Moortown, Leeds

File:Moortown Water Tower.JPG, north of the Ring Road]]

The suburb is located around the junction of the (north-south) Harrogate Road A61 road and the Leeds Outer Ring Road (A6120) (west-east), at that point called the Moortown Ring Road, and overlooked by a Water Tower. Scott Hall Road (A61) and Harrogate Road lead southwards to Leeds city centre. The Leeds City Council boundary for Moortown ward is the Ring Road, with properties to the north in the Alwoodley ward.[http://www.leeds.gov.uk/docs/Moortown%20ward.pdf www.leeds.gov.uk] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530211036/http://www.leeds.gov.uk/docs/Moortown%20ward.pdf |date=30 May 2015 }} Moortown Ward (map) The Church of England parish includes areas north of the Ring Road. Woodland north and south of the Ring Road and by the water tower is called the Moortown Plantation.[http://www.leeds.gov.uk/fol/fol_11.html Forest of Leeds] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080608233955/http://www.leeds.gov.uk/fol/fol_11.html |date=8 June 2008 }} Moortown Plantation A post office, petrol station and other shops are located on Harrogate Road at the northern end of Moortown.

Moortown includes small estates of council housing around the junction of King Lane and the Moortown Ring Road.[http://www.eastnortheasthomesleeds.org.uk/files/ENEHL/2008/24/welcome%20to%20your%20office%20moortown(1).pdf Welcome to Moortown]{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Leeds City Council publication.

Moortown Corner is the junction between Street Lane and Harrogate Road, a local shopping area and geographical reference. The building known as the Corner House was built as a cinema (1938–1940), ballroom and restaurant but now contains shops. From 1968 to 2008 it contained a casino.[http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/Wheel-spins-at-Leeds-casino.4592154.jp Yorkshire Evening Post 15 October 2008] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081019000017/http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/Wheel-spins-at-Leeds-casino.4592154.jp |date=19 October 2008 }} Wheel spins at Leeds casino for last time Nearby is a large Marks and Spencer Simply Food supermarket which serves the surrounding area. Branches of Leeds Building Society and Virgin Money (formerly Yorkshire Bank) can also be found at Moortown Corner. Halifax closed its local branch on 9 January 2024.

Moortown Corner is served by First Leeds service 2, which is represented red on the high frequency Leeds core bus network map. Less regularly, services 7A, 7S, and 48 run through Moortown Corner. Harrogate Bus Company's distinctive route 36 also serves Moortown Corner, currently {{asof|June 2025|lc=yes}}, running between central Leeds and Harrogate every 10 minutes (continuing to Ripon every 30 minutes).Bustimes.org., [https://bustimes.org/services/36-ripon-harrogate-harewood-leeds Ripon & Harrogate to Leeds] {{Webarchive|url=https://bustimes.org/services/36-ripon-harrogate-harewood-leeds |date=16 June 2025 }}, accessed 16 June 2025

File:PennyFun.JPGMoor Allerton District Centre is adjacent to the Moortown estate (west), north of the Ring Road and west of the junction with King Lane, which opened in 1982.{{cite web| url = http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?resourceIdentifier=2002326_73720950| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110928074724/http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?resourceIdentifier=2002326_73720950| archive-date = 2011-09-28| title = Leodis - a photographic archive of Leeds - Display}} Primarily a shopping centre, with a large Sainsbury's, and a Homebase, it also includes a public library. A public house, the King on the Lane, was called the Penny Fun until 2019; its name relates to the history of the area as follows. The word 'pen' comes from the Celtic for 'hill'. What is now Tunnel How Hill is visible from the Centre to the south-west. It was previously Pen-how-fyn, and a hamlet around what is now the Centre was Paenfynaen (where fynaen means settlement). Tunnel How Hill was referred to as Penny Fun in the 19th century and several houses in the vicinity used the name.Leeds Mercury 29 May 1886 "Local Notes and Queries" There is a Penny Field nearby in Meanwood Park.

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Image:MoortownSocialClub.jpg

To the north of the ring road and west of King Lane is the Moortown estate (west) and Cranmer Bank is part of the estate, named after the moor on which Moortown was situated. This has varied housing from the 1950s to recent along Black Moor road. There is a parade of shops on Cranmer Bank as well as Moortown Social Club at the top of the hill, along with St Stephen's Church (C of E). The main areas on the estate are Blackmoor, Tynwald, Deanswood, Scotland Wood, Cranmer Bank, Alderton and Saxon.

File:LingfieldFlats1.JPG

To the north of the ring road and east of King Lane is the Lingfield Estate comprising mainly semi-detached tenant properties and council flats.

File:MoortownBaptist.jpg

File:Moortown Fire Station.jpg

To the south of the ring road and east of King Lane is the Queenshill estate, mainly low-rise flats, which was opened in 1962 by Sir Keith Joseph.{{cite book |last1=Saunders |first1=Diane |last2=Lester |first2=Philippa |date=2014 |title=From the Leylands to Leeds 17 |url=https://leylandsls17.co.uk/ |location=Leeds |publisher=Dark Ink |isbn=978-0957698543 |access-date=17 September 2018 |archive-date=1 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180901084210/https://leylandsls17.co.uk/ |url-status=live }} This area contains a small row of shops, a fire station, Moortown Baptist Church, and the offices of the Leeds Jewish Housing Association.

A smaller development of public housing lies to the south of the ring road and west of King Lane, essentially in the grounds of a former mansion, Leafield House, later Leafield Clinic, where the former Leeds North Clinical Commissioning Group's offices were located,[https://www.leedsnorthccg.nhs.uk/ Leeds North Clinical Commissioning Group] and which is now a nursery.Ofsted, [https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2732622 Leafield House Nursery], accessed 11 September 2023

Leafield House was built around 1873 and was known initially as Albert House. In the 1920s, it was the family home of William Powell Bowman (1862-1955), the owner of Goodall, Backhouse & Co., who described his profession as a “wholesale druggist and manufacturer of the celebrated Yorkshire Relish". Millions of bottles of Yorkshire Relish – a piquant, cold sauce – were manufactured in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Leafield House was bought in 1951 and two years later, the Leeds Corporation Health Committee submitted a planning application to turn the building into a maternity and child welfare centre. When clinical services were moved to more modern surroundings in 2012, Leafield House was refurbished to provide office space.NHS Property Services, [https://www.property.nhs.uk/news-insight/news/former-home-of-yorkshire-relish-marketed-to-raise-funds-for-reinvestment-in-nhs/ Former home of ‘Yorkshire Relish’ marketed to raise funds for reinvestment in NHS] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624065508/https://www.property.nhs.uk/news-insight/news/former-home-of-yorkshire-relish-marketed-to-raise-funds-for-reinvestment-in-nhs/ |date=24 June 2021 }}, undated, accessed 21 September 2020

File:DarkwoodLS17.jpg

A small 1990 development low-rise flats off Shadwell Lane, in woods known as Blackwoods, part of the Forest of Leeds.[http://www.leeds.gov.uk/fol/fol_14.html The Forest of Leeds] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080830041632/http://www.leeds.gov.uk/fol/fol_14.html |date=30 August 2008 }} The property was originally a large private estate called "Blackwood". It was acquired by the City of Leeds sometime prior to 1963 and converted into several large flats with the extensive grounds preserved until the subsequent development of low rise flats in the 1990s.

File:M A Ziff Centre.jpg

Moortown and neighbouring Alwoodley are the main centres of the Leeds Jewish community. There are three synagogues in the Moortown area: the Beth Hamidrash Hagadol Synagogue on Street Lane, Etz Chaim Synagogue on Harrogate Road and the UHC Synagogue on Shadwell Lane. The Marjorie and Arnold Ziff Community Centre opened in 2005, providing facilities for the Jewish community in Leeds and district, with the only Kosher restaurant in Leeds and providing offices for some Jewish organisations. The Church of England parish church is St John the Evangelist on the corner of Harrogate Road and the ring road; the Catholic church is the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. There is also a Baptist church on King Lane. Moortown Methodist Church Centre is located in the Black Moor area: it is currently used by Showers of Mercy Ministries International,{{Cite web |url=http://www.showersofmercy.com/ |title=Showers of Mercy Ministries International |access-date=14 November 2018 |archive-date=21 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121075758/https://www.showersofmercy.com/ |url-status=live }} Lighthouse Chapel and Leeds Independent Seventh Day Adventist Church,[http://www.leedsnandemethodist.org.uk/moortownmc.php Moortown Methodist Church Centre], accessed 22 December 2017 but there are no regular Methodist services there. There are three mosques which also act as Muslim community centres, including one in the former "Lingfield" public house on Lingfield Hill, which opened in 2016.[http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/muslim-run-community-centre-opens-in-leeds-three-years-after-far-right-protest-1-7822571 Yorkshire Evening Post] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305040954/http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/muslim-run-community-centre-opens-in-leeds-three-years-after-far-right-protest-1-7822571 |date=5 March 2017 }} "Muslim-run community centre opens in Leeds three years after far-right protest", published 29 March 2016

File:St Gemma's Hospice 04 May 2017 02.jpg

Moortown is home to St Gemma's Hospice, a charity hospice founded by the Sisters of the Cross and Passion in 1978.{{cite web |url=http://www.st-gemma.co.uk/about-us |title=About St Gemma's Hospice |author= |website=www.st-gemma.co.uk |publisher=St Gemma's Hospice |access-date=21 July 2020 |archive-date=1 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901140438/https://www.st-gemma.co.uk/about-us |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://beta.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1015941&subid=0 |title=St Gemma's Hospice |author= |website=beta.charitycommission.gov.uk |publisher=Charity Commission |access-date=21 July 2020 |archive-date=21 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721154349/https://beta.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1015941&subid=0 |url-status=live }} It is named after St Gemma's School which formerly occupied the site, in turn named after Italian Saint Gemma Galgani. This is situated to the south of Moortown Corner on Harrogate Road. In 2017 it became a University Teaching Hospice in association with the University of Leeds to give instruction in palliative care for health professionals.{{cite web |url=http://www.st-gemma.co.uk/UniversityTeachingHospice |title=We are a University Teaching Hospice |author= |website=www.st-gemma.co.uk |publisher=St Gemma's Hospice |access-date=4 October 2017 |archive-date=5 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005050608/http://www.st-gemma.co.uk/UniversityTeachingHospice |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.leeds.ac.uk/news/article/4072/first_formal_university_teaching_hospice_created_in_uk |title=First formal university teaching hospice created in UK |author= |website=www.leeds.ac.uk |date=5 July 2017 |publisher=University of Leeds |access-date=21 July 2020 |archive-date=21 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721153252/http://www.leeds.ac.uk/news/article/4072/first_formal_university_teaching_hospice_created_in_uk |url-status=live }} St Gemma's Hospice operates 24 charity shops around Leeds.{{cite web |url=https://www.st-gemma.co.uk/charity-shops |title=St Gemma's Hospice Charity Shops |author= |website=www.st-gemma.co.uk |publisher=St Gemma's Hospice |access-date=21 July 2020 |archive-date=11 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811035122/https://www.st-gemma.co.uk/charity-shops |url-status=live }}

There is a Rugby Union football club.{{cite web |url=https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/moortownrufc |title=Moortown RUFC |author= |website=www.pitchero.com |publisher=Pitchero |access-date=20 July 2020 |archive-date=12 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812092319/https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/moortownrufc |url-status=live }} Moortown Golf Club hosted the 1929 Ryder Cup, but is well north of the Ring Road and is now in the Alwoodley ward. Moor Allerton Sports and Social Centre {{cite web |url=https://www.massc.org/ |title=MASSC Moor Allerton Sports Centre |author= |website=www.massc.org |access-date=25 April 2020 |archive-date=27 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927195053/https://www.massc.org/ |url-status=live }} has bowls, tennis and indoor activities. North Leeds FC's home pitch is situated on Cranmer Bank, next to Moortown Social Club.{{cite web |url=https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/northleedsfc/teams/ |title=North Leeds FC |author= |website=www.pitchero.com |publisher=Pitchero |access-date=20 July 2020 |archive-date=21 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721162841/https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/northleedsfc/teams/ |url-status=live }}

As of July 2022 there are three Labour Councillors and one Labour MP who are responsible for raising concerns / issues from the Moortown community.{{cite web |url=http://democracy.leeds.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=WARD |title=Your Councillors |author= |website=leeds.gov.uk |publisher=Leeds City Council |access-date=11 July 2022 |archive-date=21 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210621223412/https://democracy.leeds.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=WARD |url-status=live }} Moortown Community Group has a history on interacting with local councillors on behalf the local community, for example in working on the Council's Neighbourhood Design Statement.Moortown Community Group, [http://www.moortowncommunitygroup.org.uk/index.php/neighbourhood-design-statement Neighbourhood Design Statement], accessed 11 September 2023

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• Listed buildings in Leeds (Moortown Ward)

{{Reflist|2}}

• [http://www.moortowntoday.co.uk YEP Moortown Today Community Website]
• [http://www.leodis.org/display.aspx?resourceIdentifier=2004113_37865847 Moortown Corner House 2003, Leodis Photographic Archive]
• [http://www.leodis.org/display.aspx?resourceIdentifier=5123 Moortown Corner 1950, with tram tracks along Street Lane, Leodis Photographic Archive]
• [http://www.leeds.gov.uk/fol/fol_11.html Moortown Plantation, Forest of Leeds]
• {{cite web |url=http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/YKS/WRY/Leeds/index.html |title=The Ancient Parish of Leeds |publisher=GENUKI}} Historical and genealogical resource for area including Moortown
• [http://www.moortowncommunitygroup.org.uk/ Moortown Community Group]

• [http://www.stjohnvianneyleeds.org.uk/ Immaculate Heart of Mary RC Church]
• [http://www.moortownbaptist.org.uk/ Moortown Baptist Church]
• [http://www.allnationscc.org/ All Nations Community Church]
• [http://www.sinaisynagogue.org.uk/ Sinai Synagogue, Roman Avenue, Moortown]

{{City of Leeds}}

Moortown