page_title: Leeds Royal Park
section_title: Operation
hierarchical_section_title: Leeds Royal Park / Operation
caption_attribution_description: English: Leeds Royal Park - Special Gala Next Saturday
context_page_description: Leeds Royal Park was a pleasure garden in Leeds, West Yorkshire from 1858 to 1885, located to the west of Woodhouse Moor about a mile out of the city centre. It was established by Thomas Clapham, an entrepreneur and local politician, but like the rest of his ventures it was unprofitable, and was closed and sold in 1874 due to the level of debt built up on its mortgages, after which it was known as the Leeds Horticultural Gardens. The new management company also had problems with debt and it was sold off in plots for housing development from 1885. The site now forms part of the dense residential area of Hyde Park, leaving a legacy in the layout and street naming. The only surviving building connected with the Royal Park is the old entrance lodge, converted into a group of houses facing Woodhouse Moor.
  Troubles for the Royal Park were more than financial. Under Clapham's management, repeated violations of local licensing laws for music and events put pressure on funds and reputation. However, it was a popular place for recreation, with cricket, a gymnasium and other attractions including the annual Leeds Flower Show and sensational paid events.
context_section_description: The Leeds New Gardens was renamed to the Royal Park in September 1858 in honour of Queen Victoria's visit to Leeds that month to officially open the Town Hall. During the 1860s, the park hosted the Leeds Flower Show on an annual basis, and held sensational paid events, such on 27 July 1861, when Charles Blondin, who was famous for having crossed the Niagara Gorge, walked a tightrope carrying a man on his back.
  By 1866, Clapham owned 43 acres (0.17 km²) of land adjoining Woodhouse Moor and he constructed himself a house next to the park gate, and a new road, named Clapham Road, following the line of an old footpath. Only some 20 acres (0.081 km²) on the site of the original cricket ground were part of the Royal Park; the other land was described as additional recreational areas.
  In 1868, a list of elements comprising the Royal Park contained three residences, an entrance hall, a restaurant, picture gallery, refreshment room, music pavilion, menagerie, fountain, cricket ground, volunteer parade ground and recreation ground.
  Throughout Clapham's time heading the management of the park, he was dogged by repeated revocations or refused applications for a music and events licence, followed by his repeated running of events regardless; he was regularly convicted by magistrates and given the penalty of a fine.
caption: Advertisement in the Leeds Mercury for a special gala at the Royal Park, May 1869
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