SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

Does anyone know anything about Hepper House on East Parade (now empty, formerly Bonhams)?A quick google suggests it's been an auctioneers since 1850ish.I must have walked past it thousands of times but for some reason it really leapt out at me this morning!

Misc wrote: I must have walked past it thousands of times but for some reason it really leapt out at me this morning! Hope it didn't make you jump too much??    

Weren't Hepper (& Watson) estate agents in town?

I always thought it was Hepper Son & Watson. My old man worked for Paxtons [since bought-out by some other firm] prior to that he worked for Thacker & Maud who, I believe, were bought out by Hepper Son & Watson.

liits wrote: I always thought it was Hepper Son & Watson. My old man worked for Paxtons [since bought-out by some other firm] prior to that he worked for Thacker & Maud who, I believe, were bought out by Hepper Son & Watson. Yes, that sounds better liits. I thought I remembered the name. Was the building their home perhaps?

I didn't jump too much thanks I was actually getting ready to look for the bomb damage I read about on here yesterday, I must have been hypervigilant for interesting buildings.Will put trying to find out more on my to-do list, should I ever get round to it I will report back!

Misc wrote: I didn't jump too much thanks I was actually getting ready to look for the bomb damage I read about on here yesterday, I must have been hypervigilant for interesting buildings.Will put trying to find out more on my to-do list, should I ever get round to it I will report back! It's this website misc it does strange things to you,you will never look at buildings the same way again lol    

chameleon wrote: liits wrote: I always thought it was Hepper Son & Watson. My old man worked for Paxtons [since bought-out by some other firm] prior to that he worked for Thacker & Maud who, I believe, were bought out by Hepper Son & Watson. Yes, that sounds better liits. I thought I remembered the name. Was the building their home perhaps? [another long story] Years and years ago, I bought my old man a KElly's Directory for his birthday. Kelly's is a trade directory but also listed residential names and occupations. This particular edition was the 1914 one. It cost me £5.The old man was delighted with this and proceeded to sit and read the thing. Mam went mad. "Look at 'im, reading the bloody 'phone book!"It turned out that this was the particular edition that Thacker & Maud had had in their office when he had started as a rent collector.As people didn't move about as much in those days, he knew some of the names that were listed."Eee! I remember these buggers. Never had the rent!"As to the building being their "home", I couldn't say. Paxtons, was owned by the redoubtable Mr Paxton, a wizened little man who drove the reddest Porche I've ever seen! They made their name by advertising a "Heap Of The Week" in their advert in the Evening Post.

Brandy wrote: Misc wrote: I didn't jump too much thanks I was actually getting ready to look for the bomb damage I read about on here yesterday, I must have been hypervigilant for interesting buildings.Will put trying to find out more on my to-do list, should I ever get round to it I will report back! It's this website misc it does strange things to you,you will never look at buildings the same way again lol     You aint kidding, trying to imagine the corn exchange in soft silky undies is unbelievable..

Well, I had a better look as I walked past this morning and something along the lines of "Hepper and Sons Auctioneers" is carved in the stone over the front door, so no mystery there! It would seem to have always been used for the same purpose.Has anyone been inside? It looks like there's a skylight dome thing in the ceiling. I hope it doesn't end up being "luxury apartments"