Middleton Park 4.64

Middleton Park is a public park in Middleton, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It covers an area of 630acre, nearly a square mile of which 200acre are ancient woodland. There is also a small lake, recreational areas and a golf course. The reclaimed site of "Middleton Broom" Colliery has been incorporated into the park. By its northern boundary is the South Leeds Stadium, home of rugby league club Hunslet. The Middleton Railway runs between Moor Road, Hunslet and Park Halt railway station.HistoryMiddleton Park is a remnant of the manorial estate which existed after the Norman Conquest. Middleton is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. At the northern end of park there is an earthwork from 1204 demarcating the boundary between Middleton and Beeston. Lords of the manor included the Grammarys, Creppings, Leghs and Brandlings. The Brandlings cleared land and built Middleton Lodge in about 1760, creating a country estate. The Brandlings exploited the underlying coal and were responsible for building the Middleton Railway to transport the coal into Leeds.Since 1919 the park has been in the ownership of Wade's Charity who lease it to Leeds City Council for a peppercorn rent. It has been one of Leeds many public parks since 1919.