Leeds memories
Here are memories of Leeds and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Leeds or a Leeds photo.
Wonderful Feelings
My mother was born in Leeds and most years we would spend some time there. I came to love Leeds; such a vibrant place compared to Lincoln where we lived. This picture evokes a lot of feeling. From the V J celebrations in 1945 onwards we often stayed at Parker's Commercial Hotel opposite the Grand Theatre. It can just be seen in this picture on the left hand side (adjoining Wilsons Commercial Hotel).
The hotel was run by a distant relative. When I met old Mr Parker he was 90 years old, living at Alwoodly. A blind man, he had been chess champion for the West Riding.
I loved the trams and once in bed would listen enthralled to the noise of the trams coming round the bend, the squeal of the wheels on the rails and clang of the bell. The one coming round the bend on this picture brings back some lovely memories of sight and sound. And I remember how I used to look forward... Read more
?Harts
Does anyone remember Hart's Department Store which used to be next to Matthias Robinsons? I remember going to Leeds from Ilkley on many Saturday afternoons - pre-war - the car was parked behind Lewis's! Shopping done and afternoon tea taken at a reserved window table at Matthias Robinsons - lovely orchestra playing in the background. However, I do remember Hart's next door and wondered if this was the inspiration of Barbara Taylor Bradford's novel with the shop of that name. I think it probably closed just before the war but not sure. It seems very sad to have lost shops such as those - Schofields,Marshall & Snelgrove, Lewis's and many more names which are just a memory. Somehow today's shops do not have the same atmosphere - or the same quality of clothes unless a fortune is paid!
Traffic Duty Dewsbury Road 1960
In 1960 I was a very young Police Constable at Dewsury Road Police Station. One of my duties was traffic duty at the bottom of Dewsbury Road. I think it was at the junction with Great Wilson Street and Meadow Road (not sure), by the toilets. Would like to see a map of that junction to remind me of how it was. We wore a long white coat, white sleeves and white gloves. Later when smog was a problem they fitted large heat lamps to dissipate the smog.
Nostalgic Memories
This pictures evokes such wonderful nostalgic memories that I have it framed and it hangs on my wall. My mother originated from Leeds and as a child I spent a number of happy times there, sometimes with a distant relative in the Burghley area, but others at Parker's (another distant relative) Commercial Hotel opposite the Grand theatre in Briggate, just beyond the distance of this picture. I used to lay awake listening to the wonderful trams whining round the bend. A lovely city that throbbed with commerce, an abundancce of cinemas, theatres and shops, such as Lewis' and the lovely Victorian arcades. City Square its trams throbbed with excitement. Such character!. Matthias Robinsons had a restaurant where a three course meal cost only two shillings and ninepence (Schofields was a little more expensive at three and six!) We used to travel on the tram to the wonderful Roundhay Park, returning by a different route.
I was in Leeds in 1951, a little later than this picture. In the... Read more
As A Child.
As a child growing up in Hyde Park it still holds very fond memories for me...Woodhouse Moor it never seems to change that much as I visit there once or twice every 4yrs or so...and having moved out of the area some years ago and would love so much to move back into the area.
Is the old Lion still there up near to the tennis courts...in fact are they still there?
The old swings that used to be up near to the old lion remember them well.
Are the what looked like old concrete bathes with concrete tops on them still there.
They were near to the Queen Victoria statute....going back years now though.
The allotments... my mum used to have one..never forget as a child playing in them and finding a Penny Farthing...what I did with it I dont know... or can not remember.Ah the good old conker tree on Moorland road its still there I googled it...my dad would take us to the tree to get... Read more
Old Days
I was born in Quarry Hill Flats, it brings back a lot of memories.
Preparing For The Festival of Britain.
This photograph shows a Wednesday afternoon, early closing day, hence the low volume of traffic and few shoppers. The year is definitely 1951. On the left is myself and my apprentice electrician seen manhandling the long ladder outside William Timpson's shoe shop. The other people are just members of the public stopping for a chat. I worked for a company who for many years had the job of maintaining the electrical installations at the two Leeds branches of William Timpson, and on this occasion, to celebrate the 'Festival of Britain' in 1951, shops in the city centre were invited by the various trade organisations to enter a competition to find the best displayed shop. We were illuminating the upper part of the building which involved fixing a light fitting at the apex of each of the two dormer windows, shining downwards, and two lights fixed to the shop fascia facing upwards. The ladder only reached the lower part of the roof so you had to... Read more
'The Man With A Mountain on His Head' - Video Shot in Leeds
In 1982 I bought my first VHS camera and with my friend, Leeds resident Steve Skinner, we shot our first amateur video called, "The Man With A Mountain On His Head." It was filmed in a day, entirely in the Leeds area, and "edited in camera". The video won first prize at a film competition and led to my career as a writer-director.
My little film can now be seen on my YouTube channel at www.JonDanzig.com:
http://youtu.be/0ndGVydgkHM
'The Man With A Mountain On His Head' was recently discussed on a BBC radio interview:
http://youtu.be/RFHTrYHcSd0
Memories of West Yorkshire
Forgotten Memories
I was born at N o6 Henconner Road, Leeds 7, on November 26th 1951. My primary school was Chapel Allerton County Primary, and I vaguely remember the trams running through Chapel Allerton as they passed the school. The tram depot was just a little further down the road. I remember the police station on the corner near the shops because we used to pass by on our way to the dinner-hall just round the corner, come rain or shine. The hall itself was (I think) a Methodist Chapel. We would be seated on one long bench, behind a high, long table, and were only allowed to move when told. Some sort of soft metal jugs full of water were on the table, along with the cutlery. There used to be an allotment at the end of Henconner Road, but now I think it belongs to Stainbeck Lane High School. Many a sunny afternoon I have wondered into the vast rows of cabbages, potatoes, beans and most of all peas, which we... Read more
Holbeck
In the 1890's my grandfather, James William Brown, son of George Brown and Eliza Moverly, went to Holbeck Day school. I am looking for any information about the family or the school that anyone can give me Thank you in advance.
Family History
Sarah Levene and John William Bailey great grand parents.
Pecks Shoe Shop on Hall Lane
Does anyone have any info about Pecks shoe shop besides the fact they sold shoes? The time line is when Annie and Alma worked there. Many thanks.
Re: Pecks Shoe Shop on Hall Lane
My mother Gladys was an agent for Pecks Shoe Shop on Hall Lane in the 1940/50s. Her customers were family and work colleagues at Blakeys Boot Protectors where she worked in the sorting department making up cards of segs. Each member of Pecks shoe club paid a weekly amount and on their allotted week, (decided by a draw from the hat at the beginning of the term), would be able to visit the shop to purchase their footwear. I well remember Alma, she had blond hair and was always laughing, she would often tease me when I went in with 'me mam' and make me blush.
A few streets up from Sam Pecks on the corner by the phone box was Alf Leoroyd the barber. When I became more aware of my appearance and progressed from "Mad Jacks" (6d) in Branch Road Armley, I became a regular at Alf's, continuing throughout my National Service in the Army, eventually taking my own son. Alf was very popular, with many... Read more
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