Padlocked trapdoor at Charles Clinkard on Lands Lane / Thorntons Arcade

Reginal Perrin · Post by **Reginal Perrin** » Wed 11 Jun, 2008 4:00 pm

Glenny3363 wrote: Could be right I think.Maybe it was just a chain fastening point for one of those stand-alone sweet dispensers, the type that had gob-stoppers in and the like that used to be outside quite a few shops years back? just a thought.In the centre of Leeds it would need chaining down to stop it going walkabout!!! You could be right. I took another picture today and it is Phone 4U which is surrounded by Clinkards at the tiop of Thorntons Arcade so I was almost right.I don't remember what the shop was before it was a phone shop but it could very well be an anchoring point only, good shout.The only thing that makes me think otherwise is that the hinge is bang on the join and the slab is not the same size as the others.I considered asking in the shop but feared being met by blank faces and derision.

Tasa · Post by **Tasa** » Wed 11 Jun, 2008 4:25 pm

Could it have been to lock down some shop-front shutters? Are there traces of any other padlocks along the same stretch?

Bramley4woods · Post by **Bramley4woods** » Wed 11 Jun, 2008 6:24 pm

Reginal Perrin wrote: Glenny3363 wrote: Could be right I think.Maybe it was just a chain fastening point for one of those stand-alone sweet dispensers, the type that had gob-stoppers in and the like that used to be outside quite a few shops years back? just a thought.In the centre of Leeds it would need chaining down to stop it going walkabout!!! You could be right. I took another picture today and it is Phone 4U which is surrounded by Clinkards at the tiop of Thorntons Arcade so I was almost right.I don't remember what the shop was before it was a phone shop but it could very well be an anchoring point only, good shout.The only thing that makes me think otherwise is that the hinge is bang on the join and the slab is not the same size as the others.I considered asking in the shop but feared being met by blank faces and derision. In the days before so much online processing some businesses had a copy of the day's transactions (Eg, who's been in and paid a bill in cash) collected by a courier overnight while the shop was closed.They achieved this by having a small metal box padlocked to the pavement outside ...

Chrism · Post by **Chrism** » Wed 11 Jun, 2008 6:26 pm

I always wondered what those boxes were for!!

Post by **chameleon** » Wed 11 Jun, 2008 7:31 pm

Tasa wrote: Could it have been to lock down some shop-front shutters? Are there traces of any other padlocks along the same stretch? Was just starting to wonder the same thing Tasa - would explain it perfectly wouldn't it? I guess they can't all be mysteries

Reginal Perrin · Post by **Reginal Perrin** » Thu 12 Jun, 2008 12:11 pm

Maybe but i think it's a bit too far away from the window and there are no others. It does look specific to the flag stone.

Brandy · Post by **Brandy** » Thu 12 Jun, 2008 1:13 pm

Reginal Perrin wrote: Maybe but i think it's a bit too far away from the window and there are no others. It does look specific to the flag stone. yes,and a quick 'tug' would lift the shutter up,along with flagstone!Its not where they used to anchor the evening post mans vending 'box' is it?

Reginal Perrin · Post by **Reginal Perrin** » Thu 12 Jun, 2008 3:52 pm

I really don't think it is an anchor as why would the hinge be placed over the join? Could it be a coal hole?

Post by **chameleon** » Fri 13 Jun, 2008 6:38 pm

Had a rare sortie into town at lunch to look at this. I'm happy that these were to anchor grills or shutters. Standing infront of one and looking up, the remains of the old rollers are vissible still, together with inserts to take intermediate uprights, and even the retaining chanels at the sides, Clincards used to occupy the entire corner but now most is a mobile phone store. Similar anchor points and remains can be seen in front of most of the other windows which would have been Clinkards.