John Barran - Entrepreneur & Visionary
Join urban geographer Rachael Unsworth (Leeds City Walking Tours) to hear why John Barran’s contribution to Leeds should be celebrated. Arriving in Leeds as a young man, Barran established a tailoring business and brought in ground-breaking machinery to revolutionise the pace and scale of clothing production. As a town councillor, he supported many improvements whilst his own commercial buildings were dramatic additions to the urban landscape and still delight us to this day. Perhaps his most enduring impact on our city was the purchase of the Roundhay Estate 150 years ago this year to create Roundhay Park. Local historian Steve Burt, who published a history of Roundhay Park in 2000, has kindly made his substantial research material available for creating commemorative events in 2021.
Join urban geographer Rachael Unsworth (Leeds City Walking Tours) to hear why John Barran’s contribution to Leeds should be celebrated. Arriving in Leeds as a young man, Barran established a tailoring business and brought in ground-breaking machinery to revolutionise the pace and scale of clothing production. As a town councillor, he supported many improvements whilst his own commercial buildings were dramatic additions to the urban landscape and still delight us to this day. Perhaps his most enduring impact on our city was the purchase of the Roundhay Estate 150 years ago this year to create Roundhay Park. Local historian Steve Burt, who published a history of Roundhay Park in 2000, has kindly made his substantial research material available for creating commemorative events in 2021.