Changing Leeds - City Square under construction

City Square - the landmark triangle where six roads meet - boasts a proud place in the city's heritage and history.

Infirmary Street and Park Row, Boar Lane and Bishopsgate Street, and Quebec Street and Wellington Street all lead to City Square.

It was bombed by the Lufwaffe during the Second World War and is home to The Queens Hotel as well as the iconic Black Prince statue, who has been pointing the way since 1903.

This photo, taken from the roof of the old Post Office building on Park Row, dates back to 1897 and shows City Square being laid out. Here work is seen in progress with advertising hoardings surrounding the site. A temporary hut has the name of the builder, J.T. Wright of Hartley Hill.

City Square was first conceived of after Leeds was given City status by Queen Victoria in 1893. Colonel T.W. Harding of Tower Works instigated the plans and William Bakewell was the architect. A temporary hut has the name of the builder, J.T. Wright of Hartley Hill.

The Square was officially opened in September 1903. In the background, left, is the original Queens Hotel on Wellington Street which was opened in 1863; it was later demolished to be replaced by the present Queens Hotel, dating from 1936.

On the right is the site that would later be the Majestic Cinema, on Quebec Street; it is here occupied by a row of single-storey shops then the backs of buildings on Wellington Street.

The photo is published courtesy of photographic archive Leodis, which is run by Leeds Library & Information Service. They also run heritage blog The Secret Library Leeds, which provides a behind the scenes look at the Central Library and highlights from its special collections, including rare books hidden away in the stacks.

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Laura Collins