There are a few shops on the estate but no pubs,
there once was a pub on Vesper Road called "The Woodway"
which no longer exists. The nearest public house is either "The
Vesper Gate" on Kirkstall Road or the "Hark to Rover"
on Spen Lane. The only drinking place left on the estate now is
the Conservative Club on Cragside Walk.The name Hawksworth Wood,
probably originates from the wood that stood to the west of Kirkstall
Abbey. It provided shelter, fuel, pannage and building resources
such as thatch tp the abbey; timber was generally brought from
elsewhere since Alexander,the founding abbot of Kirkstall who
completed the initial building work, was concerned to preserve
the woodland at Hawksworth.
It is situated on a hill between West Park and
Horsforth and is circled by Butcher Hill, the A65 and Vesper Road.
Hawksworth comes under the LS5 Kirkstallpostcode and is commonly
known as The Hawk, The Hawkie or The Hawkie Estate
Another interesting fact concerning the area is
that the 1933 Penny of George V, a classic rarity had been placed
under the foundation stone of St. Mary’s Church in the area. Most
accounts indicate that a mere seven pieces were struck for special
presentation purposes, and only three currently reside in private
collections. In 1933 there was no requirement for the Mint to
produce any pennies because there were already enough in circulation.
Requests were, however, received for sets of coins dated 1933
to be placed under the foundation stones of buildings erected
in that year, and the Mint obliged by striking a small number
of coins. The result was to create a rarity that many people thought
could turn up in their change.
There is a metal hatch in Hawksworth Woods which
is actually the entrance to an old explosives store from when
the woods were once quarried for stone, this has been mistaken
for a WWII shelter.
After the First World War councils were encouraged
to build 'Homes fit for Heroes', and by 1930 7,000 new council
houses had been built in Leeds, these were on estates that included
the Hawksworth Wood.
Reports indicate that in 1970, during construction at Church of
St. Cross, Middleton, one of these examples was stolen. In response,
the Bishop of Ripon ordered that the St. Mary's Church 1933 Penny
be unearthed and sold as a protective measure to prevent its theft.
Numerous public rights of way run through the
woods which are accessible via Butcher Hill, Hawksworth Road,
New Road Side, Abbey Road, Vesper Road, Cragside Walk and Cragside
Close.
The woodland around the Hawksworth estate lies
within the framework of the Upper Aire Valley. part of these sites
were formerly quarried or gleaned for millstone grit but have
now reverted back to woodland and scrub.
The woodlands are predominantly mixed broadleaves
mainly containing oak and sycamore, with the understories consisting
of rowan, hazel, holly and guelder rose. Small pockets of heather
can also be found. These woodlands provide considerable colour
and diversity to this suburban and formerly industrial area and
are currently managed to ensure a continuity of multi-aged tree
cover. Great Hawksworth has received active management in recent
years through the removal of invasive tree species and the promotion
of understorey and ground flora.
There is a licensed restaurant called "Hand
Food's" on Vesper Road. TV series A Touch Of Frost starring
David Jason has been filmed on the Hawksworth Estate.
Hawksworth is a small, early twentieth-century
council estate in the Kirkstall area of Leeds, West Yorkshire,
England
Shops in the area include a post office, co-op,
bakers and several fast food establishments. Hawksworth Wood Primary
School is the only school on the estate, it was originally Hawksworth
Wood Primary School but was split into two in the 1970s, the Broadway
building became Hawksworth Wood Primary and the Cragside building
was redeveloped with old and new buildings to become Vesper Gate
Middle School, in recent times the Broadway building was closed
and changed to part of Park Lane College and is now a day centre
whilst the Cragside building is now called Hawksworth Wood Primary
again.
back to top