Ginnels, Alleys, Snickets. (Call them what you will.)

[Tizer]

Perhaps it's a `cul de ginnel'.
Or a `blind ginnel'.

[David Whipp]

Ian's suggestion of 'yard' seems the most appropriate for Stanley's last photo (which is off the ginnel between The Butts and Commercial Street).

Here's one where its status is less challengeable?

[Stanley]

Is it down to the path between the RC School and Westfield Drive?

[David Whipp]

You're in the right quarter of town, but not on the right path.

[SAC]

Running down the front of Oakfield Avenue off Fernbank Avenue

[David Whipp]

Spot on SAC.

[Stanley]

So, where to next?

[David Whipp]

Arguably, not a ginnel.

[Stanley]

Is it the continuation of East Hill Street garden fronts along the back of Wellhouse Square and parallel to Bank Street? I think it qualifies as a ginnel, definitely a short cut from East Hill to Wellhouse Road....

[PanBiker]

I would concur it was not flagged when I was a lad though.. Part of my stamping ground living on Craven Street. The equivalent short stretch on Wellhouse Road up to where Charlie Morriss had his camera shop and Tommy Kendle's clog shop has been assimilated into extended gardens now.

[David Whipp]

[Stanley]

From the end of Federation Street down into the back road behind the sheltered accommodation. Must have been when they were tarmacing.....

[David Whipp]

Spot on Stanley. This is past the end of Hollins Court to Hollins Road.

It was taken last week; the work at the end is some tree surgery.

The path was improved as part of the Urban Ginnel programme a couple of years ago. Before it was bitmaced, it was just a single flag width.

[David Whipp]

[Stanley]

Jack and I know it well, direct route to Browns butcher's shop on Friday mornings....
Our posts crossed! Once again, the latest one is familiar but......

[Stanley]

I thought the concrete steps might be these but I checked this morning and I was wrong....

[Stanley]

It's just dawned on me! Are these the steps up to the oft-disputed right of way from the raised causeway on Manchester Road, through the back of the cottage into Castle View?

[David Whipp]

Top marks Stanley! There's nowt like knowing your steps.

The picture I posted is indeed those going up from Manchester Road, leading to the path through to Castle View.

Dorothy Carthy got the route included on the Definitive Map. Although the ginnel is gated, it is signed and open for use.

Here's the ginnel at the other end of its short length.



The steps in Stanley's picture have an interesting history...

[Bruff]

Felt the scurry of my feet as a lad did those steps down to Manchester Road there. Up the ginnel at the top of North Street, left and down that ginnel and across Manchester Road and then up the steps and through the other ginnel to Cobden Street and then down to Mrs Tomlinson's at the bottom on my way to various great aunts and uncles that lived Memorial Gardens way.

My father always said at the time of the kerfuffle over that ginnel that it was a right of way, and for the first 45 years of his life he had never lived more than 30 yds from it. So I think that qualifies as an authoritative view.

Richard Broughton

[Wendyf]

When I try and remember Wyke where I was born it is the snickets I remember more than anything else. We left when I was five and I was shocked to find that Leeds had ginnels not snickets!

[Stanley]

Have we had this one?

[David Whipp]

We have now!

But we haven't had anyone saying where your last steps photo was taken yet... and I've a tale to tell when it's correctly identified...

[PanBiker]

Stanleys last on is Butts through to Parrock Street by the Clinic and past the old bowling green.

[chinatyke]

When I try and remember Wyke where I was born it is the snickets I remember more than anything else. We left when I was five and I was shocked to find that Leeds had ginnels not snickets!

Hey Wendy, I worked in Wyke for my last 16 years before I retired. Small world isn't it? Graham

[Wendyf]

My mother's side of family had lived in Wyke for generations, but she couldn't wait to get away! My brother and I are going there soon on a trip down memory lane to see if we can find some connection (and some of the old snickets)....I might even take some of Mum's ashes to sprinkle in the woods which she loved as a girl.