Old Police Stations

drapesy · Post by **drapesy** » Tue 24 Jul, 2007 10:42 pm

This is a Leodis pic from 1907 of the Police station on marsh Lane, fire Station adjacent. i remember seeing this building - as I said above it survived (as did the nearby Railway and Smiths Arms pubs)until only a few years ago.

TABBYCAT · Post by **TABBYCAT** » Tue 24 Jul, 2007 10:55 pm

The one on marsh lane brings back a few memories drapesy.In later years it became a battered wives refuge run by the former governer of south lodge workhouse, I remember having to clear the place out with a mate of mine sometime round about 1983-84, the mortuary was done out as the "family area"!!

drapesy · Post by **drapesy** » Tue 24 Jul, 2007 11:10 pm

TABBYCAT wrote: The one on marsh lane brings back a few memories drapesy.In later years it became a battered wives refuge run by the former governer of south lodge workhouse, I remember having to clear the place out with a mate of mine sometime round about 1983-84, the mortuary was done out as the "family area"!! According to Leodis it closed as an actual police station in 1936. It was then used for training and offices until 1961 when it become a refuge for the homeless.

TABBYCAT · Post by **TABBYCAT** » Wed 25 Jul, 2007 12:35 am

Hi drapesy there were quite a few refuges of this type never acknowledged publicly (in case the old man went round to get aggressive) there is still one in leeds that you will not find in any phone directory, the sight of battered women at marsh lane refuge is one that will live with me forever , also the smell of kiddies mattresses, urine and feaces sodden , due to fear of "daddy" paying a visit, is something that will also haunt me for a long time.Honestly marsh lane was not just for the homeless with all due respects to Leodis.

drapesy · Post by **drapesy** » Wed 25 Jul, 2007 1:11 am

That's a sad tale Tabbycat - Leodis says"After 1961 the Police Station was used as a refuge for homeless families with the cells on the ground floor converted to bedrooms" - obviously there's a lot more to it than that as you say.

FarnleyBloke · Post by **FarnleyBloke** » Wed 25 Jul, 2007 11:23 am

Thanks for the responses people, i've always wondered what used to be opposite Kirkstall Leisure Centre, fantastic.Drapesy, thanks for the history of Chapel Town/Allerton. It's an area that i'm only just getting to know quite recently but it's fascinating.Farbank, is crab lane the one at the back of the Malt Shovel? If so is the building you're reffering to the ruined one behind the billboards? On a lighter note a friend of mine used to live on Wesley street and being muslim was not a regular pub goer but on occasion could be persuaded to come out for a drink or two. Anyway one time we were on Armley Town Street and couldn't decide where to go next when he suggested we go in the Malt Shovel or the one round the back of the Malt - the Beer Engine. He didn't realise it was the same pub but with two doors. Turned out that many times previously he had drunk in one side of the pub then walked round the corner to "go next door" and drunk in there too!!Keep the cop shops coming folks!!

farbank · Post by **farbank** » Wed 25 Jul, 2007 3:48 pm

Hi FarnleyBloke,No. Crab Ln. is directly opp. the new entrance to the library. Comes out at the top between the Maltshovel and the old Bank. The old 'lock-up' is on the right hand side going down. Just a few stones of the outer wall standing, and the little barred window.

rikj · Post by **rikj** » Wed 25 Jul, 2007 8:52 pm

I'd not seen this from this angle until today, when I asked if I could nip into someone's garden to take a pic. This was also a little holding cell, by the sound of it for drunks and so on. If you want a closer look have a look here. (Hosted on flickr)Quite an old station by all accounts. Not wishing to hijack drapesy's "What and where?" threads, but, any guesses?

drapesy · Post by **drapesy** » Wed 25 Jul, 2007 10:00 pm

Hijack away Rikj!!I,ve no idea where this is...

rikj · Post by **rikj** » Wed 25 Jul, 2007 10:13 pm

This is what I've always assumed to be the Kirkstall one. Taken a few months ago from the car window waiting at the lights. But, looking at the 1906 map the building marked as Police Station looks to be bigger than this and the next building along is labelled Free Library. There is a smaller building, unamed, after that.After looking at the pic drapesy posted, and the map, I'm no longer sure this is a part of the police station.