Roundhay Park
Roundhay Park is one of the largest parks in Europe, with over 700 acres of parkland, woodland, lakes and gardens. The park was granted to William the Conqueror’s favourite, Ilbert de Lacy. During the 13th century the De Lacy family used the area as a hunting park. In the 18th century Charles Stourton acquired it through succession and marriage. In 1803 the land was sold by Charles’ nephew to Thomas Nicholson and Samuel Elam. The two men split the land between them and the northern part taken by Nicholson is what became Roundhay Park. The castle folly at the top of Waterloo Lake was a fashionable addition at the time. It was built by local builder George Nettleton and originally had a wooden roof and upper room. The Nicholsons used the folly as a summerhouse, sewing room and held dinner parties here too.
Interesting and obscure facts:
- The Rolling Stones recorded an album at Roundhay Park. The Rolling Stones recorded Live at Leeds in Roundhay Park in 1982 but it wasn’t released until 2012.
- According to the Friends of Roundhay Park group, the park’s greenery is thought to be inspiration for the nursery rhyme Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush, while its Weeping Ash goes through yearly sex changes.
- The plant Gingko Biloba can be found at Roundhay Park, which is thought to help memory loss and the oil from the Deodar Cedar can be used as an insect repellent.
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