40-618: Kirkstall Forge is a 57-acre mixed-use development located in Kirkstall in Leeds , West Yorkshire . The site is one of the oldest most continuously used industrial sites in England . It was operated by Kirkstall Forge Engineering , a metalworking business. It was a working forge until 1995 when the site was bought by Commercial Estates Group who have had plans approved to build 1,050 homes, 300,000 sq ft of office space, 100,000 sq ft of leisure and retail and
80-751: A bar/restaurant, opened in November 2017 on the ground floor of Number One, named after the Butler family who were involved with the management of the Forge for over six generations. There is planning permission for 1,050 new homes. Kirkstall Kirkstall is a north-western suburb of Leeds , West Yorkshire , England, on the eastern side of the River Aire . The area sits in the Kirkstall ward of Leeds City Council and Leeds Central and Headingley parliamentary constituency , represented by Alex Sobel . The population of
120-468: A few roads named in his memory. The Abbey Light Railway , which connected the grounds of the abbey with the Bridge Road commercial area, was closed down in 2012. The name of Kirkstall comes from a Northern dialect of Old English word 'Kirk' ('church') and Old English stall ('place') and means 'site of a church'. The traveller John Leland spelt the name as "Christal" in his writings of 1536. During
160-476: A primary school. In June 2016 a railway station was opened on the site served by trains between Leeds and Bradford . In the 19th century, as well as ironforging, the metalworking business produced axles for horse-drawn vehicles. As motor vehicles became more common, in the early 20th century, the forge specialised in motor vehicle axles and in steel bar. During the First World War, forging was stopped, allowing
200-475: A reformer and fighter for children's rights, is buried in a crypt under the church's east end. In the 12th century Cistercian monks founded Kirkstall Abbey , a daughter house of Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire . The Abbey House Museum opposite the abbey tells the story of the community and the town. Henry De Lacey, Baron of Pontefract, gave the land for the foundation of the abbey, and Kirkstall has
240-489: A supermarket and several other shops around it on the site of the former Waddingtons factory.The Kirkstall Bridge Shopping complex contains many stores. A small shopping precinct is situated adjacent to the A65 and Kirkstall Lane has become dilapidated in recent years, soon to be rebuilt on with houses and shops. St Stephen 's C of E (VA) Primary School has a coat of arms that reflects Kirkstall's rich history. Kirkstall
280-473: Is a few minutes walk from the centre of Kirkstall. The former Leeds tramway ran through Kirkstall until it was dismantled in 1959, a substation used by the tramway is still visible on Abbey Road. There are many bus routes through Kirkstall. The Leeds and Liverpool Canal also passes through Kirkstall close to the river and its tow path provides walking, running and cycling routes to Leeds and also west to Rodley and Shipley . The Kirkstall Brewery site
320-552: Is located on the site of a former farm. The building dates back to at least 1700. A trade directory of the 1870s lists 'Joseph Whitwell Gentleman Rhubarb farmer of Hollybush House'. Hollybush Farm, under Whitwell, poineered forced rhubarb , he was known as the largest commercial grower in the area. This led to the creation of the rhubarb triangle . In 2015 Kirkstall was subject to major flooding, affecting over 3,000 properties. The River Aire banks broke leaving vast areas of Kirkstall under deep water, reaching record levels according to
360-510: Is organised by a small committee made up of volunteers. During the COVID-19 pandemic the Art Trail was put on hold, and they created a Living Advent Trail during the winter of 2020, which now takes place every year. Kirkstall is rich in historic sites and monuments. St. Stephen's churchyard has fine 19th century grave markers. Other landmarks include an elegant early 19th century stone monument on
400-620: Is sited on the Airedale and Wharfedale lines , the station was to be served by trains between Leeds and Bradford Forster Square providing two trains per hour in each direction. The May 2016 timetable, published by Network Rail and Metro, shows the station as being served by one train per hour between Leeds and Ilkley , with a limited number of additional calls (peak hour & late night) provided by Airedale Line services to/from Skipton & Bradford. On Sundays Leeds to Bradford Forster Square trains call once per hour each way. In November 2017
440-789: Is situated on the A65 road which links it to Leeds city centre , Guiseley , Yeadon and Ilkley . This is crossed in the town centre by the B6157 road between Stanningley and Moortown . The latter crosses the River Aire on the Grade II listed Kirkstall Bridge . There are two railway lines: The Bradford line passes along the Aire Valley and has a railway station at Kirkstall Forge which opened in June 2016. The Harrogate line passes near Kirkstall and Headingley station
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#1733093412412480-611: The A65 road near the Kirkstall Forge site. A plaque on the monument indicates that Kirkstall is 200 miles from London and 200 miles from Edinburgh . The re-located 19th century drinking fountain near the demolished police station at the junction of Abbey Road and Bradford Road proclaims 'Drink and be Grateful'. The fountain's little garden had been neglected for many a year until local community gardening group Kirkstall-in-Bloom made it their initial project in 2012. Hollybush Conservation Centre (part of The Conservation Volunteers )
520-638: The English Civil War , the bridge over the Aire at Kirkstall (referred to in a contemporaneous account as 'Churchstall') was destroyed by Royalist troops from Leeds. After discovering this, a Parliamentary force led by Ferdinando Fairfax, 2nd Lord Fairfax of Cameron – from Otley – had to cross the river upstream at Apperley Bridge before retaking Leeds in January 1643. Kirkstall was historically an important centre of industry. Kirkstall Forge lays claim to being
560-633: The Great Exhibition in 1851 in Class V and won an award. In 1851 the forge changed its name, and Beecroft, Butler and Co became the Kirkstall Forge Company. Edmund Butler (1848–1923) had been involved in the management of the Forge under the guidance of his father Ambrose and his uncle John Butler. In 1876 he was asked to read a paper before the meeting of British Iron and Steel Institute in Leeds about
600-596: The Kirkstall Forge Engineering closing in stages during the 1980s, 1990s and the early 2000s. The new station, near the site of the original, opened on 19 June 2016. Metro , the Passenger Transport Executive for West Yorkshire, opened the station having already overseen the opening of nearby Apperley Bridge in December 2015. Go-ahead for construction at Kirkstall Forge and Apperley Bridge
640-605: The Butlers and Beecrofts before they took the lease. Ambrose Butler (1816–1883), grandson of John Butler, joined the partnership in 1831 aged just 15 as an assistant to his uncle George Skirrow Beecroft, alongside his brother John in 1839. They alongside their brother Thomas later bought out George in 1855 for £71,200. Ambrose focused particularly on cart axle production, re-equipping the facilities on site to enable high-volume production of standardised products. By 1876 cart axles, and railway wheels and axles represented between 30 and 40% of
680-523: The Environment Agency. During the floods which reached national news, two local men were pictured at a pub the ‘Kirkstall Bridge Inn’ in the beer garden submerged in water drinking pints, the image has since become viral. Kirkstall Forge railway station Kirkstall Forge railway station is a station serving the Kirkstall area of Leeds , West Yorkshire , England. It is on the Leeds to Bradford Line between Leeds City and Shipley and
720-522: The Leeds - Bradford Forster Square trains (Ilkley connections are now available at Shipley). Certain Skipton services do stop in the weekday peak and after 19:30 Mondays to Saturdays when the Bradford - Leeds service does not operate. Sunday services remain unchanged. In 1999, Metro announced that Kirkstall Forge and Apperley Bridge were among five new or reopened stations which they wished to see achieved over
760-461: The business to concentrate on axle production. During the Second World War , production expanded to meet the demand for military vehicles, and the site was camouflaged to reduce the risk of bombing raids. The history of the forge can be dated to a 12th-century (1151 A.D.) mill race which powered a corn mill for the monks of Kirkstall Abbey. Iron production began in the 16th century, making it
800-602: The business to concentrate on axle production. During the Second World War, production expanded to meet the demand for military vehicles, and the site was camouflaged to reduce the risk of bombing raids. During World War II, many bombing raids were carried out along the Aire Valley. In 1964, Kirkstall Forge bought the Regent Axle company based in Burnley to expand its gear machining capabilities. In 1974, Kirkstall Forge Engineering
840-466: The closure of the works, shifting production to India and Spain . The site is undergoing major redevelopment, as is the old Waide's Printers & Kwik Save site. Printing has, like iron-founding, suffered a decline, several printing companies remain. Until 1976 when it was closed, Kirkstall was dominated by a coal fired power station. It was replaced by larger power stations away from town at Ferrybridge , Eggborough and Drax . The power station
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#1733093412412880-457: The company had produced bright steel bars that were the first to be produced commercially in the UK and were an immediate success. The bright steel bar production consolidated the firm's recovery in the face of a worldwide decline in wrought iron which affected its key markets in railway products. Edmund became Lord Mayor of Leeds from 1901 to 1902. During the First World War, forging was stopped, allowing
920-414: The company turnover with Ambrose's sons, Edmund, Bernard and Hugh all now working at the Forge. Ambrose bought two patents for a machine that could straighten out bars, and made them more round than ordinary rolled iron bars. These were known as "reeled bars" and were exhibited all over the world. Kirkstall Forge, then known as Beecroft, Butler & Co. manufactured and exhibited railway wheels and axles at
960-657: The ensuing five years. Glasshoughton opened in 2005. In July 2007, Leeds City Council approved a planning application to redevelop the Kirkstall Forge site, and the developer, Commercial Estates Group, committed £4 million to build a railway station and provide new rolling stock. In September 2008, the West Yorkshire PTE announced that the Yorkshire & Humber Regional Transport Board had approved funding for its "rail growth programme" which included stations at Apperley Bridge and Kirkstall Forge. A public exhibition of
1000-513: The frequency of services was raised in the House of Commons by the local Member of Parliament and plans were subsequently announced to double the frequency between Kirkstall Forge and Leeds to 2 trains per hour from 20 May 2018 (though services were cut back again for several months in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic ). Services to/from Ilkley no longer now stop at Kirkstall Forge as a result of this change, with regular timetabled calls now provided by
1040-591: The grounds of the abbey on the second Saturday in July since 1981. It is a festival of music, local arts and crafts, and is organised by volunteers of the KVCA (Kirkstall Valley Community Association). Kirkstall Art Trail takes place every year, on the third weekend of July, since it began in 2015. The event attracted over 100 artists, workshops and activities in 2024. The variety of venues used include private houses, Kirkstall Abbey, Hollybush Conservation Centre, cafes and retail. It
1080-501: The longest continually used industrial site in Britain founded in the 13th century by the Cistercian monks of the abbey, and a number of printers. The earliest known activity on the site was a medieval mill race which supplied water to power the corn mill at Kirkstall Abbey. Iron production took place at the forge from the 1580s onwards. During the late 18th century the reconstruction of
1120-474: The new process of "reeling bars" that had been developed under his father Ambrose. The members visited Kirkstall Forge the next day. In 1883 Ambrose and his brother John died within two months of each other leaving the Forge with a bank overdraft of £59,000. The industry changed with an increasing move to steel, reducing the demand for wrought iron and it took a savvy agreement with the Cardigan Estate to reduce
1160-501: The oldest forge in England. The Butler family were involved for six generations from 1779 in the management of the Forge and eventually purchased it in 1893 from the Cardigan Estate for £12,000. In 1779 John and Thomas Butler took over the lease with George and Betty Beecroft , at her instigation. It was in need of investment and regeneration. They invested the sum of £1,000 (roughly £12,760,000 in today's money), which had been agreed between
1200-416: The planning permission granted. A new on-site Kirkstall Forge railway station was opened on 19 June 2016 near the site of an earlier station, Newlay & Horsforth railway station . In 2016 construction began on the first office building, which was completed in November 2017. The new building is named Number One and was occupied by Zenith Vehicle Contracts Ltd, Bupa, Mercedes-Benz Vans and CEG. Butler's,
1240-652: The plans took place in June 2009 with the planning application submitted to Leeds City Council in March 2010 and approval being granted in June 2010. Despite significant private sector funding, the larger Rail Growth Programme including Apperley Bridge was listed as a schemes under government review in June 2010. Following the Comprehensive Spending Review in Autumn 2010 the Leeds Rail Growth Package
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1280-427: The rent from £800 per year to £350 to ensure the survival of the company. Ambrose had fought to preserve the firm in his later years but it was largely due to Edmund's grit and determination that it survived and prospered. He was ably helped by his younger brothers Bernard and Hugh who all worked enormously hard during these years. It was under Edmund that innovation and investment returned to Kirkstall Forge and by 1892
1320-470: The upper and lower forges allowed 'shovel and spade production' to commence. A railway was built at the forge in 1830 and sustained growth at the plant. The First World War brought about large scale growth, providing axles for military vehicles and by 1930 most lorries and buses made in the UK had a Kirkstall back axle casing. In 2002 the owners of the site, the Dana Holding Corporation announced
1360-507: The ward at the 2011 Census was 21,709. To the west is Bramley , to the east is Headingley , and to the north are Hawksworth and West Park . Kirkstall is around 2 miles (3.2 km) from the city centre and is close to the University of Leeds and Leeds Metropolitan University . Its main visitor attraction is Kirkstall Abbey . Another landmark is St. Stephen's Church designed by the architect Robert Dennis Chantrell . Richard Oastler ,
1400-473: Was bought by GKN. In 1995 the business was taken over by the Dana corporation (Dana Spicer Europe Ltd), who over the following 6 years transferred production overseas, and closed the works, making 1500 staff redundant. The site was then bought by Commercial Estates Group in 2005 and planning permission was granted for outline planning on 20 July 2007. In April 2011, Commercial Estates Group applied for an extension of
1440-521: Was converted into a large hall of residence for students of Leeds Metropolitan University. Other developments in Kirkstall include the Morrisons shopping complex, off the A65 road , by the river. Filming of The Beiderbecke Affair took place partly in Kirkstall, using houses around Abbeydale Oval with other scenes shot throughout the area and Moor Grange . The Kirkstall Festival takes place every year in
1480-624: Was demolished in the early 1980s. Kirkstall Abbey is a ruined Cistercian monastery set in grounds which are now a public park on the north bank of the River Aire . It was founded in about 1152 and took over 75 years to construct. It was closed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries under the auspices of Henry VIII . The ruins have been painted by artists such as J. M. W. Turner and Thomas Girtin . Kirkstall's amenities are stretched along Kirkstall Road and Abbey Road. There are several pubs,
1520-494: Was given in the National Infrastructure Plan released on 29 November 2011. The station has two platforms, with a footbridge and lifts linking them. A bus stop, 127 car parking spaces and secure cycle storage were also constructed along with the station. Ticket vending machines are available and there are digital information screens and a P.A. system provided for train running information provision. Though it
1560-630: Was included in the "Development" pool of schemes. Metro submitted a "Best & Final Funding Bid" in September 2011 and funding was confirmed November 2011 as part of the National Infrastructure Plan. On 29 May 2014 the Department for Transport committed £9.5 million from a total of £16 million towards the Leeds Rail Growth scheme which included both Kirkstall Forge and Apperley Bridge stations. Works began in November 2014 by designers Amey Plc and
1600-496: Was opened on 19 June 2016, near the site of an earlier station with the same name. The original station opened on 1 July 1860 and closed on 31 July 1905. During 1905, the line between Leeds and Shipley was quadrupled, which involved slewing the line and building new bridges in several places. It was not considered worthwhile rebuilding it when the line was diverted onto a new bridge over the canal. A new station could provide opportunities for travel when space became available with
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