Meanwood is a suburb of north-west Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, consisting of nineteenth-century industrial buildings in Meanwood Valley at the sides of Meanwood Beck; nineteenth-century terraced housing on the valley side leading up to Headingley, Weetwood and Woodhouse, along with an area of woodland known locally as The Ridge; and twentieth-century council housing mixed with open space on the opposite side of the valley leading up to Scott Hall. Meanwood Park, in the north of the area, is one of Leeds’s best loved open spaces, and Meanwood is also home to Meanwood Valley Urban Farm. With the Meanwood trail and its vast park, you could often mistake parts of Meanwood for being in the countryside.
The clock of Meanwood Parish Church was manufactured by Edward J. Dent (1790-1853), who with his son made the timepiece associated with ‘Big Ben’ in London. There is a monument to Captain Oates (of the ill-fated Scott expedition to Antarctica) in Meanwood.
Meanwood has also become famous for paranormal activities, especially within the grounds of Meanwood Park Hospital (opposite Parkside Road) where numerous ghosts have allegedly been spotted [1]. Strange orbs have been spotted as well as a hooded figure has commonly being spotted wondering the grounds. [2] The hospital where the paranormal activities took place is famous for being a brutal unit where patients with mental problems where treated. In one instance, a 13 year old girl was taken there due to her being pregnant and only left after 60 years. [3] By this time she had become naturally mentally ill. Thus, Meanwood Park Hospital has become a hotspot for paranormal investigators and has attracted media coverage [4].
Meanwood is famous for one of the most successful Goals Soccer Centers’ 5-a-side teams, Meanwood F.C., which has captured the imagination of the Stonegate and Parkside residents and become significantly popular amongst the local area. This team may be insignificant on a global scale but it has earned them cult status amongst the general public of the Meanwood area, which is mainly been due to the way they have promoted themselves.
Other social sporting activities in Meanwood include the Meanwood Valley Trail Race, which is a cross country race that has been going since 1996.