'Fifty Shilling Tailors' - Memories of a Leeds manufacturing powerhouse

This aerial photo of Prices Tailors is sure to evoke memories of generations of workers as well as those Kirkstall residents who lived in its shadow.

Founded in 1905 by Henry Price the company's factory was built in 1923 on Lennox Road and was extended as far as Cardigan Crescent, off Kirkstall Road in the 1930s.

In 1932 the firm became known as the 'Fifty Shilling Tailors'. Mass production meant that the price of a suit at 50 shillings had become affordable to the working man, but, in 1935 the value of 50 shillings (£2.50) was around the equivalent of £90 in today's money.

Henry Price had over 500 shops and several factories employing 12,000 staff. On his retirement in 1954 he sold the firm to John Collier.

The site of the clothing factory is now that of Cardigan Fields leisure and entertainment complex.

This undated photo is one of the 'most talked' about on 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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