Once a rural hamlet with many country villas and a village, Burley is now better known as an area of student and working-class housing. However, from those beginnings a Victorian centre emerged, due in part to John Smith; banker, benefactor and resident of Burley house.
St Matthias Church (St Matt’s) is open as a drop-in from 10.00 for tea and biscuits, so you can join the walk from there, as it’s our first port of call.
The walk begins at 10.30 St Matthias Church, where we can see the memorials to John Smith, the founder, and his wife, Anne Catherine Jane, as well as some fine stonework and woodwork. The walk centres on the Conservation area, including another church, Victorian schools, a well-preserved recreation ground, and a cobbled “hidden gem”. The walk also takes in the few pre-Victorian survivors.
We will end the walk at the Cardigan Arms on Kirkstall Road, a designated and well preserved late 19C hostelry.