THE LAST OF LEEDS CITY CENTRE

The main shopping street in Leeds is Briggate, now pedestrianised, but once the hub of the tram network. In earlier times, horse-drawn, steam powered and electric trams would have been seen.

 

Briggate in 1908, decorated for the visit of the King.

The Picture House on Briggate.

One of several arcades off Briggate, this one, seen around 1900, called the County Arcade.

Down an alleyway from Briggate, the Ship.

Also down an alley, the famous Whtelocks.

At the top end of Briggate is St John's church.

Close by is a former Tetley pub, Wrens.

Another ex Tetley house, though originally Melbourne Ales, is the Templar, a fine boozer indeed.

Taking heavy traffic through the city centre is The Headrow, seen here in a postcard view.

The Headrow can be a good spot to photograph buses. Black Prince ran several services along here.

Short-lived operators using The Headrow included Bigfoot Buses, Quickstep and Optional Bus.

Firstbus ran these Wright artics along The Headrow, on a Leeds to Bradford service.

The West Yorkshire Road Car Company had its own bus station, just off The Headrow, at Vicar Lane.

A well known pub on The Headrow was Mr Foley's, later called Baroque. Sadly, it's now closed.

Leeds town hall stands proud atop The Headrow.

Close by, the Town Hall Tavern, a good outlet for Timothy Taylor's beers.

There's also the Horse & Trumpet.

Around the back of the Town Hall, the Victoria. It's due to re-open soon.

Veritas was a good free house. It's now a Chinese restaurant.

Here's a postcard view of the Polytechnic and the Civic Hall in central Leeds.

Finally, a quick look at the city centre's three Wetherspoons; the Beckett's Bank, the Hedley Verity and the Stick or Twist.

Next time, we'll enter the northern suburbs of Leeds and we'll find Roundhay Park.