E B Balmforth- Another one bites the dust

LS1 · Post by **LS1** » Sun 06 Apr, 2008 9:21 pm

Phill, see how all the wood and stuff blocks the path to the back. Behind this building that is still standing must be the back. You can see the triangular rooftops from the buildings in the middle of the complex in your aerial view.

Trojan · Post by **Trojan** » Sun 06 Apr, 2008 9:24 pm

LS1 wrote: Trojan wrote: LS1 wrote: I have noticed since Friday that the old EB Balmforth leather factory is well an truly in the process of demolition.Although closed for at least 15 years it must leave Charles Stead furter up Scott Hall Road as the only surviving tannery in Leeds, in an area (Sheepscar) that was once littered with other such tannerys.This was an interesting building as it was one of the early tannerys built in the area and the building dates to the early part of the 19th century.Landmark of Sheepscar Interchange that is now almost gone forever. leaving only the old Midland bank looking even more lonely than it did before. Where was Miers then? I started work at Ingle's Tannery in 1962, in the cost department - I lasted three months It was a big rambling place which stretched across the (then) Leeds/Morley boundary. At that time the directors were Lawrence Ingle, Rowland Ingle, Douglas Ingle, William Ingle, John Ingle. We had to call them sir! The company secretary whom I called sir on my first day corrected my protocol - I called him Mr Woodhead, I called the Directors "sir" One of the Ingles (don't know which) said his name stood for I Never Give Laziness Encouragement. In the offices we had to write in either pencil or steel nibbed dip in pens, biros and fountain pens were banned. We had to sit on high stools, at sloping desks. It was like something out of Dickens. Not sure Trojan, but I was really menaing Sheepscar as having loads of tanneries hence the name "SheepsCar" referring to the sheep that were kept for the skin. Realise there were others in the whole Leeds Vicinity. Well I'm sure that Miers was somewhere around there - my uncle worked at Miers - having worked at Ingles - perhaps Ingles origninally was in Sheepscar - they imported hides from all over the world when I worked there. There was a company at Bramley called Turner Machinery who produced machines for the tanning industry which in the sixities was quite a big one in Leeds.

Phill_d · Post by **Phill_d** » Sun 06 Apr, 2008 9:25 pm

Ok Lee thanks. I guess a few forays down there are put on hold for the duration then. My best bit of the beck shall be spoilt now. A right little peaceful Oasis in the heart of the city

LS1 · Post by **LS1** » Sun 06 Apr, 2008 9:34 pm

Trojan, Found this on Leodis... Caption states"26/11/1951. R. Burton Spence, Hardware Shop, in main view. In the foreground can clearly be seen a wooden clothes house, an ironing board, two step ladders, a wooden stool and two enamel buckets. Goods in shop window can also be seen clearly. To the left, in the background, can be seen Embo Leather works, premises of W & H Miers Ltd" Dont know if I can be writing this for copyright, but it's from The University of Bradford School of Management www.brad.ac.uk. States"WH Miers operated at the Dewsbury Road site from the turn of the century. Leather was produced there for almost a century. Production moved from Dewsbury Road to the newly built site in the Cross Green area of Leeds in 1975, where high quality leather was produced until its (proposed) final closure in 2006. WH Miers was acquired by Pittards in the mid-1970s but continued to trade under the name WH Miers until 1997."Link as follows... http://www.brad.ac.uk/pittards/?page=dewsbury

fevlad · Post by **fevlad** » Sun 06 Apr, 2008 9:51 pm

drove past it this evening demolition well underway

drapesy · Post by **drapesy** » Sun 06 Apr, 2008 11:31 pm

I believe (and am quite prepared to be shot down in flames here) that this building, or part of it at least, could also be included in the 'Lost cinemas' threadas it was the 'Golden Cross Electric Theatre' and operated as a cinema from 1910 to 1925 (according to Robert Preedy.)

LS1 · Post by **LS1** » Mon 07 Apr, 2008 12:16 am

I hear that down what was the alley between Balmforths and the old Midland Bank was once called the "Room at the Top" club and was frequented by Peter Sutcliffe. There was a cinema there at one time, as my Dad remembers such in the 60's (was - "a seedy one" if you get what i mean

).See the attached aerial view, from Leodis. You can see the right most parts of Balmforths on the left edge of the photo half way up. They certailny look seperate buildings at this time which was 1930

Rich87 · Post by **Rich87** » Mon 07 Apr, 2008 12:53 am

They need to stop knockin all these old buildings down, even if not in use. at the end of the day its part of leeds history, wether its an old terraced house or a factory, when its knocked down, its gone for good. just like they have knocked down half of the terraced houses opposite harehills labour club, its not right.

fevlad · Post by **fevlad** » Mon 07 Apr, 2008 12:06 pm

Rich87 wrote: They need to stop knockin all these old buildings down, even if not in use. at the end of the day its part of leeds history, wether its an old terraced house or a factory, when its knocked down, its gone for good. just like they have knocked down half of the terraced houses opposite harehills labour club, its not right. just because something is old doesn't mean to say it has merit.this building needs demolishing. What matters is that it is well documented and recorded.

LS1 · Post by **LS1** » Mon 07 Apr, 2008 1:19 pm

Apart from the fact that it has been left to rot, why did it "need" to be demolished?