SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

In the Leodis website there is a 1956 photo looking up Albion Street from Boar Lane. The main item in the photo is a bus going down Albion Street when there was a diversion. In the photo information it does however state that on the left (in that view) there are various departments of the Leeds Industrial Co-operative Society (LICS). I recall the large LICS premises on the right (from that view but out of view in the photo) but I cannot recall a LICS on the left. As a child in the mid 1950s I use to go with my mum to collect the divi at the LICS on the right. It's probably just my poor memory so I wonder if anyone recalls there being a LICS on the left of Albion Street (in that view) in at least 1956.This is the link to the Leodis photo:- http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?reso ... SPLAY=FULL    

I seem to remember the windows of the LICS store curved inwards from the top.

Leodian wrote: In the Leodis website there is a 1956 photo looking up Albion Street from Boar Lane. The main item in the photo is a bus going down Albion Street when there was a diversion. In the photo information it does however state that on the left (in that view) there are various departments of the Leeds Industrial Co-operative Society (LICS). I recall the large LICS premises on the right (from that view but out of view in the photo) but I cannot recall a LICS on the left. As a child in the mid 1950s I use to go with my mum to collect the divi at the LICS on the right. It's probably just my poor memory so I wonder if anyone recalls there being a LICS on the left of Albion Street (in that view) in at least 1956.This is the link to the Leodis photo:- http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?reso ... SPLAY=FULL I'm pretty sure you are correct. I seem to remember Denby & Spinks occupying quite a big site on that side of the road, but I could be mistaken.

After a bit more digging on the Leodis site, (pic. 200244-32458132) states that the Co-op had premises on both sides of Albion Street.

Hi LeoBorn 60 I vaguely recall buildings before Boots/the bond street centre, and only ever recall Co-op bottom right (ie Briggate side) of Albion St.It was in a modern-ish building and I think there was an above ground walkway across to Bond St centre.Certainly pretty much a full Dept Store with bed section etc. [img]http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?reso ... 4_32458132[/img]

Thanks all for your help, which is appreciated. I had obviously forgotten that there used to be LICS premises on both sides of Albion Street. I'll be totally useless if I live to be a 100 and on that day I get asked for my memories of old Leeds! The following link to a 1944 photo shows a nice clock (said to be a Charles Potts & Co clock by a Michael S Potts in the photo comments, so I wonder if Michael is related to Charles) on the LICS premises that I think were those on the right of Albion Street looking from Boar Lane. http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?reso ... PLAY=FULLI wonder what happened to the clock (which by the way I also don't recall!).    

It was the Co-op Food Hall on the left (in the Leodis view) - I remember it very well in the 1960s. Our divi number was 183646 (my mother always said it as 18-36-46).I remember going to pantomimes in the Co-op Music Hall (or Theatre?) on the top floor of the store on the right hand side of Albion Street, opposite the food hall - this was in the 1960s, before it was all rebuilt into the "new" department store.The Denby & Spinks furniture store was further up Albion Street on the same side as the food hall (just below where Boots' entrance is today) and I loved the big windows of that store - I hated that part of Albion Street being demolished for the Leeds Shopping Plaza (as was). Edited to add: Jogon, you're right - it was the Bond Street Centre before the Leeds Shopping Plaza. How time flies!        

I seem to remember you could gain access from Trinity Street to Albion Street by walking past Johnson's Engravers and into the LICS by way of a side entrance. It may seem a bit vague and for this I apologise but as has been remarked it was a long time ago. Anyone else recall this?

Johnny39 wrote: I seem to remember you could gain access from Trinity Street to Albion Street by walking past Johnson's Engravers and into the LICS by way of a side entrance. It may seem a bit vague and for this I apologise but as has been remarked it was a long time ago. Anyone else recall this? Yes, I remember that link from Albion Street to Trinity Street, up a slight slope. The shop windows on the left had a long-standing display of Hoover vacuum cleaners, complete with furry characters called Dust, Grit and Fluff! I think the Albion Street/Trinity Street link was in the same spot as the entrance to the rebuilt arcade (Co-op photography dept on one side, optician's(?) on the other side). Edited to add the map - I've put a red line just below the link, which was a covered arcade, as I remember. It actually links to Bank Street and on to Trinity Street via Cross Bank Street. This map is from 1964-70, so exactly the period I remember it.

When we got engaged in 1970 (I think) the ring was purchased at the Co-op jewellers which was on the left hand side looking up Albion Street. I remember that we were given umpteen Co-op stamps which didn't seem at all romantic at the time but which came in very useful when we were homemaking a year or so later.Also, in the Leodis photo that Leo posted you can make out the name FC Milnes, a company who I seem to recall supplied hearing aids (and perhaps still do).