The Borough of Leeds was created in 1207, when Maurice Paynel, lord of the manor, granted a charter to

a small area of the manor, close to the river crossing, in what is now the city centre. Four centuries later,
the inhabitants petitioned Charles I for a charter of incorporation, which was granted in 1626. The new
charter incorporated the entire parish, including all eleven townships, as the Borough of Leeds and
withdrew the earlier charter. Improvement commissioners were set up in 1755 for paving, lighting, and
cleansing of the main streets, including Briggate and further powers were added in 1790 to improve the
water supply.