SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

Passing on Central Road today (Oct 28 2011) I noticed doors open to a passage-like way that I never previously knew was there. It is on the right shortly after coming from Kirkgate, immediately right of a delivery way for the House of Fraser store. The passage does not seem wide enough for delivery wagons, except possibly for rear opening small vans. It went back a fair bit but I did not venture in much (it also had a bad smell). The photo shows the open doors with the passage beyond. I shall post a photo next that shows the start of the inside of the passage.    

This photo shows the view just in the passage looking from Central Road.

There does seem to be less passages about in Leeds city Centre than the 1980's. Yours looks to be camouflaged/gated off pretty well there. I only have this assumption because I remember one or two Saturday night 'adventures' down those alleys in my day, but yet when I've walked around town I can never seem to place them these daysOne too many drinks, too long ago, or they've been made 'Saturday night adventure' Un-user friendly         

Phill_dvsn wrote: There does seem to be less passages about in Leeds city Centre than the 1980's. Yours looks to be camouflaged/gated off pretty well there. I only have this assumption because I remember one or two Saturday night 'adventures' down those alleys in my day, but yet when I've walked around town I can never seem to place them these daysOne too many drinks, too long ago, or they've been made 'Saturday night adventure' Un-user friendly          That made me I would have tried venturing down the passage a bit more to see what is at the clearly unroofed bit (judged by the sunlight) but the pong put me off!

Looking at Google Earth, I wondered if ever it was a through-way tp Briggate but from Godfrey's 1908 map it seems not, extending only as your picture shows Leodian, save that there is a smallreturn to the left at the end making it possibly a service area for the former Grand Central Hotel.There seems also to have once been a yard or thoroughfare from Briggate to Central Road running parallel to the old arcade but firmly now replaced by the hidden southern aspect of the (Woolworths) House of Fraser store.

chameleon wrote: Looking at Google Earth, I wondered if ever it was a through-way tp Briggate but from Godfrey's 1908 map it seems not, extending only as your picture shows Leodian, save that there is a smallreturn to the left at the end making it possibly a service area for the former Grand Central Hotel.There seems also to have once been a yard or thoroughfare from Briggate to Central Road running parallel to the old arcade but firmly now replaced by the hidden southern aspect of the (Woolworths) House of Fraser store. Thanks for that chameleon.

In 1850 and 1891 Central road did not go that far up, though there was Old Infirmary Yard which ran approximately along about 75% of the route. there was no yard at that position, but Newsome's yard ran from Brigate almost to join old Infirmary yard, the course being blocked by two buildings

chemimike wrote: In 1850 and 1891 Central road did not go that far up, though there was Old Infirmary Yard which ran approximately along about 75% of the route. there was no yard at that position, but Newsome's yard ran from Brigate almost to join old Infirmary yard, the course being blocked by two buildings Thanks for that chemimike. I've just looked at the 1850 and 1891 maps of the area in the Old Maps UK website. The name of the intriguingly named 'Bull and Mouth Hotel' on Briggate caught my eye! It is next to the General Coach Office (they were about opposite where Marks & Spencer is now). The Bull and Mouth Hotel was still there in 1891 but the General Coach Office was not.    

The Bull and Mouth was a not uncommon pub name. It's a corruption of 'Boulogne Mouth', mouth in this case being a synonym for harbour, so in other words, Boulogne Harbour.The name commemorates the occasion in 1544 when Henry 8th's navy, accompanied by ships of his ally, the Holy Roman Emperor Charles 5th (also king of Italy), sailed brazenly into Boulogne Harbour and sank the entire French fleet at anchor.

Bruno wrote: The Bull and Mouth was a not uncommon pub name. It's a corruption of 'Boulogne Mouth', mouth in this case being a synonym for harbour, so in other words, Boulogne Harbour.The name commemorates the occasion in 1544 when Henry 8th's navy, accompanied by ships of his ally, the Holy Roman Emperor Charles 5th (also king of Italy), sailed brazenly into Boulogne Harbour and sank the entire French fleet at anchor. Thanks Bruno.