Belle Isle, Leeds facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Belle Isle
Belle Isle Road
Belle Isle
OS grid reference	SE3129
Metropolitan borough	City of Leeds
Metropolitan county	West Yorkshire
Region	Yorkshire and the Humber
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	LEEDS
Postcode district	LS10
Dialling code	0113
Police	West Yorkshire
Fire	West Yorkshire
Ambulance	Yorkshire
EU Parliament	Yorkshire and the Humber
UK Parliament	Leeds South
List of places UK England Yorkshire 53°45′51″N 1°31′40″W / 53.7641°N 1.5278°W / 53.7641; -1.5278

Belle Isle is a large neighborhood located about 3 kilometers (3 miles) south of Leeds city centre in West Yorkshire, England. It is bordered by the M621 motorway to the north and east.

This area is part of the LS10 Leeds postcode area. Belle Isle also belongs to the Middleton Park ward of Leeds City Council and the Leeds South parliamentary area.

What's in a Name?

The name "Belle Isle" first appeared in records around 1762. It was called Newbell-ile and then Belle Isle in 1763. The name comes from a French island called Belle Île, which means 'beautiful island' in French.

British forces captured this French island during a war called the Seven Years' War (1761-1763). This event inspired the naming of the area in Yorkshire. Some people also think the name might be a play on words, possibly from "Bell Hill." This could refer to the bell-shaped holes from early coal mining in the hilly area.

A Look Back in Time

In the late 1700s, Belle Isle was just a small village. It was home to workers from a coal mine near Middleton Woods. This is close to where the Middleton colliery railway is today.

Over time, Belle Isle grew a lot. Most of the homes you see now were built by the local council. They were put up on old farmland in the early 1900s. This happened as Leeds expanded and old, crowded homes were replaced. Some of these council homes are now owned by private people.

Belle Isle Road divides the neighborhood from north to south. At the center of the area is a wide open space called Belle Isle Circus.

Most of the houses in Belle Isle are red brick semi-detached homes. Many of them still belong to Leeds City Council. They are managed by the Belle Isle Tenant Management Organisation (BITMO). BITMO is a non-profit housing company run by a board of tenants.

Some of the housing areas in Belle Isle include:

• Petersfield Avenue
• Windmill Road
• The Clearings
• Manor Farms (sometimes thought to be in Middleton)
• Newhall Road
• The Brooms
• The Aberfields
• The Lanshaws
• The Nesfields

Learning in Belle Isle

Belle Isle has several schools for young people. Merlyn Rees Community High School used to be a main school here for over 20 years. It was once called Belle Isle Middle School. In 2006, it closed and later became South Leeds High School. The old building was taken down, and the school moved near the South Leeds Sports Centre. In 2009, it was renamed South Leeds Academy.

Other schools in the area are Windmill Primary School, which was formerly Belle Isle Primary School, and Clapgate Primary School. Sharp Lane Primary School is also nearby. Broomfield SILC, a special school for all ages, is located on the Broom estate.

Places of Worship

Several churches serve the Belle Isle area. These include St John and St Barnabas (Anglican), West Grange (Evangelical), and St Peter (Roman Catholic). A United Reformed Church was built in 2011 on the site of an older church from 1952.

Fun and Entertainment

Belle Isle is home to the popular Belle Isle Working Men's Club. This club was a big deal in the 1970s, hosting many famous performers. The original club burned down in 2000, but it was rebuilt and is still there today.

Famous Faces from Belle Isle

Many well-known people grew up in Belle Isle. These include:

• Television presenter and model Nell McAndrew.
• England international rugby league players Garry Schofield, Jason Robinson, and Sonny Nickle.
• Singer Darren Britton from the band Snatch.
• Philosopher Paul Crowther.
• DJ and rapper Tom Zanetti.

Many of these famous people were students at Belle Isle Primary School.

Local Spots and Green Spaces

At the heart of Belle Isle is a large open area called Belle Isle Circus. It's in the middle of a traffic roundabout. This spot was originally where trams used to end their journeys.

The large piles of waste from the old coal mine are now being turned into new woodlands. These new woods are right next to the very old natural woodlands of Middleton Wood.

Images for kids

• 

  Belle Isle had its own tram link to the city centre. In 1949, it connected to the Middleton line, creating a circular tramway.

• 

  A view of central Leeds from Belle Isle Road.

		Hunslet
	Middleton, Leeds		Rothwell
		Belle Isle, Leeds
		Robin Hood