West Leeds nostalgia: Photo gems celebrate a year in the life of Armley in the mid-1960s

By Andrew Hutchinson

Published 15th Jun 2023, 04:45 BST

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These wonderful photos take you to the heart of a west Leeds community in the mid-1960s.

They showcase a year in the life of Armley and its residents in 1966 and feature the corner shops which helped feed a community and streets which no longer exist having been bulldozed as part of slum clearance. The images are published courtesy of West Yorkshire Archive Service, which collects and looks after the unique documentary heritage of the region dating from the 12th century to the present day - more than 800 years of local history. It also runs Catablogue, an online blog dedicated to preserving the past, serving the present and protecting the future. READ MORE: Memories of lost Leeds pubs in Armley, Wortley and Farnley LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro on facebook

On the left of this view is Cyril's greengrocery, which also sells fish, fruit and flowers. This was number 10 Main Road. Cardwell Street runs to the right edge, numbers 3 to 9 are in view. These houses awaited demolition in line with the citywide slum clearance programme.

1. Armley in 1966

On the left of this view is Cyril's greengrocery, which also sells fish, fruit and flowers. This was number 10 Main Road. Cardwell Street runs to the right edge, numbers 3 to 9 are in view. These houses awaited demolition in line with the citywide slum clearance programme. Photo: West Yorkshire Archive Service

Two boys stand next to a grocers and confectioners on Main Road in August 1966. The names C. & A. Garlick are over the door. A painted wall sign above the window bears the name C. Briggs, the proprietor of a tobacconists here between the 1910s and the late 1940s.

2. Armley in the 1960s

Two boys stand next to a grocers and confectioners on Main Road in August 1966. The names C. & A. Garlick are over the door. A painted wall sign above the window bears the name C. Briggs, the proprietor of a tobacconists here between the 1910s and the late 1940s. Photo: West Yorkshire Archive Service

Back-to-back properties on Main Street, numbers run from 20 to 14, left to right with a passageway giving access to Parsonage View seen between numbers 20 and 18. Several people stand in the doorway of number 14 where a car is parked outside. Included in slum clearance plans for the Tong Road area of Armley. Pictured in August 1966.

3. Armley in 1966

Back-to-back properties on Main Street, numbers run from 20 to 14, left to right with a passageway giving access to Parsonage View seen between numbers 20 and 18. Several people stand in the doorway of number 14 where a car is parked outside. Included in slum clearance plans for the Tong Road area of Armley. Pictured in August 1966. Photo: West Yorkshire Archive Service

Three back-to-back properties on Parsonage View. A bicycle and a pushchair can be seen outside number 19 while a girl plays with her own pushchair further along the path. These gardens backed onto allotments with passageways such as the one on the right edge giving access to Main Street. Pictured in August 1966.

4. Armley in 1966

Three back-to-back properties on Parsonage View. A bicycle and a pushchair can be seen outside number 19 while a girl plays with her own pushchair further along the path. These gardens backed onto allotments with passageways such as the one on the right edge giving access to Main Street. Pictured in August 1966. Photo: West Yorkshire Archive Service

Number 200 Tong Road, a gable end property which was also known as Hope Cottage. Number 200 Tong Road was also number 1 Parsonage View which continues in ascending order to the right. Parsonage View had no access from Tong Road and was reached via passageways from Main Street. Billboards can be seen on the right edge. Included in slum clearance plans for the Armley area. Pictured in August 1966.

5. Armley in 1966

Number 200 Tong Road, a gable end property which was also known as Hope Cottage. Number 200 Tong Road was also number 1 Parsonage View which continues in ascending order to the right. Parsonage View had no access from Tong Road and was reached via passageways from Main Street. Billboards can be seen on the right edge. Included in slum clearance plans for the Armley area. Pictured in August 1966. Photo: West Yorkshire Archive Service

Several people stand in the doorway of a house on Main Street where a car is parked outside. Included in slum clearance plans for the Tong Road area of Armley.

6. Armley in 1966

Several people stand in the doorway of a house on Main Street where a car is parked outside. Included in slum clearance plans for the Tong Road area of Armley. Photo: West Yorkshire Archive Service

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