Blue plaque to recall the life of ‘municipal imperialist

Sir Charles’s remarkable achievement was that he was leader of Leeds City Council for over 20 years from 1907, despite the fact that his Conservative Party never had an overall majority of council seats.

A municipal imperialist, who famously declared “I am Leeds”, he wanted Leeds’ fiefdom to extend from the Pennines to the sea.

Tomorrow the plaque will be unveiled on his former home Brandsby Lodge in Chapeltown Road, Leeds, now part of the Northern School of Contemporary Dance.

Lynda Kitching, Chair of Leeds Civic Trust said: “Chapeltown has a wonderful architectural heritage and great character.

“The Trust is delighted to be able to highlight the association between one of its imposing mansion houses with Sir Charles Wilson, the leader of the City Council, who was one the greatest and charismatic of the city’s 20th century politicians.”

He was a teetotaller and a strong Anglican, leading a Sunday School and young men’s Bible class and in 1890 he was elected Conservative councillor for Leeds North Ward by 70 votes

He was highly ambitious for Leeds, hoping that one day Leeds would control a unitary authority which extended over the vast area from the Pennines to the sea. His municipal imperialism led to Leeds’ acquisition of Shadwell, Roundhay, Crossgates and Seacroft in 1911; Middleton in 1919; Adel in 1924; and Temple Newsam, Alwoodley, Eccup and Austhorpe in 1928 via the Leeds Corporation Bill.

At 64 he entered Parliament as MP for Central Leeds and enjoyed the experience until losing his seat six years later to socialist, Richard Denman.

Coun Jane Dowson, Chair of the Chapeltown Heritage Advisory Group, said: “This is the first of a series of blue plaques which will celebrate the heritage of Chapeltown and its diverse community.

“I am very pleased that the successful partnership between the council, the local community and Leeds Civic Trust is complementing the important improvements being made to the historic fabric of Chapeltown through the Townscape Heritage Initiative.”