Leeds Dock facts for kids
Leeds Dock is a cool area by the River Aire in central Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It used to be called New Dock and before that, Clarence Dock. Today, it's a busy place with shops, offices, fun activities, and lots of homes right by the water. Many people live in apartments here.
Contents
History of Leeds Dock
How the Dock Was Built
The dock was built in 1843. It was made for boats using the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the Aire and Calder Navigation. These boats would move goods from the Leeds city centre to other places.
What the Dock Was Used For
Mostly, the dock was used to bring coal from mines near Rothwell and Wakefield. This coal was important for big factories in Hunslet and businesses in Leeds. There was even a huge crane on tracks to help load and unload goods from the canal boats.
Changes Over Time
By the 1990s, many of the old factory buildings around the dock were empty and falling apart. Over the second half of the 20th century, many industries in the area closed down or moved away. This is called deindustrialization.
Bringing the Area Back to Life
A big change happened when the Royal Armouries Museum was built. It cost £42.5 million and opened in March 1996. This museum helped start the redevelopment of the area. More buildings followed, like a car park in 2004 and a hotel in 2006.
A New Look for the Dock
In October 2008, the area tried to become a shopping spot. Famous TV presenter Gok Wan even helped launch it with fashion shows. But not many shops wanted to open there, and it didn't become a popular shopping center.
The area was known as Clarence Dock for a long time. In 2012, it was renamed New Dock as part of a fresh start. Then, in 2013, a company called Allied London bought the site and renamed it Leeds Dock, which it is still called today.
What You Can Find at Leeds Dock
The Royal Armouries Museum
Leeds Dock is home to the amazing Royal Armouries Museum. This is a major national museum that attracts about 1.5 million visitors every year! It's a great place to learn about weapons and armor from different times in history.
Shops and More
Even though it was first planned to be a big shopping center, most of the shops that opened have now closed. However, you can still walk along 'The Boulevard,' which is the main street for shops at Leeds Dock. 'The Anchorage' is another important spot at the top of the dock.
Living at the Dock
There are also many homes here. Clarence House is a tall building, about 218 feet (66 meters) high. It has 227 apartments where people live, plus six small shops on the ground floor.
Gallery
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Knights Way Bridge at Leeds Dock over The River Aire, linking Leeds Dock with the East Bank, designed by Buro Happold
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Leeds Dock
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Waterfront Festival Day at Leeds Dock
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The Boulevard at Leeds Dock, looking towards the Royal Armouries Museum
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Public art on display at Leeds Dock
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Clarence House
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Armouries Square
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