The University Has Come At Last - University of Leeds Archive

The vast campus of the University of Leeds, as we know it now, began as a small medical school. It was set up in rooms at a dispensary on North Street, Leeds, in October 1831 by a group of doctors. Two of the doctors were the surgeons Charles Thackrah and William Hey II,  who was also mayor of Leeds, twice!  

The school was so popular, with lots of students enrolling, that they had to move to a house at 1 East Parade, Leeds near to the Leeds General Infirmary. By 1863 the Medical School had 60 students and the East Parade site was too small. Two years later a new purpose-built school was constructed in Park Street, which you can see in this photograph. Much nearer to the hospital, it was easier for the medical students to work in.    

Elsewhere in the city, the Yorkshire College of Science opened in Cookridge Street, Leeds, in October 1874.

There had been lots of interest from local merchants and engineers, like Thomas Nussey and James Kitson, to set up a college to make sure that employees working in the industrial trades were trained and highly skilled. A total of 24 students enrolled for the first session, but funding was an issue. The Chemistry department only had a lean-to shed for "experiments ... of a particular noxious character." The college needed money and interest if they were going to attract more students.   

To begin the journey to becoming a University, The Yorkshire College of Science changed its name to The Yorkshire College in 1878 and moved to a new site on an area of land called the Beech Grove estate, which later became the Clothworkers' Buildings and the Baines Wing.

In 1884 the Leeds School of Medicine joined with the Yorkshire College. Over the next ten years more new buildings opened, such as the Great Hall. Medical teaching was based at the Leeds School of Medicine and teaching  in all the other subjects moved to College Road. 

In 1887 The Yorkshire College entered Victoria University, which was a University of the North of England based in Manchester. Other Northern colleges could join, but remain independent. Other member colleges were Owens College Manchester and University College Liverpool. 

The Yorkshire College attracted more students and funding to enable development of its teaching departments. The first student newspaper, 'The Gryphon', was published in December 1897. The reason for creating the student newspaper was to bring the different departments together, from Science and Medicine to Arts and Literature and Engineering and Manufacturing.

Although Professor Arthur J Grant from the School of History (1897-1927) launched, edited and wrote articles for the newspaper, it was mostly written by students, for students. The Gryphon was to play a big part in maintaining the University community during the wars.