Today marks the 1st birthday of the MyPudsey website so we thought we would put something together that is a little bit different from our usual blog posts to celebrate! Read on to find out 5 things you might not have known about Pudsey and 5 things you might not have known about MyPudsey!
1. Pudsey has its very own theatre!
Based in Fulneck, the theatre is run by the Fulneck Dramatic Society. The theatre was founded in 1924 under the name Fulneck Amateur Operatic Society, they were known for very successful operettas and plays up until 1951 when they became Fulneck Dramatic Society, the society still exists to this day. If you’re interested in finding out more about the theatre and the Dramatic Society, they are holding their next performance beginning the 7th March “A chorus of disapproval”. Find out more on the MyPudsey events calendar.
Find out more about Fulneck Dramatic Society over on their website: https://www.fulneckdramaticsociety.co.uk/
2. A Pudsey businessman once had two different shops flattened by a tram
Fred Coe was once a prominent Pudsey businessman, and also served as a Pudsey Councillor and Pudsey Mayor during his lifetime. Fred was also quite possibly the unluckiest businessman to have once walked the streets of our town. Fred owned what is believed to be a hat & dress shop on Lowtown in Pudsey, much to Fred’s disappointment his shop was one day flattened by a tram. A fairly unbelievable occurrence, and one that you wouldn’t think would go on to be repeated… So poor old Fred reopened his shop at the bottom of Stanningley, happy in the confidence he couldn’t be so unlucky again… However, Fred was to be proven wrong when a second tram flattened his new shop. At the time Pudsey folk joked it was all a setup, an insurance job to allow Fred to open other shops… Pudsey folk, eh?
3. A small piece of Pudsey demolished in the 1920s can still be found in Pudsey Park
Many people know of the small drinking fountain at the far end of the play park, but how many of you know the origins of this fountain? Known as the William Dibb Scales drinking fountain, this piece of history once formed a larger structure by the old park lake. The structure was made of sandstone which couldn’t withstand the pollution and air quality and therefore was demolished in the 1920s, but a piece still remains to this day and who knows… Maybe you have taken a drink from it?
4. The founder of Leeds General Infirmary was born in Pudsey
Those of you that joined us last year for our very first Pudsey spooky tours will be familiar with the name William Hey, you may even remember the striking photo of the handsome chap you see above. Hey was born in Pudsey on the 23rd August 1736 and resided on Radcliffe Lane. An eminent surgeon of the time, Hey invented the “Hey saw”, a wonderful little contraption that was designed to make removing the top of people’s skulls a much easier process. By the time he passed, Hey had quite the CV. Not only had he invented surgical tools and procedures, he also went on to become the Mayor of Leeds as well as being one of the founding members of Leeds General Infirmary.
5. Pudsey Cenotaph is the only Cenotaph in the world known to have human remains within and underneath
Another little fact that those of you who attended our spooky tours will now know, Pudsey Cenotaph is the only Cenotaph in the world known to have human remains buried within and underneath the structure. The word Cenotaph is derived from the Greek word kenotaphion, which literally means “empty tomb”. Pudsey, never to do things by halves decided ours wouldn’t follow the crowd and the structure was erected on the site of the old Pudsey Chapel and burial ground. For this reason the Cenotaph contains and stands over human remains. On some dark, cold, winter evenings some people say you can still catch a glimpse of those that once walked the cobbles.
