The village of Leeds dates from before the Norman Conquest. In the Domesday Survey of 1086 it appears under the name of Esledes, which may possibly be derived from the Old English word for 'slope'.
	Another possible derivation is Hlydes meaning 'belonging to the noisy one'. This is potentially a reference to the stream that used to descend noisily from the mill-race of Abbey Mill before cascading downhill to the lower meadows where it slowed to a more peaceable meander. It's rapturous descent has long since been 'tamed' and muffled by passing it through a culvert beneath the road and under 'Trout Bec'.

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