Population 21,681 Dialling code 0113 | OS grid reference SE241344 | |
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Random cycle around bramley leeds
Bramley is a district in west Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. The appropriate City of Leeds Ward is Bramley and Stanningley with a population of 21,334 at the 2011 Census. The area is an old industrial area with much 19th century architecture and 20th century council housing in the east and private suburban housing in the west. Bramley is one of the three villages which make up the West Leeds Riviera tourism area, along with Rodley and Farsley.
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History
Bramley is listed in the 1086 Domesday Book as "Brameleia" and "Bramelie".
Much of Bramley was redeveloped in the 1960s and 1970s. The Bramley Shopping Centre replaced the former town centre, and was Leeds' second purpose-built town centre after Seacroft town centre. Unlike Seacroft, the Bramley Shopping Centre replaced an existing town centre. The redevelopment replaced substandard shops and houses; many of the shops and cottages were dilapidated and in need of repair. From 2008, following the deterioration of the shopping centre, the landlord brought new stores such as Farmfoods and Tescos to the area.
The redevelopment of Bramley was condemned as one of the least sensitive redevelopment programmes in Yorkshire. In 2008 the Yorkshire Evening Post ran an article describing the redevelopment of a "once-picturesque area", and questioning the replacement of an historic Yorkshire town centre. Much of historical Bramley is now protected by the Bramley Town Conservation Area, which focuses on the area around Bramley Park across to Hough Lane.
Community
Bramley lies within the Parliamentary constituency of Leeds West. The Member of Parliament is Labour MP Rachel Reeves.
Parks and open areas for outdoor recreation include Bramley Falls Wood, which runs beside the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, and Bramley Park, which contains an underground reservoir at its highest point. At Bramley Park a fireworks display and the Bramley Carnival is held most years.
Bramley Baths are an example of Edwardian swimming baths. Built in 1904, and restored, it has a 25-metre pool, a gymnasium and a Russian steam room. The baths were used for dances during its early years, when the pool was covered with a large dance floor. The baths are among the best remaining examples of an Edwardian baths in Leeds today.
Bramley Shopping Centre is a 1960s-style concrete shopping plaza which was erected to replace the traditional stone-built village centre. Shops include charity shops, banks, travel agents, bakeries, pawnbrokers, supermarkets, a post office, Greggs, Pizza Hut Delivery, a thrift shop, a dental practice and fast food takeaways.
Estates in Bramley that have residents' associations include Moorside and Ganners, Landseer, Rossefield, and Newlay and Whitecote. LILAC, an affordable green co-housing project is based in Bramley.
Bramley churches include those for Baptist, Nazarenes (Wesleyan), Roman Catholics, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Methodists, and two for Anglicans.
Bramley railway station (off Stanningley Road) is on the Leeds-Bradford Line. Bramley is accessible by bus routes from Leeds city centre, operated by First Leeds.
Bramley Juniors Football Club was established 1994 and runs with open-age teams. The club developed from one under-9s club in 1994. Bramley rugby league club is the Bramley Buffaloes, and the Rugby union club, the Bramley Phoenix Rugby Union Club.