Pudsey In Five Minutes

Cricket masters, marketing gurus, and yet still out-shone by a bear, what’s inside this thriving Yorkshire town?

Arguably more famous as a bear with a patch over his eye than an actual place, the intrepid explorer will find this market town near Leeds is sometimes sunny West Yorkshire. Formally famous for gathering and processing wool, this textile town would later produce some of England’s best cricketers.

Early History of Pudsey

The first time the town of Pudsey comes up in official records, it is in relation to the Saxon thanes of Dunstan and Stainulf. These two local lords owned the parish between them until the Normans invaded in 1066.

Asides from this mention, we know that there was evidence of sparse but consistent settlements around this area. Settlements date as early as the Bronze Age, with arrowheads found in different places. The government appraised Leeds for conservation in recent years. They mention that there was a medieval settlement here, even though the land enclosure laws were introduced in 1811. In fact, the land was arable from around 1720.

We also know that Pudsey’s land fell under the jurisdiction of the Kingdom of Elmet in the 6^th century. This was after the Romans left, during the time when the Angles and Saxons were living in the land before England existed.

Getting towards the end of the Medieval Era, a man named Benjamin Schofield unearthed a cache of 100 silver Roman coins on Pudsey Common. In 1775, Schofield found the coins in an area known as King Alfred’s Camp. A large number of coins found were older than Julius Caesar’s reign. This much later discovery confirms that Romans were here in one form or another. There is a lack of further evidence to suggest a garrison, although there is far more evidence down the road in Leeds proper.

Pudsey in the Domesday Survey

When the tax officials came north to Yorkshire, they only noted down the places they could get to without the locals killing them. Pudsey was one of those places, although it went by an earlier version of its name: Podechesai. “Pudoc” actually refers to an island. Even though there is no water around Pudsey, historians believe the name comes from the fact that the town emerged on the only solid ground in the middle of marshy moorland.

Podechesai was in the Hundred of Morley. King William wanted to know what each area was worth. Although the record mentions Dunstan and Stainwulf as the previous owners, by the time of the survey, historians believe much of the area was a wasteland. There is no population recorded. The annual value to owner Ilbert of Lacy was 2 pounds. Ilbert, whose middle name was really “de”, was one of the lords who came from Normandy with King William. He held lands throughout the north and neglected much of it. They would have been better off just leaving it as it was.

Pudsey consisted of 0.5 x 0.5 leagues of woodland and four ploughlands. It does not mention any people to plough those lands. That doesn’t seem like much payment for pillaging and burning down the houses which were already there.

Medieval Pudsey

Medieval Pudsey grew quietly. The lords of the land, the de Pudsey family, kept leaving large donations to the church and nearby abbey. They also left land and money for the town when they passed away. This went on for several generations, allowing the area to garner more land as the years passed.

The government appraised Leeds for conservation in recent years. They mention that there was a medieval settlement here, even though the land enclosure laws were introduced in 1811. In fact, the land was arable from around 1720. The town was also destroyed by the Normans in 1066-86. This led to the existing settlement failing, with another soon after replacing it.

Fun Facts About Pudsey, West Yorkshire

There are fun facts, interesting news, and macabre moments from all towns. Yorkshire has some of the oldest settled lands in the UK, thereby earning itself a long history of weird and wonderful occurrences. Here are the local legends we love best about Pudsey:

• The designer of the TV Children in Need Bear with the Eyepatch is Joanna Lane. Joanna Lane was born in Pudsey, making her both a famous local and a national legend.
• There is a local saying that the birds fly backwards in Pudsey Park. This goes back to the Industrial Revolution when the town was often the recipient of the black soot from the surrounding cities. The birds would fly backwards, they joked, so that the soot wouldn’t get in their eyes.
• Pudsey has a well-established Hindu, Muslim, and Indian minority community.
• The Pudsey family descend from the Normans. Richard de Pudsey was the first in the family, whose son donated lands to the nearby monastery. Interestingly, his son gave land to the monastery, as did his son, and his son. Adam Sampson Pudsey gave the town 5 acres. In 1280 his son Walter gave lands to the abbey, Grimflat, and gave them an annuity. Apparently, that was how much it took to get yourself a burial place in the abbey.
• In the early Industrial period, it was trapped between Leeds and Bradford. No matter which way the wind blew, the black soot from either city would settle over everything here. Since the land falls into a valley here and that makes it warmer, the town would see smog as dense as London on a bad day.

The Industrial Era for Pudsey nr. Leeds

The town gained its first pub in 1870 but the builders didn’t quite get it right. The Butcher’s Arms was rebuilt ten years later to comply with local regulations. All this proves is that those who sell alcohol have been battling restrictions since the 1800s.

Despite plenty of evidence of earlier occupation throughout Pudsey, they didn’t formally become a borough until 1889. Pudsey gained its charter from Queen Victoria and a Mayor and Mayoress were assigned the following year. In 1894, it became a municipal borough in its own right. Of course, this only lasted a few years before they were tufted in beside Leeds.

There were several mills in the area. The mills worked firstly on wool and later on cotton. The cotton shortage which happened during the American Civil War would have an impact on the local millers and weavers. Fortunately, the area consistently produced woven wool, allowing a steady income for all involved and avoiding the riots which happened around England as a result. From the 1700s onwards, Textile production was the main income for 2/3 of the town. Due to this reliance on fabric, the town has acquired the status of a historic textile town.

Many of the mills are now closed but there are one or two still standing. Some converted, and others were demolished. In 1990 the international wool trade collapsed – but you can still buy Pudsey wool made from local sheep to this day.

Modern Pudsey

By 1912 there were 22 textile mills in Pudsey. The year before, the town received a grammar school. Standing since 1911, this school was refurbished into flats. The other parts of the building were demolished, but this area is a listed building.

IN 1937 the town merged with Calverley & Farsley urban districts and the population doubled overnight. Then again in 1974, the government had another restructuring and placed Pudsey in the Leeds authority.

In 2002, locals came together to launch the Pudsey in Bloom group. They make sure outdoor spaces around town are floral.

There remains a Masonic Hall and a strong community within the town. The town received a refurbished bus station in 2010. Nowadays it has a smart appearance and the town is colourful in the summer thanks to the gardening group. The park has multiple attractions such as a duck pond, an aquarium, and a brilliant playground. The town is friendly, the people are welcoming, and if you are descended from the miners and weavers of those tough industrial times, then you will fit right in.

Famous People from Pudsey, Leeds

Every town, city, village, and farmhouse in England has a backstory. If we get lucky enough, that backstory contains recent celebrities that you might meet when you pass through for a visit. Here are the famous people we managed to brush beat out of the long grass of Pudsey for your approval:

• Famous for cricket, Pudsey produced: Sir Len Hutton, Ray Illingworth, Matthew Hoggard, Herbert Sutcliffe, and John Tunnicliffe.
• Jeannie Carson, who has a Hollywood star of fame, is a Pudsey local.
• Watercolour painter John Crowther.
• Famed architect Gordon Cullen.
• Jack P Shepherd, the actor who played David Platt in Corrie, was from here.
• Actor William Gaunt was also a Pudsey

A few of those famous faces are alive and kicking. Keep an eagle eye on your new neighbours if you move here. You never know which celebs you share a street with.

The Best Attractions in Pudsey, UK

Pudsey is the place, not the bear. You can find the best Pudsey the Bear attraction over on the Children in Need site. Otherwise, here are all the things to see and do in Pudsey, Yorkshire.

Historic Sites

Kirkstall Abbey is classed as a museum in local authority papers. It is a sort of living museum, at least. Run by Leeds Museums and Galleries, this beautiful abbey is the same building to which the de Pudsey family kept giving all their money to back in the early days. The council have created 10 interactive areas of the site which contain QR codes. You scan the code to learn more about the building. It’s a pretty cool way to create a museum out of a solidly standing but still ruined building.

Landmarks

The old Town Hall received a recent upgrade when the council installed a series of energy-efficient lights.  They can program these lights for different scenes relating to current events. They can light it up at Christmas time or look stately and formal. Go see them when you visit and take a picture. Follow #PudseyTownHall for cool pictures of this striking old architecture.

Other local landmarks seem to all be pubs. How very British. You can check out the Fox and Grapes which is the closest thing Pudsey has to a nightclub. There is the Commercial, which is the type of pub you take your old dad to so he can watch the game on a Saturday afternoon. It’s also where we would start looking if there were any secret societies we wanted to find. There’s also the Fleece which – actually – it’s really pretty. It makes sense for it to be a landmark.

Outdoor Attractions

You can call up Wadlands Hall Equestrian Centre and ask for a horseback riding tour while you are here. We are not sure where they will take you or how skilled you need to be for this, but it could be fun to find out.

If you would like to get back to nature for real, head to the Ogden Water Country Park. This nearby country park is a sprawling park which sees 300,000 visitors each year. Take a walk around the lake, enjoy the picnic area, and take the dog for a walk. This is the area you come to when you want to get out of town for a bit. When you have finally explored Pudsey Park from end to end, you turn to this delicious slice of free air. They even have parking.

Cultural Attractions

The old abbey house is now a museum, set well apart from the site itself. The building contains information about the local region down through the ages. They can give you better historical insights than we can. They have a fun exhibit where you explore the life of a young person trying to grow up in Victorian Leeds.

Recreation Activities

Head five miles east of Leeds city centre and into Pudsey Park. One of the most visited parks in Leeds, it covers roughly 7.5 hectares of land. It has earned a Green Flag award for Excellence, meaning it is one of those attractions that you should definitely see while you are in town.

It already has a great playground and activities throughout, but the government awarded it £260,000 in funding in 2022 so that the park can undergo refurbishment. It has been a local childhood favourite for generations. Pudsey Park also homes the West Leeds Country Park Visitor’s Centre for those who need more information.

Pudsey Park Includes:

• A skate park.
• A wildlife centre.
• A visitor’s centre.
• A tropical greenhouse
• A bowling green.
• A picnic area
• A kid’s play area
• A gang stand and the occasional show.
• A pet’s corner.
• And toilets for everyone.

Asides from the park, there is something for kids and teens of all ages in Pudsey. Take yourself to the Little Burrowers play centre along with your under five-year-olds to meet other parents. Let them let off steam in a brightly lit, colourful, friendly environment. Everyone loves the safety of soft play and this one comes with more inflatables than usual. They have a play village and a café to entertain the adults while the kids run wild.

Sports and Teams in Pudsey

There are several community teams in town. First of all, the town has a massive history of cricket. Several English champions have come from Pudsey. Better yet, for a straight 100 year stretch the Pudsey cricket club had a player in the Yorkshire national team. There are three local clubs to choose from: Thornbury, Pudsey St Lawrence, and Pudsey Congs.

Paisley Runners Club has been ongoing since 2013. It is safer for everyone if you all jog together. They meet in the running and table tennis club. There is an annual 10k running competition.

There are loads of football clubs in the area. Play for Pudsey Juniors AFC, hit up the 5-a-side in Leeds, check out Leeds Juniors FC to the south, or play with FC Pudsey, the adult team. They play in the Wharfedale Triangle League.

And no English town would be complete without at least one golf club. There are three within striking distance of the town. Head into neighbouring Fulneck Golf Club, use the local Calverley Golf Club or take to the Woodhall Hills club.

Where to Eat and Drink?

Favourite places to eat in Pudsey include Gigi’s for Italian Food, the 7 Steps for fine British dining and a cocktail, or the Viet-Thai authentic fusion restaurant. Sounds delicious. You will get a good pint and meal at the Royal Hotel. The Spotted Cow is a favoured local but if you want a nightclub head to Freedom Mills.

Where to Shop Near Pudsey?

The best place to shop on this side of Leeds is in Pudsey Market. Running every Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday, this market began back in the Victorian era. It is a local produce and crafts market. The indoor area has a most authentic Victorian feel to it than other local towns. It recently underwent refurbishment so it is primed and ready for shopping. Other shops surround the town centre. You can also head to the Belgrave Retail Park for your other shopping needs. In 2009, the Pudsey Business Forum launched a campaign to encourage people to shop locally. Since then, local shoppers are brand loyal to local companies. Recently they introduced a loyalty point scheme which rewarded locals for shopping within Pudsey. It pays to shop locally. We need more schemes like this, please. Pudsey also has a monthly farmer’s market for the sale of fresh produce.

Places Nearby

Bradford

You are close enough to Bradford to take a visit to the sites in the city. We recommend the Bradford Cathedral, a striking building with great photo opportunities which still operates. You could spend a whole day admiring the stained glass here.

We recommend Eureka! The National Children’s Museums. It has a lot of fun things to do even if you are an adult. Borrow your nieces and nephews and take them here for a day to give you an excuse to use all the exhibits yourself. It’s a great interactive space where the kids can learn about science.

The Bradford Industrial Museum is another firm favourite among tourists in Pudsey. The museum details the industrial era’s history – not just within the city but across West Yorkshire.

There are many notable towns in this part of the country which you should try to visit while you are staying in Pudsey. If you have fully explored the town, head out to these surrounding areas:

• Go shopping in Leeds
• Eat some Liquorice in Pontefract.
• Visit the ancient town of Ilkley and explore.
• Hike on the Keighley Moors.
• Visit the biggest outdoor market in West Riding in Dewsbury.
• Go ghost hunting in Goole… or fishing. Whatever floats your spooky boat.

But whatever you get up to, don’t dismiss West Yorkshire from your travel plans this coming holiday season.

How to Get to Pudsey?

The last thing we shall teach you, dear student, is how you get to the mythical land of Pudsey. Do you take a train, plane, or automobile?

By Road

You can reach Leeds on the M1, then follow the A6110 into Pudsey.

By Rail

Look for New Pudsey Station run by Northern Rail.

By Air

The nearest airport is Leeds Bradford.

By Sea

Pudsey is landlocked, bad for beach lovers, but historically good for keeping Vikings away.

Want Another Five?

If you enjoyed this Five Minutes Spare travel guide, then you can always come back for more. We have thousands of town guides within the UK, so you could find your own home or your next favourite family holiday location. Tune into our Facebook account so you can keep up to date with news, sports, and hobbies. Basically, anything that you can do in five minutes. See what we did there?

Header Image: Leeds Fotografica/Shutterstock.com