albion place help

pablo leeds · Post by **pablo leeds** » Tue 24 Jan, 2012 1:30 pm

hi if you look at this picture of YMCA:http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?reso ... 450503then compare it to the google street view, am i right in thinking the arched doorway has moved along somewhat?

Cardiarms · Post by **Cardiarms** » Tue 24 Jan, 2012 2:02 pm

Looks that way. The whole frontage ahs been changed.

Johnny39 · Post by **Johnny39** » Tue 24 Jan, 2012 2:40 pm

I think what is causing the change of look is the disappearance of the three shops which were on the right hand side as you looked from in front. The tobacconist, camera shop and one I can't remember were shops in their own right but have now, it appears, been made an integral part of the old YMCA. It seems to have had the effect of centering the main entrance to the building. I'm probably wrong but then I usually am.

jim · Post by **jim** » Tue 24 Jan, 2012 2:47 pm

Interesting. Looking at the Leodis picture, the entrance arch looks to be in the "wrong" place in relation to the configuration of the building as a whole. Could the arch have been moved from its original position at some date before that depicted in the Leodis pic, and since been restored to its rightful place?

uncle mick · Post by **uncle mick** » Tue 24 Jan, 2012 3:09 pm

2008 Pic for comparision http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2739312

uncle mick · Post by **uncle mick** » Tue 24 Jan, 2012 3:13 pm

Try again Pic Courtesy ofhttp://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2739312

Johnny39 · Post by **Johnny39** » Tue 24 Jan, 2012 3:21 pm

Reflecting on my initial observation the main entrance has been moved right to the centre of the building under the main window.

Jogon · Post by **Jogon** » Tue 24 Jan, 2012 3:30 pm

P'raps linked to change of use? Don't know whether basement was originally retail/public access.Now ground floor is one retail shop accessed Albion St/Pl and basement cafe bar entrance central.

Si · Post by Si » Tue 24 Jan, 2012 4:19 pm

Fascinating stuff. The entrance has definately been moved to a central position. The original off-centre position is very unusual for a Baroque building, as symmetry was everything. The re-positioning would appear to have taken place relatively recently, as the 1999 picture I've posted from Leodis (click on red X to view) seems to show the entrance in the same place as in Pablo's first picture, dated 1984, although the angle makes an exact comparison difficult. Of course, the real mystery is why it was done - it's a lot of money to spend on an architectural whim, making the building more authentically Baroque!? Edit: On closer inspection, the 1999 entrance is central IMO. Note how the ballustrade meets the entrance surround, whereas the 1984 pic shows a gap. So the rebuilding took place sometime between 1984 and 1999. Someone must remember the building work taking place?

Si · Post by Si » Tue 24 Jan, 2012 4:59 pm

This Leodis pic dated 1991, also shows the door in the central position (note ballustrade) giving an even smaller window for the alterations to have taken place - seven years.