SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

Hi, new here.My main memories of Leeds from childhood are:Leek Street Flats - my grandparents and aunt lived in them (Askern and Milner Chases) and they used to terrify me.I would with my family visit my grandparents each Christmas from Lincolnshire, which had nothing like this place of lifts, the smell of urine and the dark, imposing buildings. Only Morrisons below gave some sense of normality!The Torres / Harehills Lane - the old bus depot at the top of Torre Road, Connors newsagent on Harehills Lane and Breadcakes Unlimited on Hudson Road - the smell of fresh bread around the Burtons' buildings was amazing.Many years later I lived and worked in Leeds for a year, and would still shop on Harehills Lane, despite living in Crossgates.

I know what you mean about Leek Street flats Steve - or "Hunslet Grange" to use its correct name.    The reasons are many, but it was one of the worst blots ever on the municipal landscape. Compare it with the splendd Quarry Hill Flats of the late 1930s, which provided decent accommodation and e real community spirit.Leek Street was an appalling design - harsh, forbidding and structurally flawed to some tune. The damp lounges were "heated" by one pathetic electric fire mounted in the wall - and the electricity bills were legendary and almost unbelievable.I had friends who lived there in misery, and of course the crime rate beggared belief. There was a pub somewhere on one of the upper floors. One particular workmate and friend had her brand new flat fully equipped with fitted carpets etc etc before moving in. She was in dire straits emotionally and was "esaping" from the Barnsley area. The removal men arrived, complete with her upright piano to get up the awkward stairs, and returned two days later to shift everything back to Barnsley as she just couldn't take the place at all.A stark reminder of the ghastly place remains near the flyover at the bottom of Domestic Street, where some offices are built to the same or a very similar "commercial" design.    

You might like to have a look at this Stevehttp://www.secretleeds.co.uk/forum/Messages.as ... ighLight=1

The problem with Leek Street Flats was any Tom Dick or Harry could get a flat there i dont think you had to wait on the waiting list so of course among the nice people were a load of drop outs and in time the drop outs rule the roost.

Thanks for all those links. I have collected a few pictures of Hunslet Grange on my travels. I remember a newsagents shop on a corner of one of the flats where I bought a Doctor Who Weekly magazine, which must have been very late 70s, early 80s. The whole area had a significant impact on my childhood I can tell you.

As you may tell by my nickname, I lived on Jack Lane in a blind terrace and it was fantastic before Hunslet Grange was built.My Grandparents moved into those flats and it was terrible.The old streets they demolished were in many ways much better,and a closer safer community.Progress eh !

the whole of the life span for the leek street flats was only about 15years from being built to demolition.

carith wrote: the whole of the life span for the leek street flats was only about 15years from being built to demolition. The economic nightmare of this municipal farce doesn't bear thinking about.

Even the vietnamese boat refugees moved in and out again in the bat of an eye.

JackLaneLad wrote: As you may tell by my nickname, I lived on Jack Lane in a blind terrace and it was fantastic before Hunslet Grange was built.My Grandparents moved into those flats and it was terrible.The old streets they demolished were in many ways much better,and a closer safer community.Progress eh ! You'd not be the only one to think that. I still remember that Gran in her (then) modern Council house wouldn't even consider the need to lock the door when 'popping to the neighbours'. Daren't turn your back now without locking and bolting, even when you're inside.....