Quarry Hill, Leeds facts for kids
Quarry Hill is a lively area in the heart of Leeds, a big city in West Yorkshire, England. It's located near major roads and a railway line. This area is known for its interesting past and its modern buildings.
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History of Quarry Hill
Quarry Hill has a long history as an important part of Leeds. It was once a busy inner-city area.
Early Buildings and Churches
Over the years, several churches were built in Quarry Hill. One of the first was the Old Boggart House, which was a very early Methodist chapel in Leeds. Today, you can find a special blue plaque near the Leeds Playhouse that marks this historic spot.
The Famous Quarry Hill Flats
Between 1938 and 1978, Quarry Hill was home to a huge housing complex. These were called the Quarry Hill Flats. At the time, they were the biggest social housing buildings in the United Kingdom.
The flats were designed in 1934 by an architect named R. A. H. Livett. He was inspired by modern buildings in places like Vienna, Austria, and Paris, France. The design was very modern for its time.
The Quarry Hill Flats had many new features. They included special systems for heating, electric lights, and even a modern way to get rid of rubbish. There were also shared facilities like a swimming pool for the residents. However, over time, the buildings faced problems and were eventually taken down in 1978.
Quarry Hill Today
Since the 1980s, Quarry Hill has been completely rebuilt and improved. It's now a modern part of central Leeds, full of important buildings and places.
Major Buildings and Arts
Today, Quarry Hill is a hub for arts, education, and government offices. Some of the key places you'll find here include:
- The Leeds Playhouse: A famous theatre that opened in 1990.
- Yorkshire Dance: A place for dance, started in 1982.
- Quarry House: A large government building that opened in 1993. It houses parts of the Department of Health and the Department for Work and Pensions.
- The BBC Yorkshire building: Where BBC television and radio for the Yorkshire region are based.
- The Leeds Conservatoire: A music college, formerly known as Leeds College of Music.
- The Northern Ballet building: Home to a well-known ballet company, opened in 2010.
There are also two public spaces, Centenary Square and Playhouse Square, which are great for relaxing.
Education in Quarry Hill
Leeds City College has a large campus in Quarry Hill. This campus, which opened in 2019, focuses on creative arts, health, and public services. Part of this college building is also used by the Leeds Conservatoire.
Quarry Hill in Media
Quarry Hill and its famous flats have appeared in several films and books:
- The old flats were shown in the opening of a 1970s TV show called Queenie's Castle.
- The novel Runaway by Peter May has scenes set in the housing project.
- Quarry Hill also features in Charles Stross's 2016 novel The Nightmare Stacks.
- The 1935 film Housing Problems shows a model of the complete Quarry Hill development.
