The Dark Arches

On By chrisnickson2In leeds7 Comments

The Dark Arches…spooky name, isn’t it? But it’s a spooky place, built in the late 1860s when Leeds acquired a second railway station, known as New Station. The arches, which are really viaducts, held up the platforms and the trackm and go over the river and the goit that served the old King’s Mill.

It took around 18 million bricks to construct the arches, and if you look up, the construction is as grand as any cathedral. The arches were used by firms for storage, often of flammable material like tallow and resin. In January 1892, a fire broke out in the arch warehouse belonging to “Soapy” Joe Watson. Three platforms were destroyed, but miraculously, only one foreman died.

The other three plaform stayed open,as did Wellington Station, and rebuilding work began immediately. The fire features in the opening of my book Skin Like Silver.

The arches were pitch dark at night, a favourite haunt of thieves and sex workers for decades.

Eventually, the area beyond was developed into Granary Wharf, and by the 90s, the arches were craft and food shops that delined. These days it’s offices and a way through to Granary Whaft, the start of the Leeds-Liverpool canal, and over into Holbeck.

Time for the weekly reminder that I do have rather a good book out, featuring Simon Westow, the thief-taker, and his assistant Jane, up against a gang of grave robbers in Leeds in the 1820s…

A Stone For The Dead Who Didn’t Exist

On By chrisnickson2In leeds2 Comments

Here’s an oddity: a stone erected in 1812 to commemorate an event that might have happened early in 1643, during the Civil War.

Confused yet?

Let me give you some brief background. Sir William Savile occupied Leeds. He was a Royalist, loyal to Charles. Meanwhile, the Parliamentarians, commanded by Sir Thomas Fairfax were approach, determined to take the town. Savile had thrown up defences: to the west, a trench that ran from St. John’s Church down to the river, another trench to the north, and one on the Leeds side of the bridge across the Aire.

The attack was coming…

The tale goes that the night before, a Parliamentary patrol on Woodhouse Ridge saw some Royalist troops down by Meanwood Beck – where Meanwood Road is now, close to Batty’s Wood.

They attacked, and Charles’ men scattered, running as far as Carr Manor fields, about half a mile. There at least one of them died.

The next day, in a snowstorm, the Roundheads began their attack on Leeds, from the west and the south. A preacher, shouting out Psalm 68, led the men across Leeds Bridge. They captured the cannon shooting at them, and fought house by house up Briggate until they met the forces that had advance from the west. Savile (who himself had taken Leeds a few months earlier) escaped, along with the Vicar of Leeds.

Back to Carr Manor fields.

There is no documentary evidence of the Battle of Meanwood/Battle of Stainbeck/Battle of Batty’s Wood. It’s legend. Myth. However, musket balls have been found in the dirt by the beck, giving some truth to it all.

There’s absolutely no evidence of any bodies on the field. But in 1812, the Oates family had the stone erected on their land – they owned much of the area, including what is now Meanwood Park.

The Latin inscription translates as Neither do the lands know themselves in the turning of the year. Very enigmatic. But perhaps that’s apt for a commemoration of someone who probably never existed, and an event that may or may not have happened.

Forgive finishuing with an ad, but The Dead Will Rise was published in March, and I’d love for you to read. It dages for just a few years after this stone was erected.

From Fortress To Manor House To Music Hall To Pub

On By chrisnickson2In leedsLeave a comment

The Scarbrought Hotel (please note the spelling), or Scarbrough Taps as it’s long been known, is one of those public houses with a beautiful tile frontage. Right by the station, it seems to do good business.

All very pleasant. But the site has a longer history than most places it Leeds. It began not long after the Norman Conquest, when the garrison stationed here built their fortress right here, with the sire aptly known as Castyle Hill. It commanded a good view, rised up from the river, easy access to the water, and enough distance from the locals – whose village was on Kirkgate.

Go forward, and it became the Leeds manor house, built by Ralph Paynel after any danger of insurrection had faded. Over the centures it underwent a few rebuilds, and became a very genteel residence in the 1500s, then completely redone in the 1700s. During work around the area, evidence of the moast that had once sat around the old manor house was found.

By the 1820s it was an inn known as the King’s Arms, with Henry Scarbrough as its landlord. Later in the century it was acquired by the man who owned City Varieites Music Hall, and who gave it its new name. He held talent shows upstairs and it became a music hall until the bottom fell out of the business and it reverted to being simply a public house.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Scarbrough Hotel.

I hope you won’t forget that a new book of mine came out in March. None of it is set in the old inn, but it’s good, nonetheless!

Jenny White: A Leeds Tale

On By chrisnickson2In leeds, story2 Comments

Another video for you this week. But it’s not a piece of Leeds history. Intead, it’s my retelling of a Leeds folktale. For some reason, there are very few that are associated with Leeds, so it’s important to keep telling them and keep them alive.

A warning, though: it’s a story filled with sorrow.

Jenny White

While I’ve got you here…please remember that The Dead Will Rise isn’t even two months old yet, and I’d love for you to buy a copy, or have your local library order it in for you. Then, in September, the final Tom Harper book, Rusted Souls, is coming. It’s not too early to pre-order a copy. But please, at the moment, not from Amazon UK. My publisher is trying to get Amazon to resolve a glitch which has them charging way over the last price for the book. Order it, yes, but from someone else. Independent bookshops are always best!

Leeds Outdoor Market, 1870

On By chrisnickson2In leeds, simon westow3 Comments

I’ve always loved the outdoor market. It seems to be the closest we’ll get to the days when people set up on either side of Briggate and peddled their wares, centuries ago. There’s been an outdoor market in pretty much the same place for a long time, and I can take you back to experience it thanks to a description of the place and the characters in 1870.

Come out, hear tghe cries, meet the people. Enjoy a savoury trundle, hear about Jack the Giant-Killer and meet the Monster of the Deep. Bring your pennies.

Leeds outdoor market

While you’re here, the date for the launch of the final Tom Harper book, Rusted Souls, has been set. No tickets yet, but very limited seating. If you’re anywhere near Leeds, I hope you’ll come. It’s on the events page.

And The Dead Will Rise is still only a month old. I honestly hope you’ll buy it, and not just because my royalties for the last six months of 2022 were very low. I think it’s a fine, fine book. But no hardback from Amazon UK please. Go to an independent bookshop or here to Speedy Hen. Cheapest price and free UK postage.

Coming Soon, Rusted Souls – The Cover

On By chrisnickson2In annabelle harper, leeds, tom harper4 Comments

On September 5, and era will end. The 11th and final Tom Harper book will be published.

I thought you might like the first look at the cover (I think it’s a spectacular cover; they’ve done Tom proud) and a blurb of what’s going to happen in the book….

Leeds, 1920. Chief Constable Tom Harper of Leeds City Police has just six weeks left in the role before his well-earned retirement. But even though his distinguished 40-year career is ending, the crime and mayhem on the city’s streets continues.

Council leader Alderman Thompson is being blackmailed. He wants Harper to find the love letters he sent to a young woman called Charlotte Radcliffe and return them discreetly, while elsewhere, masked, armed robbers are targeting jewellery shops in the city, and an organized gang of shoplifters is set to descend on Leeds. As events threaten to spiral out of control, Harper battles to restore justice and order to the streets of Leeds one last time.

A Walk Through Briggate’s History

On By chrisnickson2In leeds1 Comment

I know that many, probably most, of you don’t live in Leeds. I do my best to describe my city in different period. But nothing is better that seeing it for yourself. That’s why I’ve been making a few videos in town. Just short ones, to try and offer a taste of some areas.

Why not come take take a walk through time with me on Briggate and Leeds Bridge. And we’ll finish off in a graveyard. Ready? We won’t be long, no need to pack a lunch…

Briggate in its glory.
Lower Briggate
On Leeds Bridge
A visit to the graveyard.

Publication Day And A Video Bonus

On By chrisnickson2In leeds, simon westow7 Comments

Here we are, finally, and The Dead Will Rise is officially released into the wild. I’m hugely proud it it, I feel it’s the best Simon Westow book so far, and there’s a lot of Jane in there – she really comes into her own in this one, and not before time. I do hope youi’ll buy it, or borrow from a library. But however, I’d love it if you read it, and even more of you left a review somewhere. Those honestly do all help, believe me.

I did promise a video bonus, and I’m not going to let you down. All those little courts and yards feature in my books, whether it’s Richard Nottingham, Simon Westow, or Tom Harper. I know many of your have never experienced them, so come with me and talk a little walk along one. I think you’ll see why I love them.

Guinea Graves And The Victoria Public House

On By chrisnickson2In annabelle harper, leeds, tom harper2 Comments

What was a guinea grave? They’re mentioned a time of two in the Tom Harper books. Take a little trip with me to Beckett Street cemetery and I’ll tell you. It’s one of those things that manages to be uplifting and heartbreaking at the same time.

Guinea graves

And here’s a little bonus for you, as I was out doing some filming. Come and see what was once the Victoria public house at the bottom of Roundhay Road, where Tom and Annabelle used to live.

The Victoria, 8 Roundhay Road.

Please remember, The Deal Will Rise is published everywhere next week, and I’d be very, very grateful if you’d order a copy. However, if you’re in the UK, don’t order the hardback from Amazon – Kindle is fine – becasue they’ve screwed up and are currently charing far more than the list price. UK is fine.

Psst, Got A Minute?

On By chrisnickson2In leeds, simon westow6 Comments

Just over two-and-a-half minutes, actually. I want to take you on a walk up Leeds’ oldest street, Kirkgate. I’ve written about it so many times, but there are many of you who don’t know Leeds, so this gives you a chance to really see it.

I might well do more of these short walks. After all, this is my city, and I’m proud of it. I wrote about it, and this is another way to share it, but really, give you a little of its history.

The oldest part of Leeds – it all began here.
Some more of Kirkgate, the oldest street here – and once the richest.

Hopefully, that helps bring it alive for you. I hope you enjoy

And just a reminder that my new book The Dead Will Rise, comes out in a couple of weeks. Currently, Amazon UK and Bol both seem to have messed up the pricing and are charging way over the proper price. Hopefully that will be resolved very soon, but please buy it – just from someone else. Ideally an independent, and if you can’t, Speedy Hen has the cheapest price and UK postage (£17.63 as I write this) and Book Depository has free worldwide postage (£19.50 as I write).

Thank you.