Friday, October 31, 2008

Meredith’s Leeds #1: The SPECTACULAR Downtown

Posted by Peter Quennell

[click for larger images]

Meredith lived two years in Leeds. She walked these places?

SURE she did. Everybody does. The Leeds downtown has to be one of the most successful in Europe. Built originally with the enormous wealth that resided in the town, and lovingly rebuilt again in parts after World War II.

You are looking here at four scenes. First, the myriad of covered passages that criss-cross the older shopping streets. Second, the huge covered market just nearby. Third, the more modern shopping, again very close. And finally, the public area in front of the town hall, where even more shopping - art-and-craft stalls - is periodically established.

One incredible walkable area. Even if she didn’t shop it - and that would surprise us! - Meredith surely loved to walk it.

She would of course have been back. At least for one more year. And maybe for grad school.

Posted by Peter Quennell on 10/31/08 at 06:11 PM in

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Comments

Okay okay! Center ville, if the Brits prefer? Or city center? Works for us.

We hope that, now or later, readers in Leeds, several of whom knew Meredith, might want to share with us about this really fine town and something of her life there.

Posted by Fast Pete on 10/31/08 at 06:47 PM | #

Excellent pictures Pete, you’ve done a great job of giving people a feel for the city centre (spell English properly m’dear, especially when describing God’s Country :D)

I’ll get a bit of a paragraph together over the weekend if I can, as well as try and access some public photos if I cannot get into town to take some of my own (you’d be amazed how many pictures I don’t have of Leeds City Centre, but then I can go look at it every day if I like!)

I’ll try and get pictures of Headingley too as this is the true heart of student Leeds.

Posted by daisysteiner on 10/31/08 at 07:01 PM | #

Centre!

Posted by Fast Pete on 10/31/08 at 07:11 PM | #

City centre (UK) = Downtown (US)

Or as Winston Churchill said: two countries, divided by a common language!

Thanks, Pete. I love Leeds! I wish I had been there to see The Who perform live.

Posted by Skeptical Bystander on 10/31/08 at 07:26 PM | #

Magic Bus! I was once in England when the Leeds piano competition was televised. And at Heathrow Airport, there was the winner, right beside me.

He was from the Juillard School, here in New York. He kissed the dutchess on the cheek when he got handed his award. Caused quite a flutter.

Yeah I was quite moved by the memories of this beautiful town as I looked at the shots. Meredith sure chose to be in some very nice places.

And real cultural and educational powerhouses.

Posted by Fast Pete on 10/31/08 at 07:35 PM | #

Leeds is very popular with university students because it’s much cheaper to live than cities like London and Oxford. I’ve been there a couple of times. I watched my football team at Elland Road and I saw INXS at the town and country club. I’ve stayed in Headingley too. There are two pubs which are very popular with the students. The Royal Oak and The Sky Lark I think.

Posted by The Machine on 10/31/08 at 07:55 PM | #

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