A Viking Network Project

Kirkgate, Leeds

By Jenna Palfreeman, year 5, Rodley Primary School, Leeds

is the name of a street in Leeds. The words 'kirk' and 'gate' comes from the Old Norse language of the Vikings who settled here. They mean 'church street' or 'church way'.

We went into Leeds to explore our Kirkgate. We started at the west end, where there are two main department stores, Debenham's and Littlewood's. From there we walked east. In this part of Kirkgate the shops are shiny and modern with a lot of people about. We crossed Vicar Lane to the next part of Kirkgate. The main building here is Kirkgate Market. Beyond the market there were not so many people and the shops are small and old-fashioned. After we passed under the railway bridge, we found some new shops built into the arches of the railway viaduct, but there were hardly any people about at all.

There, at the end of Kirkgate, we saw Leeds Parish Church of St. Peter  

Updated September 1, 1996 - The Viking Network