Origins Of Burley Three

Whatever its origins Burley Village remained, for the next century, virtually isolated amid fields and woodlands. Between the village and Leeds were occasional buildings, including Burley Lawn and Burley Lodge. But until the 1840's the only further development took place closer to the river. There had been mills upstream along the banks of the Aire since time immemorial, originally under the control of the monks of Kirkstall Abbey. And Armley Mill (now the industrial museum) had first been recorded in 1618.

It was around 1800 that industrial development along the intervening stretch of river began with the construction of the 'Dobby Mill', as Burley Mill is locally known (now opposite Kirkstall Road School). James Graham, the Earl of Cardigan's agent, extended the goit or mill-race from the abbey downstream and leased the mill to Benjamin Gott, who began the manufacture of blankets in competition with Witney in Oxfordshire, initially 'Red Indian blankets' for the United States, and for British and Russian troops engaged in the Napoleonic Wars.

Gott also owned Armley Mill and Bean Ing Mill in Leeds, on the site of the present Yorkshire Post building. He had a small bridge constructed over the Aire, near ??Burley Mill, presumably to ease his journey from Bramley through what is now Gott's Park to oversee his enterprises: a bridge known locally as the 'Halfpenny Bridge' after the toll that was levied to be allowed to cross it.

Next: Origins Of Burley Four
Back: Origins Of Burley Two
Up to Early Burley