Rodley Shops

LS13 · Post by **LS13** » Wed 14 May, 2008 11:22 pm

Just noticed this as part of a post on pubs in Rodley in the 'pubs' section (surprise surprise!)--Harrisons shop on town street was demolished in 1946 by a stolen run away army lorryThat got me thinking -- the only shops in Rodley now seem to be a couple of newsagents, and multiple hair dressers and sandwich shops, plus a few anomalies like a carpet shop and a bike shop. When Rodley was a true village, and people didn't have cars, surely there must have been a whole host of shops, providing everything the locals needed. Where were these shops? A couple of the houses near the chinese look like they may have once been shops..where was Harrisons which was destroyed by the stolen lorry?

Yorkshire Pud · Post by **Yorkshire Pud** » Thu 15 May, 2008 9:47 pm

Hi LS13, your right, not much is now left in the way of shops in Rodley village these days. I used to work in Rodley about 18 years ago, and it didn't seem to have much then.Where Rodley barbers is now (it used to be situated in the old cinema over the road, which has now been demolished to make way for housing) I remember it being some sort of general store & sweet shop. Me & my mates would walk down to Rodley from Farsley when we were kids & we would buy a fishing net from there & go along the canal to try & catch fish in it. It also used to have those bubble gum machines outside. It had a machine thing set in the wall as well I think, though I can't remember what you got out of it Next door (which is now the bridal shop) used to be the post office, and further up (going towards the ring road) at the end of the terraced houses (nearest the carpet shop) was once a butchers, which has now been converted back into a house.On the other side which is now the cafe/sandwich shop (Fraishe?, not sure on spelling) used to be an off licence.As to where this Harrison's shop was i'm not entirely sure i'm afraid, but think it may have been opposite the end of Bagley Lane somewhere.

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Fri 16 May, 2008 10:13 am

Hope this somewhat obscure photo from my transport archives helps folks - it is take in early postwar years right outside Harrison's shop which APPEARS to be opposite the bottom of Bagley Lane, with the road to the canal just visible on the right.That shop is now, of course, the hairdressers. The coach is one of many that Wallace Arnold assembled from an older chassis and a newer body, expecially in the difficult early postwar years.

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Fri 16 May, 2008 10:16 am

Sorry folks - again the image too big - I am hopeless at this resizing game, despite willing help from many, but will try again shortly.

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Fri 16 May, 2008 10:20 am

Here's another go, if no good will go away and try again later.

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Fri 16 May, 2008 10:26 am

Just another thought on this - if the shop was demolished by a runaway lorry (presumably shooting out of Bagley Lane) I bet Harrison's was rebuilt on exactly the same site - this would explain why the present building is long, low and "modern" and incongruous with the rest of Rodley - what do you think ??

trophy · Post by **trophy** » Fri 16 May, 2008 5:37 pm

there was also a co op in the block of shops opposite the cinema (rialto).

Yorkshire Pud · Post by **Yorkshire Pud** » Fri 16 May, 2008 7:50 pm

BLAKEY wrote: Here's another go, if no good will go away and try again later. That's fantastic! I've always wanted to know where Harrison's shop was, & now I know. Ta much I guess you must be right about the rebuild, as it does look a funny shape with the corner like that doesn't it! This is the shop that I used to get my fishing net from when I was a kid, I don't know if it was still called Harrison's at the time though.

LS13 · Post by **LS13** » Sat 17 May, 2008 6:21 pm

trophy wrote: there was also a co op in the block of shops opposite the cinema (rialto). So where was the cinema? Presume near the pizza shop which someone is asking about on a different thread. ie what the building was...

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Sat 17 May, 2008 6:56 pm

LS13 wrote: trophy wrote: there was also a co op in the block of shops opposite the cinema (rialto). So where was the cinema? Presume near the pizza shop which someone is asking about on a different thread. ie what the building was... The cinema was just beyond where the pizza shop is - on the same side - and almost opposite where the carpet and bicycle shops are now. For many years it was a bathroom showroom and has only very recently been demolished - the new flats approaching completion are called "Rialto Court" after the cinema.