
It will be a day of top quality glass rooves, and we’ll be back to that one later.

At the same time as me, others from around the North are getting on trains too.
As planned, I arrive in Leeds with plenty of time for a walk round town, as you’d expect.









When I was last here early last summer, they were demolishing what was here before. Now the new ‘Wait for 2016!’ development is well on the way.







I used to loathe it on the television mind, and would flee from the room whenever it started.





And as an end feature even that tower block sort of works.







‘Craft beer and Indian Street Food.’ See, I said it was a thing. Very good too, it turns out. So who’s here and how come? Well this is a sort of Twitter gathering really. Half a dozen of us who are regularly in touch, 140 characters at a time, about our common home, the place that we love, the North:
- Jessie Joe Jacobs from Stockton in the North East
- Isabelle Tracey from Hull in the East
- Emma Bearman a Culture Vulture from Leeds
- Phil Kirby the other Culture Vulture from Leeds
- Marie Millward completing the Leeds contingent
- And of course me, from Liverpool


Hours we talked for. And then set ourselves some reflections homework too. So something jointly said about the North and possibilities may well be emerging as we write.










Actually we’ve walked through here to see where Phil works. Prepare to be astonished.



These days it’s full of small workshops making all sorts. And artists and a model railway club (sadly not open today) – but it’s days as a flax mill are sadly long behind it. ‘Killed off by the American Civil War’ Phil says gnomically.




For a minute now I’m not going to speak. While you look at somewhere deeply strange and savagely beautiful.
When this was built the room underneath us was the largest in the world. So it needed lots of daylight.

And now? Well it’s been a film set. Doctor Who has been here. But it’s also waiting.

For now let’s continue exploring.


Now for that biggest room.

These days? All sorts of gatherings. Humans and robots. Film sets too, thrillers and zombies a speciality. Corporate ads too. Last week a car worth more than all of our homes put together several times over was in here.





Up here in the North. ‘Imagine all the things we could do?’ we think as we wander around. And dream on our trains home.


There will be more talk, in more places, talking up the North. Maybe you could join in?
Thanks for showing me bits of Leeds I never saw in all my time living in Bradford – which is, by the way, despite all the decay and neglect and wanton demolition, also worth a visit. But you’ve got an awful lot of northern cities that will say the same thing with reason – have fun!
Lovely City Leeds especially with your excellent photos of interesting places
I will be sure to visit Leeds one day now I know a little about the place thanks to you : )