Seacroft Hall
The site of Seacroft Hall is now East Leeds Academy at the top of South Parkway. Seacroft Hall was built in the 16th century by the Shiletto family, “lords of the manor” and extensively refurbished in the 17th century. Before that date there is a reference to buildings on the site in 1341. There was a large park and ornamental lake in the grounds In the 19th century the Hall passed into the hands of the Wilson family until 1936.. On the demise of the family Leeds City Council bought the now derelict property. The hall was demolished in the 1950s all that remains being the entrance lodge and a depression in the land behind the school which floods in bad weather and is the site of the original lake. Some of the Hall’s contents were preserved by the Council notably a Georgian fireplace passed on to Temple Newsam House, and then the Leeds City Museum.
"I never saw the hall but I did see the old vicarage. I was very friendly with the Carters. I still associate with one of the daughters who lives in America. They were quite a big family. She came back to Seacroft and she said, ‘ What have they done to this church!’ maybe ive moved a little more in the times. I can see why. They got rid of the pulpit and the eagle, though I don’t know what happened to it. Then, we had the back of the church extended because we wanted toilets and a kitchen. The school closed in 1950 but it was used by the youth organisations and the first girl guides were formed. I was with them. Mr Carter left in 1952. He prepared me for confirmation then he married me. Then there’s Cyril Adams, hes actually buried just outside the church door. He worked too hard, killed himself. He was the church army, a confirmed bachelor until susan changed all that. Their wedding day was such a happy occasion at St James’s followed by a reception at St Paul’s given by the St Paul’s ladies.
Norman became rector and David our new vicar, there was no more congregational participation and then in 1973 came our winter of discontent or discomfort, the restoration fund was launched. Then David Grice became rector and his wife Cynthia and his two daughters. His dream was to install a kitchen, toilets and community room, so the community area was eventually opened in 1983 by Jane Young, and what an asset it has proved to be especially the toilets. 1994, was Tony Bundock. We suffered the loss of some old stalwarts – Jean Myers, Frank Myers, my Gordon – but God sent Adam so we thank God for the fellowship of St James’s. The Church of England as a whole has changed. You sometimes wonder ‘Do we need all these rules and regulations?’ They have a ladies’ group at the Methodist on a Tuesday. I really love that. I’ve really made some nice friends there who are all in the same boat (I’ve got a plastic knee and a plastic hip) and they don’t go on about their illnesses and there’s three of them in their 90s. We always have a decent speaker. Yesterday, we had a lady talking to us about the Jewish faith and we were allowed to ask questions. We were a bit early so we were just chatting amongst ourselves and I just happened to say ‘When you’re cremated what happens to your artificial hips?’ And someone said, they use them again, they take them out and recycle them. I’d never thought about that, but it’s an obvious question isn’t it?
The church is condemned. South Seacroft Good Neighbours work from there. The church itself is leased out at the weekend. Going back to the way the Methodist works. We have one part-time. There was one David Laycock, I could talk to him and I miss that. I had the confidence of most of the clergy. It was very special. I was the first lady to give communion and it was a real honour. That piece of paper I gave you about the church tells you when it was built and it’s not as old as you think. At one time Seacroft was part of the parish of Whitkirk. The stone had been laid by John Wilson who was the Lord of the Manor in 1844. John Wilson’s family gave a thousand. They’re a little bit before my time. The council took the house over and it was knocked down. The vicarage where Mr Carter lived was knocked down and that was lovely. John Gilligan does a lot of writing. Have you been and looked at the church properly? I’d love to do it with you some time.
I’ve had a successful life in Seacroft. I go on little trips from the Good Neighbours. Linda’s in charge, Linda Goodhall. The fact that there is a Good Neighbours group is very important. They have lunches twice a week. They had a keep fit class, that’s where I first fell. But the gentleman who takes it just has you in stitches. We play this game at the end, you have something in your hand and he tells a story, he’s written these stories himself, the most gruesome stories and when he says left you got to pass it to the right – well you can imagine the confusion. If I can pluck up courage I’ll go back again soon.
There’s another Good Neighbours situated on Kentmere Avenue near St Richard’s Church. They go on holiday, they do shopping trips to Wetherby. A few weeks ago we had a trip to Ripon on market day. They have a special coach which opens up at the side. They have those little pusher things and they’re marvellous, much better than sticks. I walk marvellous with a shopping trolley. When I go to Tesco my friends lose me. If it wasn’t for your white hair we’d never find you. You sit on the bus and look at all these heads like cauliflower.
I go to the hairdresser round the corner, Havs. Originally Havs was a doctor’s surgery. That was the only land that was available and years back it was a dentist. Yes, the dentist was there and Gibbons hairdressers. I went to her as well. They moved to Scarborough.
That’s the old blacksmith’s, just near the post box. It consists of lots of yards and that was what they called Taylor’s Yard, where there was the butchers and one thing and another. And this man, Tom Gibbon, was quite a character. I think he was a relation of my husband’s. He was the village undertaker and the village joiner and everything else. He cut his thumb off with a circular saw and he just stuck it back on again. We used to play in the coffins in the yard when we were kids." - Audrey Ward
Norman became rector and David our new vicar, there was no more congregational participation and then in 1973 came our winter of discontent or discomfort, the restoration fund was launched. Then David Grice became rector and his wife Cynthia and his two daughters. His dream was to install a kitchen, toilets and community room, so the community area was eventually opened in 1983 by Jane Young, and what an asset it has proved to be especially the toilets. 1994, was Tony Bundock. We suffered the loss of some old stalwarts – Jean Myers, Frank Myers, my Gordon – but God sent Adam so we thank God for the fellowship of St James’s. The Church of England as a whole has changed. You sometimes wonder ‘Do we need all these rules and regulations?’ They have a ladies’ group at the Methodist on a Tuesday. I really love that. I’ve really made some nice friends there who are all in the same boat (I’ve got a plastic knee and a plastic hip) and they don’t go on about their illnesses and there’s three of them in their 90s. We always have a decent speaker. Yesterday, we had a lady talking to us about the Jewish faith and we were allowed to ask questions. We were a bit early so we were just chatting amongst ourselves and I just happened to say ‘When you’re cremated what happens to your artificial hips?’ And someone said, they use them again, they take them out and recycle them. I’d never thought about that, but it’s an obvious question isn’t it?
The church is condemned. South Seacroft Good Neighbours work from there. The church itself is leased out at the weekend. Going back to the way the Methodist works. We have one part-time. There was one David Laycock, I could talk to him and I miss that. I had the confidence of most of the clergy. It was very special. I was the first lady to give communion and it was a real honour. That piece of paper I gave you about the church tells you when it was built and it’s not as old as you think. At one time Seacroft was part of the parish of Whitkirk. The stone had been laid by John Wilson who was the Lord of the Manor in 1844. John Wilson’s family gave a thousand. They’re a little bit before my time. The council took the house over and it was knocked down. The vicarage where Mr Carter lived was knocked down and that was lovely. John Gilligan does a lot of writing. Have you been and looked at the church properly? I’d love to do it with you some time.
I’ve had a successful life in Seacroft. I go on little trips from the Good Neighbours. Linda’s in charge, Linda Goodhall. The fact that there is a Good Neighbours group is very important. They have lunches twice a week. They had a keep fit class, that’s where I first fell. But the gentleman who takes it just has you in stitches. We play this game at the end, you have something in your hand and he tells a story, he’s written these stories himself, the most gruesome stories and when he says left you got to pass it to the right – well you can imagine the confusion. If I can pluck up courage I’ll go back again soon.
There’s another Good Neighbours situated on Kentmere Avenue near St Richard’s Church. They go on holiday, they do shopping trips to Wetherby. A few weeks ago we had a trip to Ripon on market day. They have a special coach which opens up at the side. They have those little pusher things and they’re marvellous, much better than sticks. I walk marvellous with a shopping trolley. When I go to Tesco my friends lose me. If it wasn’t for your white hair we’d never find you. You sit on the bus and look at all these heads like cauliflower.
I go to the hairdresser round the corner, Havs. Originally Havs was a doctor’s surgery. That was the only land that was available and years back it was a dentist. Yes, the dentist was there and Gibbons hairdressers. I went to her as well. They moved to Scarborough.
That’s the old blacksmith’s, just near the post box. It consists of lots of yards and that was what they called Taylor’s Yard, where there was the butchers and one thing and another. And this man, Tom Gibbon, was quite a character. I think he was a relation of my husband’s. He was the village undertaker and the village joiner and everything else. He cut his thumb off with a circular saw and he just stuck it back on again. We used to play in the coffins in the yard when we were kids." - Audrey Ward