SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

I suspect that this will be too easy but you never know! I took this photo today in the centre of Leeds. Where is this place that was presumably once a bank and what bank was it a branch of? (I don't know the answer to the latter question, so I would like to know). The tall white building seen is a reflection of that behind where I took the photo but (as far as I saw) the lights are inside the 'Bank'. I've done a search of SL and did not find anything directly about this old bank premises but apologies if it has been asked before and I missed it. I did not also find anything directly about the place on a search of Leodis.

that would be Jamies Italian.... (Jamie's laughing all the way to the bank.)

sirjohn wrote: that would be Jamies Italian.... (Jamie's laughing all the way to the bank.) I thought it would likely be far too easy! I would still like to find out what bank used to be there and when it closed.

I recognised the reflected building as the old NatWest on Park Row and realised the bank building must be Jamie's Italian (too late to win the competition - well done sirjohn!). However, I've just looked on Google Street View and there is no "Bank" sign on the entrance in that view. It looks as if a board had been placed over the original sign, which must have been removed since then.http://snipurl.com/22oxigdThere wasn't a bank on that corner according to the 1890s map, but there is a bank shown on maps from the 1900s to the 1970s (gone by the 1980s).

I worked in both 37 Park Row - the 60's monstrosity Norwich Union building - and 36 Park Row for British Telecommunications. The latter was next door to the bank at 35 but as far as I can remember this building was not a bank in 1972. Can't remember what it was though.This is another indication of the sequential same-side-of-the-street numbering employed in the city centre described elsewhere on SL.When BT vacated 36 I used to wonder what had happened to the bogroll holders which were emblazoned with GR, quite the collectors item. If you were a bogroll holder collector of course. I didn't have the criminal imperative, or even the presence of mind to take a screwdriver in and acquire one myself.

i am sure I remember it being the woolwich. probably wasnt built as that though. cant find any pictures on leodis.

I also remember it been a Building Society, it may have been the Woolwich but not sure

Definitely in the seventies and maybe in the late sixties, the Woolwich was across Park Row from 35, and was actually on the ground floor of the NatWest building with its entrance facing on to Bond Street.    

salt 'n pepper wrote: Definitely in the seventies and maybe in the late sixties, the Woolwich was across Park Row from 35, and was actually on the ground floor of the NatWest building with its entrance facing on to Bond Street.     Woolwich listed at 29 Bond Street & 18 Park Row (see attachment)    

Have a look in the 80's then, it was definately a building society