SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

There is an ornate 1894 date above the building that is currently the Bowers Tap on Lower Briggate. I'm not certain but I think this building used to be where Watson Cairns was until that closed many years back. I've noticed the date for quite a while but I seem to have never photographed it so I took these photos on December 11 2018. The first shows the building's location on Lower Briggate, the second is a closer view of the date and the nice carving/moulding above it and the third is a close-up of the 1894 date. I've done various searches of Secret Leeds and somewhat surprisingly this topic did not seem to have been covered before.

From memory, that was Watson Cairns - door in the middle and window displays either side as you walked in, with at the very back, a parts counter. Upstairs was mostly turned over to toys. Lower down Lower Briggate - there used to be a smaller establishment Halfords, who sold smaller two wheelers.

It is difficult to remember everything from 50/60 years ago but i recall that there was a tailors shop on the corner of Duncan Street and Lower Briggate then there was a collection of shops including W/Cairns. This being a shop that sold cycles would display them both inside and out, needing a bit of frontage. Then there was the entrance up to the "Whip Pub" and also Sim Stanklers Tailors There was also a small carpet shop "Economic Carpets" All these shops were on the same side. Possibly more but i can't bring them to mind
There was also an entrance with stairs leading up to what was then the "Irish National Club " before they moved up to York Road.

Yes it was the Watson and Cairns .
I spent many Satudays there looking at the bikes [could not afford to buy one] just dreampt of the impossible.

Yes it was the Watson and Cairns .
I spent many Satudays there looking at the bikes [could not afford to buy one] just dreampt of the impossible.