Andy Hutchinson delves into the history of Dortmund Square and the famous ‘Barrel Man’ in Leeds City Centre.
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00:00Hi and welcome to Leeds Then and Today with me, Andrew Hutchinson.
00:04It's a city centre landmark which has provided a rendezvous point for generations of people.
00:09Did you know that Dortmund Square used to be called the Plaza?
00:12Do you know who this guy is?
00:14It's the Dortmund Drayman, an 8 foot bronze sculpture donated by the City of Dortmund.
00:21The statue was placed in Dortmund Square in 1980 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the city twinning with Dortmund.
00:28The statue had been kept under wraps but the then Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Eric Atkinson,
00:34could not wait and he persuaded the sculptor, Arthur Schujal Engels, to unveil it before the ceremony.
00:41To show his appreciation, Councillor Atkinson took with him some Leeds brewed beer to toast the sculptor and his work.
00:48Passers-by who stopped to admire the statue were not left out.
00:51Councillor Atkinson offered many of them a drink from the mayoral beer jug.
00:55When Dortmund Square and the Drayman was unveiled in September 1980, St John's Centre didn't exist.
01:02It opened five years later.
01:04For those who have walked past the barrelman and not read the inscription, it reads,
01:08In appreciation of the successful twin relationship characterised by goodwill and cooperation,
01:14and to symbolise the flourishing progress, the citizens of Dortmund have great pleasure in presenting the City of Leeds with this sculpture.
01:23Over the years, Dortmund Square has been a place for protest, party and promotion.
01:28The bad boys proved they were the good guys for teenage fans when the pop idols appeared in the square for a one-off show in November 1993.
01:36Have you ever wondered why this is the perfect pigeon pit stop? Birds seem to flock here. I wonder why?
01:42I've got a fascinating fun fact for you. Do you know that Dortmund has a Leeds Square?
01:48The history of Dortmund Square has been largely forgotten about, but it's very much a meeting point for people, families, romantics and even our feathered friends.
01:57And not to forget this Leeds legend.