This was the 1910s and people came out in force to watch trams make their way through the town. Morley was one of the last suburbs in the city to benefit from the new model of transport. These wonderful photos chart a decade in the life of Morley and its residents and showcase the town’s homegrown links to political power. The images are published courtesy of the David Atkinson Archive, a collection housed on photographic archive Leodis, which is run by Leeds Library & Information Service. READ MORE: 19 colour crackers celebrate the magic of Morley in 1965 LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro on facebook
7. Morley in the 1910s
A tram at Morley Bottoms. This was the first tram from Morley to Leeds on a trial run. The route opened on 5th July 1911. The destination indicator says 'special car.' The tram is full of people while many have gathered to watch at the road side and from windows and balconies. Shops to the left include Taylor's and to the right Greenwoods. Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
8. Morley in the 1910s
The former Town Clerk of Morley, Mr. R. Borrough Hopkins of Moor Allerton Hall, was invited to open the bowling green at the newly laid out Scatcherd Park. Here he is shown with his speech written out, entertaining the crowd at the opening, some of them being Morley Town Councillors; the present Town Clerk, Fred Thackray, is the middle of the three gentlemen behind him. On the edge of the steps in the light coloured suit is the Mayor of Morley, Alderman Samuel Rhodes, who introduced the guest speaker and then christened the bowling green by playing the first game of bowls against him. This would have been difficult wearing the Mayoral chain so it has been dispensed with on this occasion. Photo: David Atkinson Archive
9. Morley in the 1910s
The Prime Minister of the time, Morley-born Herbert Henry Asquith, emerging from a car during the celebrations to mark the granting of the Freedom of the Borough of Morley to him. Vast crowds of people line the street to watch. Pictured in July 1913. Photo: David Atkinson Archive
10. Morley in the 1910s
Morley Cricket Club team, who were the winners of the Yorkshire Cricket Council and Heavy Woollen Cricket League in 1912. The photo was probably taken at their ground in Scatcherd Lane, which along with the adjoining football ground was opened on July 1889. Morley Cricket Club were formed out of the Morley Britannia Clubs. Photo: David Atkinson Archive
11. Morley in the 1910s
This photo was taken three days before the official opening of the first section of the Morley tram route which took place on July 5, 1911. It shows the Traffic Manager, Mr. J.B. Hamilton, putting tramcar number 237 through its paces during the test run on July 2, 1911. The area is called Morley Bottoms and is the at the end of Queen Street where the junctions of Scatcherd Hill, Chapel Hill, Brunswick Street and Station Road converge. Crowds of people are lining the streets for a preview, some standing on a balcony and leaning from an upper storey window in Queen Street. Photo: David Atkinson Archive
12. Morley in the 1910s
The Morley Tramway Route opened on 5th July 1911, as shown on this commemorative postcard. A ceremony was held at the Churwell boundary before the first tram made its way along the newly laid out tramlines between Churwell Dyeworks and the Fountain Inn. A special car had negotiated the lines three days earlier to check that the system was satisfactorily completed (top picture). In the beginning 12 brown and yellow Dick Kerr cars numbered 237 to 248 operated the route. However by 1933 it was decided to abandon the Morley tramway in favour of buses and the last tram ran on November 23, 1933. Photo: David Atkinson Archive