People were left bemused and bewildered after a thunderbolt struck Charles Street in the city. This was 1981, a year which also saw motorists driven to distraction by city centre parking charges while shoppers in a south Leeds town were on the hunt for bargains with the opening of an open air market. Enjoy these 19 photo memories charting a year in the life of your city. The images are a mix from from the YEP archive and others published courtesy of photographic archive Leodis, which is run by Leeds Library & Information Service. READ MORE: 22 photos take you back to Leeds in 1980 LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro on facebook YEP RETRO NEWSLETTER: Sign up for our free monthly email digest of Leeds nostalgia
![Enjoy these photo memories from around Leeds in 1981.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmZlMGMwNzEyLWU5YWYtNDUzZC1iMDNlLTBlMjg5NTQ5ZDkwNTpmYzBkMThmYi0xMDdiLTQ5YTgtODQ5MS1jOGNmOTMyYTUyMTU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
![A scrap car yard near the junction of Bath Road and Water Lane at Holbeck. Pictured in March 1981.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjkzYmFhOWE4LTY2YmEtNDBjZC1iMjFhLWU0MGEyOTA3ZWZkZToyNzYzNTAyYi0xZGM3LTQ0MmEtYWFkMi1lM2ExMWU5NzFhOTk=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
2. Leeds in 1981
A scrap car yard near the junction of Bath Road and Water Lane at Holbeck. Pictured in March 1981. Photo: Ernest Brook
![The City of Leeds College of Music Symphony Orchestra staged a concert of popular music at Leeds Town Hall in June 1981. Soloists at rehearsal, from left, are Paul Gardham,, Janice Close, Rosemary Hay, Neil Atkinson and Sarah Lyle.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjlmNmZkODRhLWU1N2UtNGJjMi1iMzk1LTU3YTkyNWYyZTRhYjo2MTRhNzNiYy0xYjA3LTQ2MmQtYWRhMi0wYzU1OWMyYWE1MGE=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
3. Leeds in 1981
The City of Leeds College of Music Symphony Orchestra staged a concert of popular music at Leeds Town Hall in June 1981. Soloists at rehearsal, from left, are Paul Gardham,, Janice Close, Rosemary Hay, Neil Atkinson and Sarah Lyle. Photo: YPN
![Bramley Shopping Centre pictured in December 1981.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjQyOTQ0NTUxLTg1YjItNGI1My05ZTE3LTgyYjJkMjAzMGNjZjo5ZmFhZmY1Ny1kMGE5LTRhODYtODZjYy00MTFlNjRhM2VlYjM=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
![The Grand Theatre staged Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in July 1981.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjU2NjZiNWE4LTI1ZmUtNGMxZi04MDY1LTk0OGZlMzkzZDU0MTo2ZGJhYzgyYS04ZjFmLTQ1YmQtOWU1Mi1mZWM3MWM1YjlkYjE=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
5. Leeds in 1981
The Grand Theatre staged Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in July 1981. Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
![The first day of the new Rothwell open market which opened in May 1981 behind Blackburn Hall.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjdmN2QyMWMwLTE2ZWEtNGYwNC04ZjM0LTBjM2M1MTA3YzI2YTo1YmJmYTQ1OC0xMzI0LTQ0NTktOTU0ZC02YzNiNzhmNjM1ZjE=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
6. Leeds in 1981
The first day of the new Rothwell open market which opened in May 1981 behind Blackburn Hall. Photo: YPN