Change Alley and the passageway off Albion Place.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Thu 16 May, 2013 9:32 pm

Change Alley is an old (slightly crooked) alley that runs from Albion Street to Lands Lane. There is a short alley that runs off Albion Place (on the left looking to Albion Street) a little before Albion Street that connects with Change Alley. I was passing that alley off Albion Place today (May 16 2013) and noticed the security gate was open (I've never seen in unlocked before!) so I ventured in. I thought I would post a few photos that I took as there seems to be none in SL (or at least that I can find). This photo is that looking down the short alley off Albion Place. Change Alley cannot be seen but runs from left to right across the rear of the photo. The security gate at the Albion Street and that at the Lands Lane ends of Change Alley were both locked, as usual!

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Thu 16 May, 2013 9:35 pm

This is a view looking along Change Alley towards Albion Street, taken from where the alley off Albion Place meets Change Alley. Note the possibly old 'gas lamp' which may have been preserved but has a modern electric light.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Thu 16 May, 2013 9:37 pm

This is a view of Change Alley looking to Lands Lane, taken from where the alley off Albion Place meets Change Alley.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Thu 16 May, 2013 9:43 pm

This is a close-up of a query original old (? gas) lamp that has a modern lamp. This is in the short alley off Albion Place. The lamp has Stock Exchange on it and will relate to an old Leeds Stock Exchange that stood on that site. The Stock Exchange was built in 1846/7 and used to 1866 and the site was demolished in 1905 and a YMCA was built there (according to information I've seen). There is a similar lamp with the same wording in Change Alley.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Thu 16 May, 2013 9:46 pm

This is map of the area that I copied and enlarged from an 1891 1 to 500 map in the excellent Old-Maps UK website. The layout of the alleys is more or less the same now except that there is not such a sharp turn in Change Alley.

Tasa · Post by **Tasa** » Thu 16 May, 2013 10:21 pm

Very interesting Leodian, and I'm glad you took the opportunity to take these photos. The Stock Exchange lamp is a mystery, as the typeface seems too modern to be original but I can't think why it would have been added later, when there was no longer a Stock Exchange there.It used to be possible to walk through from Albion Street to Lands Lane and I often used it to avoid the crowds in Commercial Street. I always assumed it was a right-of-way, so was puzzled when the gates were installed.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Thu 16 May, 2013 10:56 pm

Tasa wrote: Very interesting Leodian, and I'm glad you took the opportunity to take these photos. The Stock Exchange lamp is a mystery, as the typeface seems too modern to be original but I can't think why it would have been added later, when there was no longer a Stock Exchange there.It used to be possible to walk through from Albion Street to Lands Lane and I often used it to avoid the crowds in Commercial Street. I always assumed it was a right-of-way, so was puzzled when the gates were installed. Cheers Tasa. As far as I recall I never used that walk through. Both ends of Change Alley have had locked gates for some years now as many (if not all) such passages now do where there is no business premises, such as the passage immediately on the right of Marks & Spencer on Briggate. Mind you that passage seemed to be used as a toilet the last time I ventured in a couple or so years back before the gate was fitted.

Jogon · Post by **Jogon** » Thu 16 May, 2013 10:56 pm

Leeds Stock Exchange 57-61 Albion St 1927Now West Riding House.Tasa Folks often balk at the idea of such alleyways being gated/fenced off. But whereas in the 60's 70's etc a 'gentleman of the road' tramp (often ex-forces, former family men) may settle down for the night, now (sadly) it is a very different story.I worked by a place which had always enjoyed public access. This was used as a toilet by men & women for 'everything'...There were also rough sleepers (sometimes in trade waste bins) as well as used needles left so as to deliberately 'catch' folks.In the end gated access is the only way I'm afraid and if that means we SL sleuths can no longer gain access to old Leeds, sadly it is for the greater good.

Johnny39 · Post by **Johnny39** » Thu 16 May, 2013 11:05 pm

I used to use this alley as a short cut for many years when I worked at the old Yorkshire Evening News in the 50's. I never knew it had a name.

Cardiarms · Post by **Cardiarms** » Fri 17 May, 2013 1:10 am

The 'Stock Exchange'" lamps refer to a previous name for a bar that was in the building. I'm not sure if it was the existing downstairs bar or where Austin Reed is (or was).