Long Lost Leeds Companies and Workplaces

Cosmo Kramer · Post by **Cosmo Kramer** » Tue 06 Sep, 2011 11:53 pm

Forgive me if there's another thread on here devoted to this topic and if there is feel free to ignore this and point me in the direction of the existing thread/topic.Right, I posted this because I figure that there are many people who worked at different firms around Leeds that have now vanished and both the place and the people have been lost forever.Anyhow to start the ball rolling, I worked from the 70s to the mid 80s on Kirkstall Rd at UDS [otherwise known has John Collier ] It is now the site of the Leisure Park and that part of Kirkstall Rd as seen big changes. I lived in South Leeds and still do but most of the workforce were more local. So does anybody know of anybody who worked there or have any memories of the place. I know most of the pubs were full of workers from the site most lunch times, and the buses backwards and forwards into Leeds were as well.

Cardiarms · Post by **Cardiarms** » Wed 07 Sep, 2011 1:25 am

Just come back from the Cardigan Arms and it's a shadow of the pub it once was. Young landlord is trying to make a go but...

zip55 · Post by **zip55** » Thu 08 Sep, 2011 1:13 am

I worked at the British Screw Company (GKN) on Kirkstall Rd. for a year (1974-75). Can anyone tell me when it was closed?

Post by **mhoulden** » Thu 08 Sep, 2011 2:03 pm

After doing a bit of research it looks like the GKN/British Screw Co site was transferred to SFS Intec in 1983 (http://www.sfsintec.biz/internet/sfsint ... ID/history), and the new SFS factory was built in 1997 (http://www.sfsintec.biz/internet/sfs12. ... ID/Company). In effect despite being owned by a different company the site is still there and still being used for the same purpose.

keyholekate · Post by **keyholekate** » Fri 09 Sep, 2011 12:43 am

http://www.leeds.gov.uk/files/Internet2 ... k.pdfThere are some great photos and people stories about their working lives before and after WW2 on the above link.I would have never known there was a binocular factory once on Harehills Lane.I am searching for any information on a cigarette factory in Leeds.When I was little (1960's) "me Mam" used to tell me about her days in a cig factory but I have never come across any information or photo or anyone to identify just where this was.

tilly · Post by **tilly** » Fri 09 Sep, 2011 10:22 am

keyholekate wrote: http://www.leeds.gov.uk/files/Internet2 ... k.pdfThere are some great photos and people stories about their working lives before and after WW2 on the above link.I would have never known there was a binocular factory once on Harehills Lane.I am searching for any information on a cigarette factory in Leeds.When I was little (1960's) "me Mam" used to tell me about her days in a cig factory but I have never come across any information or photo or anyone to identify just where this was. Many thanks for posting this i found it a great read

jim · Post by **jim** » Fri 09 Sep, 2011 3:32 pm

I recall Thornes' biscuit and toffee works at the back of the Vicar Lane Bus Station, and "Soapy Joe" Watsons down Whitehall Road.

Post by **chameleon** » Fri 09 Sep, 2011 4:46 pm

jim wrote: I recall Thornes' biscuit and toffee works at the back of the Vicar Lane Bus Station, and "Soapy Joe" Watsons down Whitehall Road. Yes the smell whilst waiting for a bus was wonderous. There's a bit more about them in this thread -http://www.secretleeds.co.uk/forum/Mess ... ighLight=1 Talking about the streets around there in another old thread, it was noticed that in the small carpark on Lady Lane below the old bus stationJim, a section of old factory wall to the rear has what appears to be a bricked-up entrance between two of the buttresses - there was conjecture over the possibility of it being a tunnel - but conclusions were that it probably didn't go to Kirstall or Temple Newsam Don't think we ever decided what it was...