SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

When Millgarth Police Station was completed in the late 70's, the front office/public enquiry desk was on the 2nd floor. The concrete stairs leading up to this area are still present directly outside where the current entrance to the enquiry desk is now on Millgarth Street. They are gated off and havn't been used for years. At the time it had the advantage of preventing drunks and uncommitted complainants from wasting office staffs time but was later moved to the ground floor for obvious reasons of access. There is also a gantry to the left of the building as you look at it from Millgarth Street on the same 2nd floor level as the front office. This runs from the front of the building to the rear, adjacent to the junction of Union Street with Eastgate roundabout and is clearly visable. The Millgarth Street end of the gantry appears as an opening with railings looking out over the car park on Millgarth Street.I remember news reports from the late 70's/early eighties which referred to a plan to redevelop Leeds City Centre with retail outlets on an above ground level and deliveries/storage below. I seem to remember the contract had been awarded to a small dutch company. Whilst looking at a thread regarding the Leeds Market it referred to a company called MAB Ltd, a dutch developer, submitting plans for redevelopment of the markets following the fire there in the mid 70's.Was Millgarth Police Station designed and built with this proposed development in mind and if so does anyone have details of the full proposals?I have heard that the Bond Street Centre was also designed and built with this in mind resulting in the escalator which leads from the upper level down onto Albion Street at the junction with Boar Lane.I have wondered about this for years but have never been able to confirm or negate my suspicions.    

It's funny you mention the Bond street and esculators here.This is something i'd not heard about until i looked in Morley town hall and was talking to a surveyor for L.C.C.He was telling me that when Bond street was built, they constructed a subway from the train station to the Bond street area (i guess it makes sense as it cuts out that awful road crossing outside the Queens hotel) Anyway he tells me everything is still intact under there.The only reason it never been open is they ran out of money for the esculators.He reckons this is gospel as he's been in it, apparently it can still be accessed from somewhere in the Bond street. hatch/manhole type.The mystery deepens.     

I think somewhere I have a cutting from the YEP about something on these lines. If I remember, it showed an artist's impression of an aerial way built above Park Row.I suppose the original over ground walkways were an early attempt at his.

Phill_dvsn wrote: It's funny you mention the Bond street and esculators here.This is something i'd not heard about until i looked in Morley town hall and was talking to a surveyor for L.C.C.He was telling me that when Bond street was built, they constructed a subway from the train station to the Bond street area (i guess it makes sense as it cuts out that awful road crossing outside the Queens hotel) Anyway he tells me everything is still intact under there.The only reason it never been open is they ran out of money for the esculators.Hey reckons this is gospel as he's been in it, apparently it can still be accessed from somewhere in the Bond street. hatch/manhole type.The mystery deepens. Looking tomorrow then are we

Well i'd like to find out more if there's any truth in the story. I must say he sounded most convincing.Usually there's a few rumours about this sort of thing. It's the first i've heard of it.Isn't it funny how we have loads of subways we think nothing of. Then as soon as there closed and blocked off they become some hidden secret place you can't get too.It always makes me laugh about the forbiden attraction here.    

Phill_dvsn wrote: Well i'd like to find out more if there's any truth in the story. I must say he sounded most convincing.Usually there's a few rumours about this sort of thing. It's the first i've heard of it.Isn't it funny how we have loads of subways we think nothing of. Then as soon as there closed and blocked off they become some hidden secret place you can't get too.It always makes me laugh about the forbiden attraction here.     I can imagine it arriving somewhere at the Centre, maybe even the large pathway between Royal Exchange and the old church but, I can't think where it might sit at the station end - any thoughts?Wonder why this hasn't surfaced before? (that's bad now I look at it )    

I think that the concrete stairway is built more for defensive reasons.Dont forget that when the station was built we were in the gri of the cold war and the IRA were at their highest activity.A narrow stairway,which is the only ungated access to the building,is far easier to defend in extreme circumstances such as public disorder/riots/attack from a dedicated and well resourced threat.There is/was a similar type of access to Blackpool Police Station,which would appear to have been a contemporary of Millgarth.This was shaped very much like a medieaval keep,in the style of Conisborough,and was clearly meant to be as secure.

Milgarth has a limited ground floor footprint because it straddles Meanwood/Lady beck which runs right under it, the car park bit. In effect it's a bridge with two piers.IIRC correctly there were some 'elevated walkways' in the Infirmary street area just off city square, think they may have gone, not sure.

chameleon wrote: Phill_dvsn wrote: Well i'd like to find out more if there's any truth in the story. I must say he sounded most convincing.Usually there's a few rumours about this sort of thing. It's the first i've heard of it.Isn't it funny how we have loads of subways we think nothing of. Then as soon as there closed and blocked off they become some hidden secret place you can't get too.It always makes me laugh about the forbiden attraction here.     I can imagine it arriving somewhere at the Centre, maybe even the large pathway between Royal Exchange and the old church but, I can't think where it might sit at the station end - any thoughts?Wonder why this hasn't surfaced before? (that's bsd now I look at it ) Yes i imagine it coming out near the esculator too.As you say there was a fair amount of 'traffic avoidance' when the Bond street was built. The bridges and walkways e.t..Perhaps csnosi might be able to poke his nose into the station end so to speak.See what he finds out?     

Phill_dvsn wrote: chameleon wrote: Phill_dvsn wrote: Well i'd like to find out more if there's any truth in the story. I must say he sounded most convincing.Usually there's a few rumours about this sort of thing. It's the first i've heard of it.Isn't it funny how we have loads of subways we think nothing of. Then as soon as there closed and blocked off they become some hidden secret place you can't get too.It always makes me laugh about the forbiden attraction here.     I can imagine it arriving somewhere at the Centre, maybe even the large pathway between Royal Exchange and the old church but, I can't think where it might sit at the station end - any thoughts?Wonder why this hasn't surfaced before? (that's bsd now I look at it ) Yes i imagine it coming out near the esculator too.As you say there was a fair amount of 'traffic avoidance' when the Bond street was built. The bridges and walkways e.t..Perhaps csnosi might be able to poke his nose into the station end so to speak.See what he finds out?      Now now digger!!