SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

Apology, I'm sure there are pre-existing threads, but anyway.Two pictures of wartime Leeds.1. A view down Briggate in Leeds, showing men and women going about their business, with the shop 'Burton's' clearly visible on the corner. A banner stretches across the road, advertising a free exhibition of Daily Express war photographs being held at the City Art Galleries on The Headrow, and further down the street, just visible in the distance, a banner proclaims Saturday 31 July as Flag Day. One car can be seen driving down the street, away from the camera.I don't recognise this view, anyone able to show current?2. Civilians go about their daily business in a busy scene looking down Briggate in Leeds. On the left hand side, Burton's can be seen alongside the Imperial Hotel. The number 3 tram can also be seen travelling away from the camera, whilst on the right hand side, the number 4 tram is travelling towards the camera on its way to Haddon Place via Roundhay Road. An advertisement for Melbourne Ales is clearly visible on the front of the tram. A banner can just be seen, stretching across the road above the trams, advertising a free exhibition of Daily Express war photographs, being held at the City Art Galleries on The Headrow.Both from wartime Ministry of Information

"I don't recognise this view, anyone able to show current?"New Briggate crosses The Headrow, Burtons still there albeit in one of their brand names.Paramount/Odeon on LH side now Primark.

Thanks, it was the Burtons that threw me.Brunel I know you like your trams - almost Briggate, 22.3.1953ex- Southampton tram No 290 on the No 1 West Park route.    

What truly evocative and nostalgic pictures !! Notice in the middle view that the tram going away up Briggate is in the wartime khaki livery. The black marble upper floors of the present Marks and Spencers can be seen, and the little pointed turret above the khaki tram has gone (storm damage IIRC) but the bujilding is still there, corner of Briggate and Commercial Street.In the third picture the giant tram in the left distance is one of the magnificent ex London "Felthams" (of which Leeds bought ninety out of the class of around a hundred) and it is going from New Inn Wortley to "Halton 20" - I can't claim to read the destination blind but the shape of the lettering confirms this. The tram in the right distance is one of the superb Leeds designed Horsfields or "showboats."Did I read in another topic that such fine vehicles are about to be reintroduced in Leeds, or was that just a happy dream ??         

This would be a modern view of the first picture - http://goo.gl/maps/yyJP

BLAKEY wrote: What truly evocative and nostalgic pictures !! It's an interesting web sitehttp://dewi.ca/trains/leeds/index.htmlI like these photos for two reasons:- 1. the Leeds trams were withdrawn the year before I was born (tracks were visible at Oakwood clock mid 60's) 2. the background leeds scenery.

Jogon wrote: BLAKEY wrote: What truly evocative and nostalgic pictures !! It's an interesting web sitehttp://dewi.ca/trains/leeds/index.htmlI like these photos for two reasons:- 1. the Leeds trams were withdrawn the year before I was born (tracks were visible at Oakwood clock mid 60's) 2. the background leeds scenery. Yes,me also jogon.....very good pics of a city going about it's business in the middle of a World War ! I especially like all the canopies overhanging the buildings on Briggate in the first picture......just don't see them anymore.

somme1916 wrote: [Yes,me also jogon.....very good pics of a city going about it's business in the middle of a World War ! I especially like all the canopies overhanging the buildings on Briggate in the first picture......just don't see them anymore. I think the roller canopies fell out of favour some time ago because they tended to become distorted in heavy winds, and at other times defective machinery within often made them refuse to roll back into their housing when required.

BLAKEY wrote: somme1916 wrote: [Yes,me also jogon.....very good pics of a city going about it's business in the middle of a World War ! I especially like all the canopies overhanging the buildings on Briggate in the first picture......just don't see them anymore. I think the roller canopies fell out of favour some time ago because they tended to become distorted in heavy winds, and at other times defective machinery within often made them refuse to roll back into their housing when required. I can well believe that Blakey.....the devil's teeth to sort them out no doubt,under such conditions.Bit like the side winkers on my grandads moggy thou.......when the kids would try and grab them at standing traffic lights ! pesky urchins..........