1854 Building?

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Mon 15 Nov, 2010 8:56 pm

Walking along Bedford Street today (Nov 15 2010) I noticed this building, an image of which I hope I have attached. The left and right of the five white objects on the wall have 1854 on them. Bedford Street is one of the roads between East Parade and Park Row but is far too short for 1854 to be a building number. I wonder though if 1854 may be the year the building was built but that this is not the original building? I would be grateful for any information. Between the second and third objects (as seen) there is a badly worn sign that I could not make out. Sorry about the rubbish in the wheelie bins. Oh, yes the door on the left was open but I did not dare go in in case anyone asked what I was doing (there did seem to be somebody inside in the top floor). Edit added at about 20:03. I've just noticed that the building number is 3.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Mon 15 Nov, 2010 8:59 pm

This is another view of the building that I took today.

Post by **chameleon** » Mon 15 Nov, 2010 9:25 pm

Leodian wrote: This is another view of the building that I took today. Those objects do look more like surface mounted plaques rather than blocks incorporated in the construction as keystones so, probably not original. Somewhat reminiscent of another building with later adornments of unknown origin.Anything on Leodis?? Not sure much can be gleaned from the maps.

Post by **chameleon** » Mon 15 Nov, 2010 9:32 pm

chameleon wrote: Leodian wrote: This is another view of the building that I took today. Those objects do look more like surface mounted plaques rather than blocks incorporated in the construction as keystones so, probably not original. Somewhat reminiscent of another building with later adornments of unknown origin.Anything on Leodis?? Not sure much can be gleaned from the maps. Seemingly not but, 3 Bedforrd Street is aka Bedford Chambers, apparantly now appartments (now that's a surprise).

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Mon 15 Nov, 2010 9:39 pm

Thanks chameleon. Your response is appreciated. I have not yet tried the Leodis website.If the building is the original one then I would have expected it to have something like a blue plaque on it at least. I don't walk down Bedford Street that often but for whatever reason I have never noticed the possible surface mounted plaques before. I really should look around more often. Edit added moments after I posted. I was still composing my post when yours above would have come in, so I had not seen it before I posted. Wow if there are appartments there they look scruffy (at least from the outside!). Edit added at about 21:10. I have now done a search for Bedford Street in Leodis but it does not seem to have an photo of the street.

drapesy · Post by **drapesy** » Mon 15 Nov, 2010 11:51 pm

I would think it 1854 is almost certainly a building date. I'm puzzled as to why you think that is too early - it looks perfectly reasonable and consistent to me that it dates from then; particularly the tops of the first-floor windows, (the technical name of which escapes me at the moment! )It certainly looks like the central feature was once an archway wide enough for horse-drawn trafficSo my answer to your thread question would be 'Yes'. I can't see why it should have a plaque either - ok its relatively old, but not remarkably so- and otherwise looks unremarkable.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Tue 16 Nov, 2010 12:22 am

drapesy wrote: I would think it 1854 is almost certainly a building date. I'm puzzled as to why you think that is too early - it looks perfectly reasonable and consistent to me that it dates from then; particularly the tops of the first-floor windows, (the technical name of which escapes me at the moment! )It certainly looks like the central feature was once an archway wide enough for horse-drawn trafficSo my answer to your thread question would be 'Yes'. I can't see why it should have a plaque either - ok its relatively old, but not remarkably so- and otherwise looks unremarkable. Thanks for your reply drapesy. I thought if it is a building still surviving from 1854 that would be worth noting as there are probably not many that old in Leeds, but perhaps there are. Even if it does looks unremarkable I think that should not though be grounds to not give it some recognition.

drapesy · Post by **drapesy** » Tue 16 Nov, 2010 2:01 am

This is true, and no doubt the building has had some sort of interesting history over its 156 years!

chemimike · Post by **chemimike** » Tue 16 Nov, 2010 4:54 pm

The entries i have for no 3 are :1872 Beer, Mackenzie & Co, woollen manufacturers & Alexander Faulkner, retired1893 Not listed1916 Drake & Smith,commission agents

anthonydna · Post by **anthonydna** » Tue 16 Nov, 2010 5:28 pm

I was sat in Tampopo the other week looking out on this building and wondering what it was!