Leeds is a major city in West Yorkshire whose history has been shaped by trade, industry, and urban growth. Originally a small Anglo-Saxon settlement, Leeds developed during the Middle Ages as a market town serving the surrounding farming region. Its importance increased dramatically from the seventeenth century onwards as cloth production and woollen manufacturing expanded. During the Industrial Revolution, Leeds became one of Britain’s leading industrial cities, specialising in textiles, engineering, printing, and later chemical and manufacturing industries.
The arrival of canals and railways connected Leeds to national and international markets, accelerating population growth and wealth. However, rapid industrialisation also brought overcrowding and poor living conditions, prompting social reform and urban redevelopment.
Significant people with links to Leeds and surrounding area
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