SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

I got to thinking the other day that the very top floor of various buildings in Leeds do not look occupied. I was wandering past Mr Foley's the other day and there were just dusty nets int he dormas on the roof, similarly Spencer's pub on Mill Hill. I'm picking these two out but I reckon there will be loads. Anyone have access to these? Are they all just empty?

I used to notice this too. Years ago when the Guildford was still a good pub, we were very good friends with the landlord. One night, a lock in night, we mentioned that the nets on the top floor were very grubby and does anyone ever go up there. Terry took us up and most of the rooms were still as they were when it was a hotel, with beds, wardrobes, chairs, drawers etc etc. They were just filthy with dust. He said they had just been left like that and the brewery didn't bother with it. He also showed us a room with dozens of boxes filled with all sorts of photos, god only knows what happened to those, lobbed in a skip probably. I bet there's tons of history shut away in attic rooms throughout the city.

Nice one. I was beginning to thing I was the only one who had ever thought about it or was interested. I wonder if it's because the staircases will be maybe a bit small and there is adefinately no diabled access. Maybe the ceiling are low. I bet there are loads of three or four story buildings where the attic rooms are empty.They should rent them out as cheap flats.

The upper stories of Boar Lane look pretty shabby. Some of the windows above yates Wine lodge have fallen in. Others' gutters are blocked, tstome work eroded....Whole street needs a wash and brush up.

Cardiarms wrote: The upper stories of Boar Lane look pretty shabby. Some of the windows above yates Wine lodge have fallen in. Others' gutters are blocked, tstome work eroded....Whole street needs a wash and brush up. They are probably blocked off from use.    

Reginal Perrin wrote: I got to thinking the other day that the very top floor of various buildings in Leeds do not look occupied. I was wandering past Mr Foley's the other day and there were just dusty nets int he dormas on the roof, similarly Spencer's pub on Mill Hill. I'm picking these two out but I reckon there will be loads. Anyone have access to these? Are they all just empty? Tht's been the case with lots of buildings for as long as I can remember, perhaps we just never notice. I suppose in days past prices and rents were such that upper floors could be left empty - and as you imply, sadly wasted space but I suppose the alternative is to convert them into the City Living appartments we all love to hate!The irony is I suppose that many of these probably were Homes to start with, being turned over to partial use as shops. At least converting these spaces is not as bad as the wholesale slaughter we see of some buildings for this rather sterile use.    

What happened to the old hotel rooms above what is now Bar Censa on Boar Lane (cant remember the name of the hotel)

cnosni wrote: What happened to the old hotel rooms above what is now Bar Censa on Boar Lane (cant remember the name of the hotel) The Griffin hotel - its name replaced the numbers on the clock that used to hang on the corner of the building (go on - count them)

Now you have started me on a new interest, instead of looking at pub signs, or for painted advertising or for signs of tram tracks whilst driving my bus through Leeds I will be looking at the top storys of the city centre buildings.I swear one day I will have a bump and it will all be down to you guys LOL

As I posted a year ago, White Horse Buildings on White Horse Street (a cul-de-sac off Boar Lane) housed offices, and warehouses, my aunt and uncle - caretakers lived on the top floor. In those days people living in the centre of Leeds was unusual.http://www.secretleeds.com/forum/Messag ... ighLight=1