Bond Court – Leeds, UK
Posted by: dtrebilc
N 53° 47.850 W 001° 32.896
30U E 595618 N 5961969
This small square surrounded by office buildings has a continental feel to it and even has a Petanque (Boules) court.
Waymark Code: WME8R1
Location: Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 04/19/2012
Views: 1
Leeds City Council installed the Petanque court in the late 1990s in honour of the fact that Leeds is twinned with the French city of Lille.
Petanque or Boule is popular in France and courts are a common sight in French towns and cities but I have never seen another one in the UK.
The boules are kept in a nearby sandwich shop and available for anyone to use. The game started to become popular with local office workers to such an extent that there is an annual tournament held with the CRE Colliers cup awarded to the winning team.
I don’t know whether anyone used to play the game before the arrival of this court but there is now a Petanque league with established teams in a number of nearby towns. (
visit link)
In 1998 Martin Wainwright, a keen player himself, commissioned local sculptor Roger Burnett to create a sculpture for the square.
The sculpture called Voila! Was unveiled in 2000 and shows a Frenchman demonstrating how to play the game to family of Yorkshire people.
There are a number of benches and picnic tables in the square and the feeling of a continental style square is enhanced by the inclusion of chess or draughts boards on the tables.
I get the impression this is a good place to chill in the summer during your lunch break from the office.