Adel, Leeds

Adel is an area of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It is situated between Cookridge, Holt Park, Weetwood and Alwoodley.

Adel is situated near the site of a Roman fort, the ancient road from Tadcaster to Ilkley passing nearby. It is probable that a Saxon village sprang up around the fort and that a church would have been built within the village.

In 1152 the Cistercian abbey at Kirkstall nearby was founded. At the same time, the much simpler church of St John the Baptist was built in Adel to replace the older building there. The church has an ornate carved doorway and a low level lepers window.

Up until April 1926 Adel lay outside the city boundaries of Leeds. The Leeds Corporation Act 1925 brought Adel into the fold.

Close to Adel Church is York Gate, an old farmhouse with a beautifully landscaped gardens which are open to the public on regular occasions.

But what is there in Adel nowadays? Some houses, a primary school and a campus of the Leeds Metropolitan University.

If you like walking in the moors and through woods, you can take the Meanwood Valley trail North as far as the Alwoodley-Adel link road. Then follow the Dales Way. When you meet the edge of the woodland, the path forks and you fork right. Follow this trail round and you will see Eccup resevoir, which is nice to visit. You end up on Harrogate Road, and a short walk into Alwoodley will allow you to find the nearest bus stop.

External links

• Roman Adel
• History and church photographs
• Interactive diagram of church doorway
• York Gate garden