Hunslet

For the locomotive manufacturer see Hunslet Engine Company

Hunslet is a working class area of inner-city south Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. About a mile south of the city centre, it has an industrial past, and is a mixture of modern and 19th century industrial buildings, terraced housing, and 20th century housing. It is an area that has grown up significantly around the river in the early years of the 21st century, especially with the construction of modern riverside apartments and flats. It was at one point the main production site for Leeds Creamware, a type of pottery so called because of its cream glazing. Hunslet is now prospering as it follows the trend of Leeds generally, and the expansion of office and industrial sites south of Leeds city centre.

There were two tramways running through the area operated by Leeds City Tramways. The services were from Hyde Park and Cardigan Road through to Balm Road, and from Corn Exchange to Thwaite Gate. The third route was operated by the West Riding Tramway Company through to Wakefield and Sandal, opened in 1904 and closed in 1932. The LCT line to Thwaite Gate went to Rothwell from 1904 to 1932, a line also operated by West Riding. In 1929, the LCT tram routes were numbered, and the Rothwell (later Thwaite Gate) route was given the number 25, whilst the Balm Road route was numbered 26, returning to Cardigan Road 27. The West Riding route remained unnumbered until closure. The Balm Road tramway was extended to Belle Isle in 1940 and Middleton in 1949 as a circular route, yet despite being new, the Middleton-Balm Road route was closed on 28 March 1959, with the Thwaite Gate route closing three weeks later on 18 April 1959.

More recently, the M621 and A61, two major arteries for Leeds, pass through the area, providing convenient access to the whole of South Yorkshire and through the M62 to Manchester. This was completed in 1971, and sliced off a large chunk of Hunslet Moor with it.

The area also possesses a historic rugby league club in the form of the Hunslet Hawks.