SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

Does anyone remember this old crane on the site of Co-operative Coal Wharf near the Dragonara hotel? I remember seeing it regular in the early 80's on my way to Holbeck shed spotting as a lad I'm not sure when it went. But i'm pretty certain i've found the old girl a few miles away. It had it's own track, and had lost it's jib when this pic was taken in 1983.    

Here it is after all those years!Or i'm pretty certain it's the same one. Anyone any thoughts if it is? If it's the same one, then it's been reunited with it's jib again!It's a pretty poor pic (I must try catch again sometime) but i had to be quick! It's an overgrown storage/workshop area of Armley Mills museum right at the back, not really for public admittance strictly speaking lol             

I certainly remember seeing it, practically every day going over Victoria Bridge up until its disappearance. That certainly looks like it at Armley Mills.Heres a pic from Leodis in 1945

That'a a great archive shot of it. Thanks for posting. I was just about to look on Leodis myself That's just the view i remember it by as well.

Here is the crane circa 1973-4

Phill, I don't think it is the same crane. Close examination shows up too many detail differences, and two crucial major ones. The water tank under the boiler is not the same, and the main underframe of the upper slewing section isn't either. Things like the altered chimney, gear casing, and bodywork and roof could be accounted for by restoration efforts but replacement of tank and subframe is most unlikely.Both cranes are good examples of the kind of output of the Rodley and Stanningley crane firms. Smiths, Booths, Isles and others made that area of Leeds very much in the forefront of steam and later diesel crane production.There were originally two cranes on the Co-op wharf ( I think the jib of the second is fairly clear in the background of the 1945 picture ). When they were taken out of service it was intended that one would be retained as a "feature", but a mistake was made by propping the jib on a single pole or girder and leaving it orientated south/north. One day a strong westerly wind demonstrated that that wasn't a good idea, and blew the upperworks round the slewing race sending the jib crashing to the ground and bending it somewhat. I've no idea what happened to the crane later, but your first photo shows it stillrotated Briggate-wards after the accident.Wonderful reminders of the past of the area though, I remember them working very well.

Erm. Something looks a bit odd here. The 1983 top pic is certainly different to your 1974 shot Jim. The top one has a flat roof, yours is rounded. And it's changed colour too. Mine matches with the top pic, and yours is definitely the same shape (and appears) to be a dark colour like the 1945 pic. The two cranes must have been different models then Jim?

Another shot also shows the rounded top

And one from 1972

Hi Phill.1974 shot is Chemimikes' --- and was posted whilst mine was being composed!I agree that the two cranes look different, and believe yours was the "south" one, whilst Chemimikes' was probably the "north" one. They were, when working, more or less identical. When the "south" one was prepared for "stuffing and mounting", so to speak, the corrugated-iron "cab" sheeting was past repairing and was both unsightly and dangerous. Those involved with it's preparation took the easy way out in two respects. The sheeting used was some sort of corrugated plastic ( the idea of that round a 100psi boiler is entertaining! ) and rather than replacing the nice curved roof, with the job of curving new angle to support it, they took the easy way out and built a pale coloured hen-hut.Hope this addresses your queries.