UKC

The original Leeds Wall to be demolished

The original Leeds Wall, which was is generally considered to have been the first real purpose-built indoor climbing facility in the country, is to be pulled down. Initially built in 1964 by Don Robinson it ran along the side of a corridor and featured fierce fingery climbing on slick brickwork. Despite the basic nature of the wall there is little doubt that its existence promoted a rise in standards and this was the place where some of the founding fathers of the 70s Yorkshire and Peak scene honed their skills, and finger strength.

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19 Jul, 2005
why is it being pulled down?
19 Jul, 2005
Extremely dangerous - someone could seriously hurt themselves on all those jutting edges. Also, I believe there is a peg on there that dates from 1970. Someone might DIE! Also haunted. Keep well away.
20 Jul, 2005
they're pulling the whole building down... but would be worth listing... http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/conWebDoc.2422
20 Jul, 2005
Where have you heard that. Not saying its not true but I can't find any refence to it on the University website or the sports pages and I thought there might have been something there if it was going ahead.
20 Jul, 2005
I can't decide which way I feel about this. If they were getting rid of it in another interior rehash of the building then I think it should be saved, but if the whole building is going then I find it harder to object despite years of climbing there. Maybe the main corridor wall could be saved or relocated somewhere. If you got rid of the opposite corridor wall and padded the concrete floor then it would be safe enough.
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