SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

As far as I'm aware these steps have not previously featured in a 'What & Where?'. I took this photo today (Oct 3 2012) showing these interesting looking (well they are to me! ) steps that have what seems to be ventilation grilles (unless they are just an unusual decorative feature). The steps are in the central area of Leeds.    

It is unlikely to be the case here, as it is a flight of steps, but I have seen (not in Leeds) similar grills in double steps to the front door of s house/ houses where the area has in the past been very subject to flooding, and the grills seem to be to help draining of the underfloor area after floods    

chemimike wrote: It is unlikely to be the case here, as it is a flight of steps, but I have seen (not in Leeds) similar grills in double steps to the front door of s house/ houses where the area has in the past been very subject to flooding, and the grills seem to be to help draining of the underfloor area after floods     Thanks for that interesting comment chemimike.

These steps are up to the side door at the northern end of the Civic Theatre/Mechanics Institute/City Museum. On Vernon Street which leads up to the main entrance of Leeds College of Art.You specified city centre Leodian but they are not instantly recognisable so they had to be somewhat 'off the beaten track'. Just got lucky.    

Well done salt 'n pepper. This is a slightly wider field-of-view of the steps.

Like the Yorkshire Penny Bank on Infirmary Street (which has a brick rear), it was a let down to first see this brick aspect of the Civic Theatre.I love the squat sturdiness of this building, yet the heavy stone detail was confined to the S and W facades only as the N & E were not exposed when built.

Is there a real purpose to the "meeseholes" or are they purely decorative?

Johnny39 wrote: Is there a real purpose to the "meeseholes" or are they purely decorative? Mickey lives at No3.....(ooops Johnny,sorry,couldn't resist !)Pertinent question nevertheless.....

somme1916 wrote: Johnny39 wrote: Is there a real purpose to the "meeseholes" or are they purely decorative? Mickey lives at No3.....(ooops Johnny,sorry,couldn't resist !)Pertinent question nevertheless..... There's always one Somme!!! Squeek, squeek.