Historic%20Yorkshire

LEEDS BEFORE THE CONQUEST. 21
The relics of Saxon times in this neighbourhood that
have come down to the present age are numerous. At
Barwick-in-Elmete is Weadle Hill,the mount of the keep
of a Saxon Castle, and human bones have been found in
the vicinity in a great quantity. Osmundthorpe had
formerly Saxon remains, so also had Gipton, while at
Bardseyis yet the relics of a Saxon stronghold,and there
are Saxon remains at Dewsbury and Hartshead-cum-
Clifton.
The onlyitem whichremains to be recordedprevious to
the Norman conquest is the fact that about iooo, one
Seleth, called a shepherd, was instructed in visions to
leave the southfor the north, and accordingly he settled
at Kirkstall, where he built a hermitageupon the spot, it
is stated, where the Abbey afterwardswas erected by the
Lacy family.
After the Norman Conquest, Leeds would probably
suffer from the resentment of the Conqueror at the
devastation of Yorkshire. In 1080, Leeds,together with
Holbeck and Woodhouse, was given by the Conqueror to
Ilbert de Laci, at which time it was onlyan agricultural
village with a population which was estimated at less
than three hundred, but boasted among its possessions,
according to the Doomsday Book, a priest, a church (St.
Peter's), and a mill. Now was added to these that
indispensable adjunct of feudal authority, a castle.
Leeds Castle was erected on the site now enclosed by
Mill Hill, Bishopgate, and the western portion of Boar
Lane. From the several names of " Park Row," " Park
Square," etc., it was most likely surrounded by a large
park. A tower likewise was built near Lydgate, in
Woodhouse Lane, called Tower Hill. There is now,
however, no remnant left of either of these structures,
though in 1836 the remains of the Castle moat were
discovered. We have this brief account of the erection
of the Castle,butit may almost be said to be without a
history, and was probably a structure of second-rate
importance as a fortress. In 1139 it was held against