The area is situated between Pendas Fields to the north, Cross Gates to the north west, Whitkirk to the west, and Colton to the south and Garforth to the east. Officially judging by the old boundaries of the former Austhorpe township, Austhorpe also includes the areas of Cross Gates, Colton Common and Barrowby. Colton Common became officially part of Colton when the Ingram family of Temple Newsam kept it for their own after buying and then selling the rest of the Austhorpe Lodge estate. It crosses both of the Cross Gates and Whinmoor and Temple Newsam wards of Leeds City Council. The current east half of the civil parish of Austhorpe and large Thorpe Parkbusiness park lie in the western tip of Garforth and Swillington ward. Austhorpe Parish Council declared nil balance accounts for the financial year ended 31 March 2017. At the 2011 Census, the population of Austhorpe was shown to be included in Cross Gates and Whinmoor ward.
Etymology
The name Austhorpe is first attested in the Domesday Book in the form Ossetorp. Like a significant number of Yorkshire place-names, the name comes from Old Norse. The first element is from Old Norse austr and the second from Old Norse þorp, an element found widely in the area. Meanwhile, the place-name Barrowby, found within the township of Austhorpe, is first attested in 1236, in the form Bergeby. the name comes from Old Norse berg and bý.
History
After the Township dissolved, Austhorpe stopped developing as quickly as it was doing, possibly due to the once abundant coal fields close to the surface which had been a major source of commerce for the area since Roman times becoming empty with deep shaft mining proving to be unsuccessful compared to the close by coal source at Garforth. Whereas Cross Gates and Colton quickly developed, Barrowby, if anything, did not develop. Pioneering Civil EngineerJohn Smeaton, designer of the longest standing Eddystone Lighthouse, was born in Austhorpe. Leeds band the Kaiser Chiefs make a positive reference to him in their hit song"I Predict a Riot". Austhorpe Hall is a grade II* listed building dated from 1694.
Demography
Austhorpe lies in the LS15postcode area. Here is a population breakdown of the postcode area in comparison with the UK population.
