The Lyons Works building on Templar Lane.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Sat 18 Dec, 2010 8:59 pm

If the Eastgate/Harewood Quarter project goes ahead it is very likely that many buildings in the area will be demolished. There seems to be very few photos showing the Lyons Works in Leodis and what there are the Works is in the background. A photo dated December 22 1932 shows the Works on Templar Lane in a photo taken from Lady Lane. In its caption it refers to "Lyons clothing factory built in two phases between 1914 and 1925". Leodis has a view dated October 29 1999 looking down Edward Street in which the "formerly Lyons garment factory" now called 'Saxon House' is visible in the rear. Leodis also has a close up taken November 9 1999 of the Lyons Works name and in the information with that photo it refers to the Lyons Works as the former cocoa works on Lady Lane. That seems to be wrong as the Lyons Works building is on Templar Lane. A search of the SL site for Lyons Works only brought up two mentions. One was by name only in a 'Quarry Hill' thread and the 'Anybody fancy some investigating?' thread had mention of the cocoa works with Lyons on it. There therefore seems to be few photos of the Lyons Works bulding on Templar Lane, which may be because it is very long and would be hard to show it all. There also seems to be little information on Lyons Works (I tried a Google search). I wonder if anyone knows more of its history?I have added a photo I took on December 16 2010. It shows the central part of the building that has the now poorly decipherable Lyons Works name to the top and the date 1925 above the doors of what seemed to be a no longer in use Chinatown Shopping Arcade. The 'Saxo' on the sign was presumably Saxon and the 'Hous' was House but I can't figure out what the vertical letters might have been!

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Sat 18 Dec, 2010 9:04 pm

This photo is a closer view of what seems to be the closed down Chinatown Shopping Arcade at the Lyons Works building. This photo (taken on December 16 2010) better shows the 1925 date on the building.

Cardiarms · Post by **Cardiarms** » Sat 18 Dec, 2010 10:25 pm

There are some foundation stones on Lady Lane that refer the clothing chain Alexandre, supplied by the factroy, which crops up on Leodis. I think I posted a similar pick on the signs of old leodis thread or i might have thought I did.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Sat 18 Dec, 2010 10:57 pm

Cardiarms wrote: There are some foundation stones on Lady Lane that refer the clothing chain Alexandre, supplied by the factroy, which crops up on Leodis. I think I posted a similar pick on the signs of old leodis thread or i might have thought I did. Hi Cardiarms. I've found your post with the photo of the Lyons Works sign on page 34 of the 'Signs of old leodis' thread. It shows the sign better than in my first photo here.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Tue 04 Oct, 2011 8:56 pm

When I was on Lady Lane today (Oct 4 2011) I noticed two inscribed foundation stones on the Lady Lane side of the Lyons building. Both were laid 1st February 1938. The photo with this is that of the stone laid by Samuel Henry Lyons of who it states "Founded Alexandre Limited in 1907" (note the uses of a V instead of a U).

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Tue 04 Oct, 2011 9:01 pm

This is the other photo of a foundation stone on the Lady Lane side of the Lyons building that took today (Oct 4 2011). It was laid by Sophia Lyons on 1st February 1938 (note the use of a V instead of a U).

jdbythesea · Post by **jdbythesea** » Tue 04 Oct, 2011 9:57 pm

I worked in Templar House back in 1975. This was long after BRS had vacated it.It was used as an overspill employment exchange for a time. Unemployment was high and the various government offices around the city had insufficient space to cope with the hundreds and hundreds of benefit claims made by university students (they could claim out of term time back then - until the government plugged the loophole).I remember that the ground floor was quickly made safe by the Property Services Agency but that they had real trouble firing up the old boiler though amazingly they finally did.As keyholder I was able to have a good look at the upper floors of the building which were in a sad state even then. The Dept of Employment continued to use it for a short while but it then fell into disuse again. I doubt whether it would have even been considered as a temporary office in the health and safety times we now live in.It was built as a Methodist chapel and must have been very impressive when opened. I can't recall much evidence of that part of its life though.Coincidentally, a year earlier in 1974, Salem Chapel near Tetley's Brewery was used for the self same purpose.I do remember seeing a Lax and Shaw sign on the wall above an outer door but I don't know if they were occupants at any time previously. It's a listed building I understand.