Three Strange Things in Leeds | What are they?

Join me for a look at three curiosities in the City of Leeds. Starting with two air vents rising from a secret tunnel just of Wellington Street, then the First Permanent Traffic Lights in Britain, and ending with Timble Bridge. Located in the middle of a traffic island.
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Secret Leeds
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#adventureme #leeds #leedshistory #yorkshire #history

[@theamused1]

Those vents are part of an old utilities tunnel that runs from the substation behind Falk House and runs down to the substation underneath the building that houses Nawaab curry house just next to Whitehall Quay.

[@dieselbushcraft1299]

I’m guessing that the tunnel must still be there and no plans to fill it in as the streets look to have been modernised in recent years and the vents kept, I would have thought if they were disused they would of been removed when the street was last developed. All interesting still nonetheless

[@gazmong]

I used to work opposite the vent on Queen Street and would sometimes see a few workmen disappear down a manhole a bit further down the street. They'd work down there for hours, so there's definitely lots of room down there.

[@theamused1]

@@dieselbushcraft1299 yep still there. Well the Whitehall End was in 2010 when I was last down there. It's spooky as down there. Apparently it's the old substation for the old train station hotel.. I never went up the tunnel towards Queen Street unfortunately.

[@havingalook2]

I love Leeds, one of my most favourite cities. I would walk around it for days - the architecture is splendid. Remember always look up - the buildings are magnificent.

[@rontanser9369]

That was still very interesting , It’s amazing how places change and become unrecognisable from only a few years ago

[@lindseykaine-walley6339]

I love quirky things like that, I actually thought you were going to give us a song, everything changes but you! I bet there are so many things we walk past not realising the amazing part they played in history's past.

[@malcolmrichardson3881]

Not, out of sight, out of mind, for urban explorers! Very interesting!

[@reddwarfer999]

I always knew the UK's first traffic lights were in Leeds but not their location. As for the air vents they're the kind of thing you could walk past every day and never really notice. Fascinating stuff.

[@mclamby]

The UK's first automated traffic lights were actually installed at Princes Square, Wolverhampton on 5th November 1927 and made permanent in October 1928. Till recently they were still painting them in the old black/white stripes style with permission of the Department of Transport in recognition of this.

[@drewsterwa]

Leeds is one of my very favourite cites, along with York, Plymouth, Glasgow and Chester.

[@rachelwalker7091]

There’s a bridge over a visible water course on Skinner Lane which probably runs under the bridge you filmed. I love these quirky discoveries.

[@ehsnils]

I think that leaving parts of old historic items in a city would be a part of preserving the history even though they aren't necessarily functional anymore.

[@TheRattyBiker]

A mission with Martin sounds like it could be good 👍

[@asleeds]

I like the idea of these short ‘curiosity’ videos. You should do one on the ‘bridge to nowhere’ across the Ring Road (opposite Woodhouse Lane car park). It is easily spotted on Google maps.

[@davepatrick573]

Those air vents had an access pit inside whitehall road power station.I remember when i worked at YEB and having access to these cable tunnels.I remeber walking inside the cable tunnel and seeing daylight peering through these air vents,which were painted green at the time of my visit.

[@andybonner5105]

Regarding Timble Beck, one of the buildings over the road in Fearn Island Mills, is named after this, so I wonder if the beck powered Engine House and Dye Works - both of which are residential buildings I've sold in the past.

[@mrsgenehunt48]

Aw I love discovering "oddities " or "quirkies". All fascinating and a little bit of usually unknown history. You have lovingly caught them just incase other changes happen. Great video Darren 👍🤩

[@jeffdayman8183]

Great one Darren, I enjoyed it. Cheers!

[@charlesdickinson47]

Great video. Timble Bridge was over Lady Beck, which was fed by Carr Beck and Meanwood Beck, amongst others.

[@et-rd]

I’m so used to your longer videos that I was surprised how quickly it ended! It would be great to find out more about those vents.

[@geof1954]

Love this sort of stuff. Thank you.

[@jetsons101]

I hope those vents aren't short stink pipes. Darren, you're quite good at digging up great old B&W photos for the story telling. Gotta love a culvert video, can't wait. Thanks for posting.....

[@siwright1517]

THANK YOU!! i've always noticed them having lived there. I must say i love all your content. Your photo transitions are perfect and im blown away. I owe you a pint

[@AdventureMe]

Wow, thank you!

[@NSYresearch]

I can't believe how much Leeds has changed in the ten years since I left Yorkshire....

[@signoritarosa]

Awesome, one of the vents is right opposite my office building and I never noticed!! Leeds has changed so much there must be loads of hidden history! Thanks, really enjoyed!

[@signoritarosa]

And just now I took a selfie with what I thought was a weird bin 😂😂😂😂

[@djmossssomjd8496]

I followed your routes on my old 1883 maps here on the PC. Good stuff. Some change can be good but it normally wipes out another part of British history!

[@christelbraune4530]

Immer versuche ich wegzugehen und aufzuhören. Ich schaffe es nicht. Eure Videos schaue ich viel zu gern. Auch dieses war wieder wunderschön. So gern würde ich mal selbst als Gast dort aussteigen. Danke Darren!!! Bist eine treue Seele 💖😊

[@AdventureMe]

You should come visit

[@kellie5476]

My city looking beautiful with the blue sky. This is fascinating, I've passed those vents many times and never realised what they were and why they're there. I'm glad they've left the little remains of Timble bridge too instead of erasing history.

[@groovydonkey]

A very quirky, interesting and intriguing video Darren.

[@martinmarsola6477]

I vaguely remember this conversation in the past, about the air shaft lines. Another great video as always. Have a cracking week ahead, and see you on the next, Darren. 😊

[@dread7299]

Wow, what a tour of some hidden gems in Leeds! I've lived in Leeds for years and never knew about those vent tunnels or the old bridge in the traffic island. It's amazing the history that's right under our noses. I'd love to hear more about the culvert exploration you mentioned - that sounds incredibly intriguing. Your videos always uncover details I never knew before. Keep up the great work, I'm looking forward to your next adventure!

[@MyCharlie2000]

Great short,the old pictures gave a fantastic edge, thanks for the video Darren.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks 👍

[@rachaelhardcastle5158]

Very interesting Darren, look forward to your next video 🙂

[@jopalmer8606]

We all used to play down the becks as kids. You could get down there on Lincoln Green Road. The challenge was to criss devil's ledge 😊

[@garrick3727]

I failed to notice any of these interesting features. Then again, it's funny how with cities you tend to have a more or less designated route that you stick to, particularly on a shopping trip. I remember going to Leeds with a friend I met in another part of England and almost every street he was familiar with was new to me. It's partly down to where you're entering the city: he was coming from the west and I from the east, so what he considered the heart of Leeds was not the same as me. Also, I think when you work or live somewhere you take it for granted. I lived in another town for years and it was only after I left that I discovered it had a castle.

[@lukerichardson1638]

Ever since you did a basic look around those vents he other year ive been so curious to know what they where, i did do some digging but never found out what they where. I bet if we all qsked our older family members i bet theyd know! Great to see your still at it darren keep it up

[@nealeje]

Interesting as always. Thanks for the channel and video

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for watching!

[@hollimurray8856]

The vents reminded me of Old Police Boxes so I thought they where phones but obviously not. Would love to see underneath 😊

[@ehsnils]

And today most people only recognize them from Doctor Who episodes.

[@yorkie2789]

Glad to see you covering these Darren, I knew about two of them but not the traffic lights. Just like Martin has been doing in Manchester there must be loads of sites in Leeds waiting to be discovered. Its easy to forget about all the industrial history that is still about even aftyer the massive redevelopments around Welliongton Street for example.

[@Al-qv5vs]

Short and sweet. Still very interesting. Thank you

[@ianlamb9606]

Nice vid Darren. I was up in Leeds last week, found out that Leeds is the home of Lynx Africa and Dove Deodorant.

[@WmDavidHarrison]

Short but sweet! Thank you.

[@Slacky2k13]

Good vid as always mate!

[@chrismccartney8668]

Superb Video

[@dcallan812]

Really interesting. 2x👍 Love Leeds the armouries are worth a visit too.

[@-yeme-]

There are slightly smaller versions of these things all over the Victorian parts of Bristol, which I believe are are ventilation for underground electrical substations containing transformers that take the 11kV local distribution voltage down to the 240V that goes to peoples houses, which process generates a certain amount of heat.

[@barbaraking6980]

Thanks Darren , interesting stuff. Look forward to you going through the culvert under the Timble Beck, bridge, it will be interesting to see what remains. See you again soon 👍

[@trevorkent7916]

Fantastic as always

[@mandycoleman1394]

I just love your channel Darren. Interesting entertaining and educational ! Love it !!

[@AdventureMe]

Thank you kindly

[@anthonyellis987]

I love the short ones.

[@Sharon-marie]

I've lived in Leeds all my life and just don't know these things thankyou

[@DEAD-DROP]

I think I may have been through the tunnel under that bridge. If it's the one I'm thinking of, it's quite a good explore and not too difficult. Looking forward to the video!

[@nowt2957]

The most convincing rout for the tunnel that the vents are for which came up on a website discussing it was this particular one runs from the site of the old substation on the piece of land next to the novotel that looks now to maybe just be plant for the hotel, up Northern Street and Queen Street, round via St Paul's Street onto Park square West and finishing at what used to be (but doesn't look to be there any more) a substation up there. Of course it would be strange to just have one tunnel and where are all the air vents? Though having typed that the properties on Park Square West do all have the open basement levels that could easily have vents in them from a tunnel under the pavement next to them.

[@DarkEnchantressOfAllThee]

Good video Darren! Really excited for the large projects!

[@waynepaxford7263]

Excellent video Darren keep up the great work up mate

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks 👍

[@andybonner5105]

Thanks Darren. I've also done research on these vents, which suggested venting for bunkers. To build underground to this level, must have been for something very important, otherwise it will have been at ground level. I'd ask Network Rail. Please keep us posted! Thanks again.

[@TheCrimsonAvenger]

Some areas of Leeds are riddled with Victorian and prior coal mining. Air shafts were covered over with railway sleepers and trees planted to seal.

[@nathanlegge7090]

Here's a vote for the Meanwood beck to river air video!! I remember a very old one done years ago and an update would be great!

[@juliebrooke6099]

History is all around us. I love that you’re always seeing things and being curious. Thanks for your informative videos.

[@weatherwitchandfelinefamiliars]

How fabulous!! ❤

[@angelajuneholmes4933]

Wow ! Loved this one and would like a few more short ones with quirky facts and landmarks around Leeds.

[@danielmarsland7519]

I've walked that culvert multiple times from Meanwood to the outfall opposite royal armouries, its a steady walk, Also branches off up gipton beck when you get to Roseville Road

[@douglasthompson296]

Hi Darren, talking about old traffic lights then the Headrow traffic lights were a nightmare in there early years. If you hit the first one on red then all the sets would be red, hit it on green and bingo your a winner. They were synced to work all together 🧐 However traffic flow was lighter in those days and the traffic kept flowing 😂 I remember my dad either speeding up or slowing down to catch the first light on green and his cusses if it was red 😮 Nowadays the Headrow is mostly pedestrianised or bus lanes i think, a great change to what it was. Cheers DougT

[@Del-bm]

That was an interesting little video

[@a11csc]

cant believe the things you miss as you drive by darren

[@stevenlangdon-griffiths293]

Very Interesting And Informative Video

[@AdventureMe]

Glad you think so!

[@comedyhunter]

Interesting finds.

[@wisteela]

That's very odd with the bridge. Fantastic that they kept it like that.

[@nigelbanyard5980]

I am conflicted about the traffic lights, one of your YT competitors “Autoshenenigans” recently did a quite detailed rundown on traffic lights, from the older semaphore/gas lit policemen operated ones trialled unsuccessfully in London, to what he said were the first automated set a year before those in Leeds which were in Wolverhampton. Guess I’ll have to do some digging! Thanks for your great delves into so many quirky, geeking but definitely fascinating subjects.

[@saraclayton-smithson5083]

I too follow autoshenanigans and heard his claims and remember thinking that’s wrong, they were on park row in Leeds… hope you can find the truth!

[@AdventureMe]

Yeah these are the first "permanent" ones I believe.

[@exploringwithflukie]

fantastic find hopefully you will get chance to see the tunnels

[@exploringwithflukie]

would love to collab with you one day

[@Chriscasey1985]

That bridge is definitely meanwood beck I have walked all the from buslingthorpe lane underground to crown point years ago but no idea if it still gose under that bridge because it's hard to tell where you are underground

[@lordstiffupperlip3095]

Hi Darren thanks for the video , I have never been to Leeds it looks good on a nice day.

[@mryanik0]

I have passed that old bridge so many times, and I dont think ive ever seen it.

[@lynnballington8467]

Hello Darren are you well love your vidio of the secret of leeds yes I thought that was a post box but it is a vent have you got any take that tribute band coming up best wishes take care stay safe xx ❤

[@ponyboymb]

Wicked vid', looking forward to seeing the others on this area ✌🏼🙏🏻

[@dianeshepherd7913]

Thanks for the video i havnt been to leeds, if i go will look out for this, yes so unusual to be in such a busy place.

[@jim9106]

Isn’t there a video on KZbin of that culvert by the Leeds Historical Society? That’s the One from Holbeck, so may be a different one? Great video by the way.

[@davidnorman7761]

Little know things .I've passed that bridge numerous times . another superb video Darren York's calling you again.

[@michaelmiller641]

Theres an old bridge like that in gravesend, you can see the two sides of it from the road, underneath would have been one of the paths to a former pleasure garden, now built on

[@CarolineFord1]

Those vents need their own video! There must be loads of stuff about them.

[@AdventureMe]

Believe it or not. There's nothing

[@antonyblakeston8541]

Another great one Darren, seen the vents but didnt know what they where. Take care mate.

[@jamskof]

great work! i had no idea! would be amazing to see under there.

[@davidberlanny3308]

Hi Darren, I like these mini mystery videos it's a great format. Those vent pillars will still be venting something I'm sure. Look forward to your underground culvert adventure... I always remember the first time I saw you on KZbin, it was on the inverted Syphon high up on saddleworth moor if I remember correctly with Martin and team. Have a great week

[@familylife3624]

I would say darren that the brook follows the same course as there appears to be a manhole just on the the other side of that strange bridge allowing access to the culvert for inspection

[@oddsandwindsocks5905]

Hi Darren. Love seeing these quirky finds .

[@cherylsemrau7100]

For number one, there are cameras that could go down there and you can watch the coverage.

[@srfurley]

Until the pandemic I used to go to Bradford two or three times each year. Used to go by coach until my legs got too bad for a five hour journey, then switched to train. Last stop on the coach before Bradford was Leeds bus station, and just before we entered it we passed something I think it was hexagonal or octagonal and may have been on an island in the road. I don’t think it was very old, it had glass windows and it looked like some sort of plant inside, pumps maybe? Any idea what it was? I wish they would provide better signage between Leeds bus and railway stations, the few times I’ve walked it I’ve always got lost.

[@andrewgibson4658]

That used to be a petrol station

[@stephenjdixon1]

the end of the East street culvert can clearly be seen on the river. It takes surface water from a large part of Leeds and occupies most of the former East street which was totally closed off when it was built in the early sixties. All done by the leeds City Engineers Main Driange Dept where I was an Engineering Learner [pupil as it were.]

[@AdventureMe]

Yeah I've seen the output on the riverside

[@saraclayton-smithson5083]

Excellent video. Can’t wait for the Timble Beck explore episode. I have seen the photos of it of from previous explorers but never a video…

[@douglasthompson296]

Hi Darren, talking about changes to old Leeds as a late teen (still lived in Yorkshire then) i used to go to a barbers down Bridge Street right on the start of the bridge, an old Victorian? terrace of shops/offices that was accessed by a balcony type of pavement hanging over the river. There is still a building there on Google maps but looks to have been redeveloped many years ago? TBH i would be lost trying to find my way around cental Leeds these days

[@andymountain130]

Done the tunnels from meanwood road opposite the cricket pitch all way through to the river as a kid 89/91 ish .and have seen when had road works open the bottom of road approx back off hoggeys bar pub but was very fast running water possible winter time .but yes very very interesting.

[@user-wt3oc4yv7g]

I was told many years ago that the northern street vent was ventilation for an underground tunnel running between the main post office in city square and one of the goods stations adjacent to Central Station. Believed to be a narrow gauge railway.....?

[@frogandspanner]

4:43 Culvert. From the French for "Green arse", so that explains what it carried.

[@pmberry]

A touch further up Queen Street, on the corner by the zebra crossing, is Darley House (now qtwo) that has railings guarding a basement level open to the street, with gated access to steps leading down, and this appears to be at the same level as the alleged utility tunnel.

[@AdventureMe]

Hmmm could well be

[@kevinjbakertribe]

Would be interesting to send a GoPro down one of the event shafts.

[@AdventureMe]

It's getting in that's the problem

[@tjweston1]

Love this

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks

[@paulwilliams8725]

Great video 👍

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks 👍

[@grindelston5968]

Awesome I love leeds!

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks!

[@wrichard11]

The ventilation pillars look like police blue. I wonder if they ventilated tunnels for police telephones or other wiring

[@dianehaile7028]

I had no idea what that vent was. I noticed it over 40 years ago 😮

[@drac1st]

Wow I remember how traffic lights used to look but over time they changed and I didn't even notice. 😂.

[@apb3251]

I don’t think those vents are large enough for air supply for a tunnel for humans to breath. I’d say more connected to the power station and some escape vent for gases

[@studywithme7677]

I reckon the vents are for the old sewers, there were instances of sewers exploding due to gas build up in the early days so that would explain a lot. There's stories of phantom tunnels all across Leeds 😂

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

Stench pipes / poo pipes: in fact soil stack ventilation pipes have been quite heavily regulated since their introduction. A fundamental rule covers their capacity and where they discharge. That is why the vast majority of municipal ones are big diameter cast iron ones and reach way up into the sky thereby avoiding discharging the sewer gases from the "night soil" and "black water" at window level of adjacent properties. These are just too small. As mentioned by others above, most likely form part of an airflow management system for large utility conduits eg lecky .