17 photos take you back to Leeds in 1984

By Andrew Hutchinson

Published 19th Jun 2023, 04:45 BST

This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.

It proved to be a year of protest and unrest.

The Miners strike dominated the news agenda while ‘squatters’ took control of a Leeds City Council building forcing the authority to issue an eviction notice. This was Leeds in 1984, a year which also featured the ‘Spirit of Yorkshire’ making history by being the first big plane to use Leeds and Bradford Airport's newly-extended runway. Enjoy these images, a mix from the YEP archive and others published courtesy of photographic archive Leodis, which is run by Leeds Library & Information Service, charting a year in the life of your city. READ MORE: 33 closed Leeds pubs which will stir fond memories for drinkers LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro facebook

A line of police contains pickets on a side street opposite Allerton Bywater Colliery in August 1984.

1. Leeds in 1984

A line of police contains pickets on a side street opposite Allerton Bywater Colliery in August 1984. Photo: YPN

Queen Victoria Street looking towards Vicar Lane from the direction of Briggate. On the right is Discount Toiletries then Queensbury Jewellers. Next is the entrance to the Cross Arcade then Sucliffes Sport and Leisure. Pictured in June 1984.

2. Leeds in 1984

Queen Victoria Street looking towards Vicar Lane from the direction of Briggate. On the right is Discount Toiletries then Queensbury Jewellers. Next is the entrance to the Cross Arcade then Sucliffes Sport and Leisure. Pictured in June 1984. Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

The pedestrianised Queen Victoria Street looking in the direction of Vicar Lane. Pictured in June 1984. Queen Victoria Street has now been closed and is part of the Victoria Quarter. The stained glass roof covering the street was designed by Brian Clarke in 1990 at a cost of £6 million.

3. Leeds in 1984

The pedestrianised Queen Victoria Street looking in the direction of Vicar Lane. Pictured in June 1984. Queen Victoria Street has now been closed and is part of the Victoria Quarter. The stained glass roof covering the street was designed by Brian Clarke in 1990 at a cost of £6 million. Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

The west side of New Briggate in August 1984 showing, from left, Adel Properties, estate agents, The Alternative, restaurant and take-away, and The Art Centre, with the Wilson Hotel above.

4. Leeds in 1984

The west side of New Briggate in August 1984 showing, from left, Adel Properties, estate agents, The Alternative, restaurant and take-away, and The Art Centre, with the Wilson Hotel above. Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

Templar House, a Grade II listed building on Lady Lane by the junction with Templar Lane, right. This property dates from 1840 when it was built by James Simpson, one of the leading non-conformist architects of the 19th century, as the principal chapel in Yorkshire of the Wesleyan Methodist Association. The red-brick building held 1700 worshippers and featured a schoolroom below. It lated became the United Methodist Chapel but over the 1920s the congregation began to dwindle and the building was converted to offices in 1933. Later it was occupied by Hoover Ltd., vacuum cleaner manufacturers, and also by the Army as a recruiting office for National Service, before becoming an Unemployment Benefit Office for a time; then, as in this photo from June 1984, it became British Road Services.

5. Leeds in 1984

Templar House, a Grade II listed building on Lady Lane by the junction with Templar Lane, right. This property dates from 1840 when it was built by James Simpson, one of the leading non-conformist architects of the 19th century, as the principal chapel in Yorkshire of the Wesleyan Methodist Association. The red-brick building held 1700 worshippers and featured a schoolroom below. It lated became the United Methodist Chapel but over the 1920s the congregation began to dwindle and the building was converted to offices in 1933. Later it was occupied by Hoover Ltd., vacuum cleaner manufacturers, and also by the Army as a recruiting office for National Service, before becoming an Unemployment Benefit Office for a time; then, as in this photo from June 1984, it became British Road Services. Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

Queen Victoria Street looking in the direction of Briggate. At the right edge is D. Addyman, Pork Butcher at number 24 Queen Victoria Street. The Senator Hair Care Club and Hair Replacememnt Centre is at number 22. Pictured in June 1984.

6. Leeds in 1984

Queen Victoria Street looking in the direction of Briggate. At the right edge is D. Addyman, Pork Butcher at number 24 Queen Victoria Street. The Senator Hair Care Club and Hair Replacememnt Centre is at number 22. Pictured in June 1984. Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

Leeds Leeds City Council