Welcomes you to Leeds, England   ~~ Without Dave, I wouldn't have these impressive photographs which show the gorgeous architecture and the rich details of the impressive, Leeds.  Dave is a lively character who has had 'me side in stitches,' many times with his quick wit and sense of humor.  Thanks Dave! ~~         The Adel church was built in the 12th Century by the Normans, although Adel had previously been settled by the Britons and later by the Romans. The church is said to be one of the gems of Yorkshire and the beautiful Norman doorway is one of the best examples in the country.       City Square is immediately outside the railway station and is the first thing seen by visitors arriving by rail. The layout of the square has been altered many times even during my lifetime but that seen in the photo is the most recent, taken August, 2004. In the centre is the impressive statue of the Black Prince given to the city in 1903 by a former Lord Mayor, Colonel T.W.Harding who was Lord Mayor from 1898 to 1899. The Colonel, who was a keen student of medieval history, ignored the fact that the Black Prince had no connection with the city. In addition to the Prince there are statues of scantily clad nymphs bearing lamps.       The ruins of this Cistercian Abbey stand on the banks of the River Aire three miles outside the City Centre. Founded in 1152 by Henry de Lacy, the Abbey eventually owned large areas of land and was responsible to a large extent for the establishment of the clothing trade in Leeds.Kirkstall Abbey was dissolved by Henry Vlll on 22nd November 1539. An extensive programme of preservation is under way at the Abbey at the moment to protect the ruins for future generations.     Leeds Town Hall (photo on left) is the archetype Town Hall, photos of it being used frequently in TV news bulletins when dealing with news items concerning local government. It was designed in the middle of the 19th Century by Cuthbert Broderick who was also responsible for the design of the Corn Exchange and covers 5600 square yards. The main hall of the building is called The Victoria Hall and was opened by Queen Victoria (who else?) on a visit to Leeds in 1859. The Town Hall was the home of the Assize Courts and later of the Crown Court from it's  establishment in 1972 until 1982 when the Crown Court moved into a purpose built complex 50 yards away. Yard off Lanes....The centre of Leeds abounds with old alleyways and yards contrasting sharply with the modern developments of a 21st Century commercial centre. More often that not a public house can be found in these yards. For more beautiful Leeds photographs, please go to the next page