Thrift/Clover/Alders/BHS in Kirstall

[Cardiarms]

As of yesterday.......gone.

[Cardiarms]

The site has now been cleared and ground works for the Kirkstall Bridge Shopping Centre has begun. The friendly and polite security chappy said an archaeological assessment of the firewatchers towers was done prior to demolition. The report maybe in the planning documents.

[Cardiarms]

Cleared and filling in the tunnel to Kirkstall abbey.

[Cardiarms]

A

[Cardiarms]

From the WY Archaelogical Survey consultation:

Statement of Significance
The application site is presently a retail outlet having formerly been the offices and Warehouse
of James Popplewel’s Thrift Stores Ltd. from at least 1939. The building is first shown
on the 1938 Ordnance Survey 1:10560 map (Provisional Edition) and it is assumed it was built
specifically for Thrift Stores Ltd. in the 1930s.
The building comprises a two storey office block on to Bridge Street with a series of single
storey sheds or warehouses to the north. The office block is in a contemporary Modernist or By-
Pass style using brick with cast faux stone dressings. As built the building had a low stepped
clock tower above its central entrance. It is not known when this was removed.
During the second World War a purpose built brick firewatcher’s post or strong point was
constructed on the roof of the office building using a roof top plant or tank room as a base to
achieve an elevated position. Pre-cast concrete embrasures give views south along the Aire
Valley as well as to the Aire in the west and Kirkstall Road to the east. A north facing embrasure
is assumed although not confirmed. The firewatcher’s post was entered ia a ladder from the
office buildings roof. Superficially similar positions are known to the north along Kirkstall Road
and within the former industrial complex at Kirkstall Forge. A possible loop-holed wall has also
been noted to the west on Wyther Lane at Holy Bush House.
The firewatcher’s post at 2 Bridge Street is considered to be an undesignated heritage asset
and has local significance as a rare survivor of a Second World War defence structure
integrated in to an industrial building. Structures of this period are increasingly rare and are
worthy of further study if threatened by development.

This is a link to archaeological survey drawings, I can't find a report as such:
https://publicaccess.leeds.gov.uk/onlin ... 109725.pdf

[Leodian]

That is all very interesting Cardiarms .

It's not an area I know so I wonder if you have also taken a photo of 2 Bridge Street that has the firewatcher's post?

[Cardiarms]

Number 2 is the postal address of the bhs as was.

[liits]

From the WY Archaelogical Survey consultation:

Statement of Significance..........
...... A possible loop-holed wall has also
been noted to the west on Wyther Lane at Holy Bush House.

I'd have very strong doubts about the loopholed wall idea.

Wyther Farm.jpg (770.91 KiB) Viewed 2666 times

The regular-ish infill blocks [marked in red 1 to 6] seem only to be about four inches by six and, through a wall of that thickness, would offer no field of fire whatsoever. I would suggest that these are remnants of the shuttering supports from when the wall was under-pinned in the late 40's.
The two air bricks [marked 1 & 2 in yellow] owe more to the buildings that once stood behind the wall.
On the whole, the surface behind the wall, now a car park and garden, is a good couple of feet below the level of the road as it enters the gateway so these "loop holes" would be up to ten feet up in the air!
I nice idea for "Leeds - still at war" but I doubt it.

[Cardiarms]

I was thinking the same when I drove past yesterday.

[Leodian]

This is fascinating stuff . If only walls could talk!

I wonder if the wall looks the same on the other side?