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Newspaper and Witness Reports

The Charles Goad Fire Maps

The Charles Goad fire maps of Leeds (see PowerPoint in 'Resources') are a collection of 26 fire insurance maps of the city centre from 1902. Charles Goad set up a business creating detailed maps of the buildings, occupiers, trades, interior layouts and building materials to help insurance companies work out the fire risk of each building. He created maps of many of Britain’s most important cities and towns from 1885 to 1910.

 

Map drawing of Boar and surrounding streets in Leeds. Buildings are painted in pink. In the bottom left corner. The Victorian Amphitheatre is painted in Yellow.
Charles Goad Fire Maps of Leeds Sheet 9

Flammable building materials like wood, chemicals used in industry, and steam engines, boilers, kilns or ovens had special symbols because they are a high fire risk. Buildings with lots of people at work, school or church were highlighted as high risk on the maps. Businesses like mills, warehouses and railways were also considered to be high risk.

After his death in 1910, his three sons continued the business. It still produces insurance-risk plans today, as part of the Experian Group.

You can see 15 of the city centre maps in the Charles Goad Fire Maps PowerPoint.

Look at the colour coded symbols and abbreviations that show materials, use, size, height and structure of buildings.

  • Sheet 1 – map of the whole Leeds area with an explanation of the signs used on the maps

Map drawing of central Leeds showing size and population. Colour coded areas in yellow, pink and blue.
Charles Goad Fire Maps of Leeds Sheet 1

  • Sheet 2 – the area around Park Square and Park Lane. Can you see a hotel?
  • Sheet 3 – the area around East Parade, Bond Street and Park Row. What road is the Poor Law Offices found on?

 

Map drawing of East Parade and surrounding streets in Leeds. Buildings are painted in pink.
Charles Goad Fire Maps of Leeds Sheet 3

  • Sheet 4 - the area around Bond Street and Albion Street. Can you find the Theatre Royal, County Court and Leeds Library?
  • Sheet 7 – the area around Wellington Street. Can you see the Great Northern Railway Station Hotel that was destroyed by the Great Fire of Leeds in 1906?

 

Map drawing of Wellington Street and surrounding streets in Leeds. Buildings are painted in pink.
Charles Goad Fire Maps of Leeds Sheet 7

 

  • Sheet 8 – the area around the train station and Infirmary Street. How many hotels can you find? What is the GPO?
  • Sheet 9 – the area around Boar Lane. Can you find Holy Trinity Church and John Milling and Partners Drapery and Cabinet Warehouses next door?
  • Sheet 10 – the area around Neville Street and the train station. Can you see the railway lines? Can you find Goodall, Backhouse and Co Manufacturing Chemists?

 

Map drawing of Wellington Station and train tracks above the top half pained in yellow and blue . In the bottom half of the map are surrounding streets in Leeds. Buildings are painted in pink.
Charles Goad Fire Maps of Leeds Sheet 10

 

  • Sheet 12 – the area around Call Lane and The Calls. Can you find the Corn Exchange and the Central Market Bazaar?
  • Sheet 27 – the area around Great George Street. Can you find Leeds General Infirmary?
  • Sheet 41 – the area around the Leeds Liverpool Canal. Can you see Thompson, McKay and Co Stables?
  • Sheet 43 – the area around Holbeck. Can you find the Polysulphin Chemical Works?
  • Sheet 46 – the area around Holbeck and Marshall Street. Can you see the largest building called Temple Works Clothing Factory?
  • Sheet 51 – the area around Hunslet Lane and Meadow Lane. Can you see the Leather Market?
  • Sheet 55 - the area around Hunslet Lane and Crown Point Road. Can you see Hunslet Lane Board School?