mid-2012 as part of a re-branding initiative.{{cite news|title=Clarence Dock renamed back to New Dock|url=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/top-stories/central-leeds-new-name-and-new-dawn-for-troubled-clarence-dock-1-4806494|newspaper=Yorkshire Evening Post|accessdate=6 August 2012}} The site was bought by Allied London, and rebranded as Leeds Dock in 2013.{{cite web|url= http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/top-stories/clarence-dock-new-plans-for-leeds-waterfront-1-5660448|title=Clarence Dock: new plans for Leeds Waterfront|date=10 May 2013|accessdate=7 October 2015|work=Yorkshire Evening Post}}

Leeds Dock is the home of the Royal Armouries Museum, a major national museum.{{cite web|title=Royal Armouries: Leeds|url=http://www.royalarmouries.org/visit-us/leeds|publisher=Royal Armouries|accessdate=7 May 2012}} The site attracts around 1.5 million visitors a year.{{cite web|url=http://www.royalarmouries.org/assets-uploaded/documents/2012_13_Royal_Armouries_Final.pdf|title=Annual Report 2013|publisher=Royal Armouries|accessdate=6 October 2015}} Although the site was originally intended to include a destination shopping centre, few shops opened and most of the shops that did open have since closed.{{cite news|url=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/top-stories/clarence-dock-ups-and-downs-of-leeds-cornerstone-development-1-2255377|title=Clarence Dock: Ups and downs of Leeds cornerstone development |newspaper=Yorkshire Evening Post|accessdate=8 September 2014}} Leeds Dock's main shopping street, 'The Boulevard' radiates southbound from Armouries Square. Another focal point is 'The Anchorage' at the top of the dock. Clarence House is a {{convert|218|ft|m|sing=on}} tower containing 227 apartments and six retail units.{{cite web|url=http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=1015|title=Clarence House|publisher=Skyscraper News|accessdate=11 August 2018}}

File:Knight's Way Bridge (14221790918).jpg|Knights Way Bridge at Leeds Dock over The River Aire, linking Leeds Dock with the East Bank, designed by Buro Happold

File:Clarence Dock 1.jpg|Leeds Dock

File:Clarence Dock 2.jpg|Waterfront Festival Day at Leeds Dock

File:Clarencedockboulevard.jpg|The Boulevard at Leeds Dock, looking towards the Royal Armouries Museum

File:Clarence Dock Public Art.jpg|Public art on display at Leeds Dock

File:Clarence House, Leeds.JPG|Clarence House

File:Armouriessquare.jpg|Armouries Square

• List of tallest buildings in Leeds
• Architecture of Leeds

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{{Commons category|Clarence Dock, Leeds}}

• [http://www.leedsdock.com/ Leeds Dock official website]

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{{City of Leeds}}

Category:Buildings and structures in Leeds

Category:Buildings and structures completed in 2007