Boar Lane in Leeds city centre showing shops; Elsters, J. Jones, The National Provincial Bank, the Westminster Bank and the Cooperative Building Society. Pictured in April 1951. — Boar Lane in Leeds city centre showing shops; Elsters, J. Jones, The National Provincial Bank, the Westminster Bank and the Cooperative Building Society. Pictured in April 1951. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

Boar Lane in Leeds city centre showing shops; Elsters, J. Jones, The National Provincial Bank, the Westminster Bank and the Cooperative Building Society. Pictured in April 1951. — Boar Lane in Leeds city centre showing shops; Elsters, J. Jones, The National Provincial Bank, the Westminster Bank and the Cooperative Building Society. Pictured in April 1951. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

Intriguing pictures show life in Leeds during the 1950s

By Andrew Hutchinson

Published 26th Jan 2020, 06:00 BST

Updated 13th Feb 2020, 10:50 BST

These photos turn back the clock to showcase life around Leeds during the 1950s.

They turn on the spotlight on a decade which saw the city clear slums and build for the future. The images are a mix from the YEP archive and 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. CHANGING LEEDS: Corn Exchange | City Square | Vicar Lane | Dark Arches LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro on facebook

These photos turn back the clock to showcase life in Leeds during the 1950s. PICS: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net/YPN

. Leeds in the 1950s

These photos turn back the clock to showcase life in Leeds during the 1950s. PICS: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net/YPN | other

Petrol station Appleyard of Leeds at Headingley Lane. Banners advertising The Daily Express and The Daily Sketch are displayed on the wall in front of and to the side of the garage.

. July 1956

Petrol station Appleyard of Leeds at Headingley Lane. Banners advertising The Daily Express and The Daily Sketch are displayed on the wall in front of and to the side of the garage. | other Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

Blackman Lane in Woodhouse. In the gap between the buildings is Carlton Garage, with an Esso petrol pump. On the wall of the next building, a sign for Carlton Lodge Cafe, a transport cafe.

. December 1953

Blackman Lane in Woodhouse. In the gap between the buildings is Carlton Garage, with an Esso petrol pump. On the wall of the next building, a sign for Carlton Lodge Cafe, a transport cafe. | other Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

Roundhay Road, on the corner of Badminton Place in Sheepscar. There is a General Grocer's shop, with adverts for Lyon's Tea, Mansion Polish, Radio Times and Colman's Mustard. There are two women to the left of the photo, one pushing a pram.

. September 1953

Roundhay Road, on the corner of Badminton Place in Sheepscar. There is a General Grocer's shop, with adverts for Lyon's Tea, Mansion Polish, Radio Times and Colman's Mustard. There are two women to the left of the photo, one pushing a pram. | other Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

The Rectory at Adel. A view of the pond with ducks in, surrounded by grass land near the stone stable block in the rectory grounds. A tree lined path leads to the back of the rectory itself to the left.

. April 1950

The Rectory at Adel. A view of the pond with ducks in, surrounded by grass land near the stone stable block in the rectory grounds. A tree lined path leads to the back of the rectory itself to the left. | other Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

Austhorpe Hall from muddy road across a field towards the house. The left hand side of the road was shortly to be developed into a row of semi-detached houses.

. January 1950

Austhorpe Hall from muddy road across a field towards the house. The left hand side of the road was shortly to be developed into a row of semi-detached houses. | other Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

Armley House at Gotts Park. This was the former home of Benjamin Gott, Leeds clothing manufacture and owner of Bean Ing Mills on Wellington Street.

. March 1950

Armley House at Gotts Park. This was the former home of Benjamin Gott, Leeds clothing manufacture and owner of Bean Ing Mills on Wellington Street. | other Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

Recently built houses on Allerton Grange Rise in Moortown. The road is unmade.

. August 1954

Recently built houses on Allerton Grange Rise in Moortown. The road is unmade. | other Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

Back Mount Pleasant in Middleton looking west onto Lingwell Crescent. Children are playing in the street, with a bicycle and tricycle in the background.

. August 1954

Back Mount Pleasant in Middleton looking west onto Lingwell Crescent. Children are playing in the street, with a bicycle and tricycle in the background. | other Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

Old Run Road in Hunslet looking north towards Moor Road. Engine farm is to the left of the photograph.

. January 1956

Old Run Road in Hunslet looking north towards Moor Road. Engine farm is to the left of the photograph. | other Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

The Black Bull Hotel on Hunslet Road. The hotel is a Magnet and John Smiths brewery and has it written on the front of the building.

. June 1951

The Black Bull Hotel on Hunslet Road. The hotel is a Magnet and John Smiths brewery and has it written on the front of the building. | other Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

Cross Green's Back Easy Road, seen in centre, taken from an area known locally as 'the quarry'. This locality housed an assortment of piggeries, henruns and stables. The white building is the rear of East Leeds Working Men's Club.

. July 1951

Cross Green's Back Easy Road, seen in centre, taken from an area known locally as 'the quarry'. This locality housed an assortment of piggeries, henruns and stables. The white building is the rear of East Leeds Working Men's Club. | other Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

The L.N.E.R. Railway Bridge over the Horsforth Ring Road between Horsforth and West Park, looking north-east. A tree is to the right, an electricity pylon is in the centre and a signal box and commercial buildings are to the left.

. May 1951

The L.N.E.R. Railway Bridge over the Horsforth Ring Road between Horsforth and West Park, looking north-east. A tree is to the right, an electricity pylon is in the centre and a signal box and commercial buildings are to the left. | other Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

A Leeds Public Health Department ambulance, a Morris van, after an accident, parked in a Leeds City Transport garage on York Road. There is a clear view of the Leeds coat of arms on the bodywork.

. January 1952

A Leeds Public Health Department ambulance, a Morris van, after an accident, parked in a Leeds City Transport garage on York Road. There is a clear view of the Leeds coat of arms on the bodywork. | other

The bridge on Halton Moor Road with Wyke Beck passing underneath it. An old farmhouse can be seen to the far middle left of the picture. It was later demolished and the land used for stables for a while but is now waste land.

. September 1955

The bridge on Halton Moor Road with Wyke Beck passing underneath it. An old farmhouse can be seen to the far middle left of the picture. It was later demolished and the land used for stables for a while but is now waste land. | other Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

Petrol station Appleyard of Leeds at Headingley Lane in July 1956. Banners advertising The Daily Express and The Daily Sketch are displayed on the wall in front of and to the side of the garage.

1. Headingley

Petrol station Appleyard of Leeds at Headingley Lane in July 1956. Banners advertising The Daily Express and The Daily Sketch are displayed on the wall in front of and to the side of the garage. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

Blackman Lane in December 1953. In the gap between the buildings is Carlton Garage, with an Esso petrol pump. On the wall of the next building, a sign for Carlton Lodge Cafe, a transport cafe.

2. Woodhouse

Blackman Lane in December 1953. In the gap between the buildings is Carlton Garage, with an Esso petrol pump. On the wall of the next building, a sign for Carlton Lodge Cafe, a transport cafe. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

Roundhay Road, on the corner of Badminton Place in September 1953. There is a General Grocer's shop, with adverts for Lyon's Tea, Mansion Polish, Radio Times and Colman's Mustard. There are two women to the left of the photo, one pushing a pram.

3. Sheepscar

Roundhay Road, on the corner of Badminton Place in September 1953. There is a General Grocer's shop, with adverts for Lyon's Tea, Mansion Polish, Radio Times and Colman's Mustard. There are two women to the left of the photo, one pushing a pram. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

The Rectory pictured in April 1950. A view of the pond with ducks in, surrounded by grass land near the stone stable block in the rectory grounds. A tree lined path leads to the back of the rectory itself to the left.

4. Adel

The Rectory pictured in April 1950. A view of the pond with ducks in, surrounded by grass land near the stone stable block in the rectory grounds. A tree lined path leads to the back of the rectory itself to the left. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

Austhorpe Hall from muddy road across a field towards the house. The left hand side of the road was shortly to be developed into a row of semi-detached houses. Pictured in January 1950.

5. Cross Gates

Austhorpe Hall from muddy road across a field towards the house. The left hand side of the road was shortly to be developed into a row of semi-detached houses. Pictured in January 1950. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

Armley House at Gotts Park. This was the former home of Benjamin Gott, Leeds clothing manufacture and owner of Bean Ing Mills on Wellington Street. Pictured in March 1950.

6. Armley

Armley House at Gotts Park. This was the former home of Benjamin Gott, Leeds clothing manufacture and owner of Bean Ing Mills on Wellington Street. Pictured in March 1950. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

Leeds The Secret Library Leeds

Leeds news you can trust since 1890

©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Terms and Conditions Privacy notice