In the late 17th - early 18th century a Thomas Kirke owned a wood in the hamlet of Cookridge, a few miles north of the centre of Leeds. The wood was called Moseley Wood.
The wood occupied about 120 acres. Mr Kirke had the wood laid out to form a complex pattern of paths and intersections. This plan provided over 300 views through the wood and 65 intersections that the walker had to decide which route to take next.

Visitors to Mr Kirke would spend some considerable time walking in the wood being both amused and perplexed in trying to find their way out from the intricate labyrinth.

The wood inspired the local legend of 'Jack and His Eleven Brothers' meeting at one of the 'centres' and then each taking one of the eleven paths out into the world to make their fortunes.

Ralph Thoresby, a close friend of Mr Kirke, was so taken with the layout of the wood that he reproduced the plan in his history of Leeds, 'Ducatus Leodiensis'.

Thomas Kirke was a Justice of the Peace and Fellow of the Royal society. He made a journey to Scotland in 1679 and wrote, 'A Modern Account of Scotland', which he had privately published. To travel to Scotland in those days would have entailed a very hazardous journey.

Kirke died in the spring of 1706, aged 56 years, and was buried at Adel Church where he is commemorated in a window there.

Progress has destroyed the wood. The area is now taken by large expanses of residential properties. The few reminders are in the road names in the area; Moseley Wood Gardens and Kirkwood Way and similarly named roads.