SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

Anybody else think what they have done with it inside is hiddeous? The TK Maxx store is completely lacking any character and just like any other tasteless modern building.Did the civic society or planners do nothing to preserve some of the internal features like the old staircase etc.It's nothing other than vandalism what developers have done to the building - might as well have just knocked it down!!

Yes indeed - the contrast between the exterior (which to be fair has been very kindly treated) and the wholesale wreckage within is heartbreaking. One of my saddest visits was when Allders were selling off all the fittings for a fortnight - I got permission to photograph the lovely old staircases and I must admit almost shed a tear. To those of us born without the legendary "silver spoon" Lewiss's was a temple of hope and brought us within reach of better living. I still have my excellent bedroom suite (The Concorde) consisting of 3 foot and 4 foot wardrobes and lovely 5 foot dresser with full width mirror - £59/19/11d and bought "on the tick" - typical of the friendly Lewiss's, you made your payments in a very discreet little bureau upstairs on the New Briggate side of the store.Incidentally the new Argos opens in there tomorrow (Monday) - Albion Street and (I assume) Eastgate having closed yesterday.    

Yes very sad. Lewis's was an art deco master piece, the lift doors, the staircases, everything about the place makes me feel very nostalgic. And of course Leeds people can no longer say that is such and such is true "I'll show my ar$e in Lewis's window"

Trojan wrote: Yes very sad. Lewis's was an art deco master piece, the lift doors, the staircases, everything about the place makes me feel very nostalgic. And of course Leeds people can no longer say that is such and such is true "I'll show my ar$e in Lewis's window" No but you can still do it on the Town Hall steps! Think we're on the wrong thread here! ha ha

Lilysmum wrote: Trojan wrote: Yes very sad. Lewis's was an art deco master piece, the lift doors, the staircases, everything about the place makes me feel very nostalgic. And of course Leeds people can no longer say that is such and such is true "I'll show my ar$e in Lewis's window" No but you can still do it on the Town Hall steps! Think we're on the wrong thread here! ha ha That expression always makes me laugh - when I was at Headingley Depot we had a senior supervisor who frequently boasted - "IF THAT'S NOT RIGHT WHAT I SAY I'LL SHOW MI' **** ON T' TOWN 'ALL STEPS !!."I often used to say to colleagues that it was a blessing that he WAS always right - at least it saved the citizens of Leeds the ordeal of witnessing a dreadful exhibition

Trojan wrote: Yes very sad. Lewis's was an art deco master piece, the lift doors, the staircases, everything about the place makes me feel very nostalgic. And of course Leeds people can no longer say that is such and such is true "I'll show my ar$e in Lewis's window" A couple I also took just before store closed and a reminder of how it used to look!How could any developer do this to a building in the name of progress?I rest my case!

Don't know why John Lewis couldn't have developed the building retaining some of it's features?

Great pictures Mexico City i think the inside of a building should be listed if this had been the case they could not have done the damage they have.

i have refused to set foot in tk maxx and the other stores because of what they've done to the old lewis's. the interior of tk maxx looks like every other modern store in leeds now. terrible.

Those staircases are beautiful! I'd completely forgotten that's how it used to look. I remember being taken to see Santa there in the late 80s, and a couple of my friends worked there when it was Allders. Lewis's was a last chance to buy an outfit on the way back to the car after a hard day's shopping and they still had the Lewis's door handles (a big L) even when it was Allders!