Leeds in the 1940s: Memories of pre and post war Briggate

By Andrew Hutchinson

Published 20th Jul 2023, 04:45 BST

This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.

These mini gallery of memories showcase a decade long look at life on pre and post war Briggate.

It takes you down the city centre street we all know and love during the 1940s and brings into focus shops, pubs as well as the hustle and bustle of daily life. The images are 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. READ MORE: Briggate down the decades - The Leeds street we all know and love LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro on facebook

The west side of Briggate in Janaury 1947 with the junction with Boar Lane on the left. In the foreground is a police telephone box and the entrance to the gentlemen's public toilets. The shops in focus are Saxone & Sorosis Shoe Co. Ltd.; Edmond's wool shop, who are having a 'coupon free stock clearance', Wallis & Co (Costumiers) Ltd, (who are having a winter sale). Then S. Tetley & Sons Ltd, tobacconist, who have a window advertisement for Gold Flake. Above Wallis & Co (Costumiers) Ltd is Franks (Opticians) Ltd.

1. Briggate in the 1940s

The west side of Briggate in Janaury 1947 with the junction with Boar Lane on the left. In the foreground is a police telephone box and the entrance to the gentlemen's public toilets. The shops in focus are Saxone & Sorosis Shoe Co. Ltd.; Edmond's wool shop, who are having a 'coupon free stock clearance', Wallis & Co (Costumiers) Ltd, (who are having a winter sale). Then S. Tetley & Sons Ltd, tobacconist, who have a window advertisement for Gold Flake. Above Wallis & Co (Costumiers) Ltd is Franks (Opticians) Ltd. Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

The north west side of New Briggate in February 1944.. Pictured, from left, are Wm. H. Stringer and Son booksellers. The large sign above it points to Parkers Commercial Hotel at number 51A. Numbers 51B, C and D on a side street include H. Lever chemist, George Yates turf commission agent, T. Price turf commission agent and L. Alban Hairdresser. At. number 53 is S. Goldwyn optician and at number 55 is Madame Jose milliner. At number 1 Cross Belgrave Street the Wrens Hotel can be seen. Numbers 63 to 71 is Rothwells Ltd. house furnishers. There are tram lines along the road and two clocks are visible. The half timbered shops on the right were built in 1901 and demolished in 1967 for the construction of the Inner Ring Road.

2. Briggate in the 1940s

The north west side of New Briggate in February 1944.. Pictured, from left, are Wm. H. Stringer and Son booksellers. The large sign above it points to Parkers Commercial Hotel at number 51A. Numbers 51B, C and D on a side street include H. Lever chemist, George Yates turf commission agent, T. Price turf commission agent and L. Alban Hairdresser. At. number 53 is S. Goldwyn optician and at number 55 is Madame Jose milliner. At number 1 Cross Belgrave Street the Wrens Hotel can be seen. Numbers 63 to 71 is Rothwells Ltd. house furnishers. There are tram lines along the road and two clocks are visible. The half timbered shops on the right were built in 1901 and demolished in 1967 for the construction of the Inner Ring Road. Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

The south east side of New Briggate in February 1944. Number 32 houses the Assembly Rooms cinema and New Century Pictures Ltd. Number 34 is Regent Portraits (Leeds) Ltd. Numbers 36 to 38 is I. Leslie Ltd. ladies tailor. Number 40 is "Eastwoods" and number 42 is Ross (furriers) Ltd. Shaffners jewellers is partially visible at number 44. Signs outside the Assembly Rooms advertise the day's features. The side entrance to the Grand Theatre can be seen on the right.

3. Briggate in the 1940s

The south east side of New Briggate in February 1944. Number 32 houses the Assembly Rooms cinema and New Century Pictures Ltd. Number 34 is Regent Portraits (Leeds) Ltd. Numbers 36 to 38 is I. Leslie Ltd. ladies tailor. Number 40 is "Eastwoods" and number 42 is Ross (furriers) Ltd. Shaffners jewellers is partially visible at number 44. Signs outside the Assembly Rooms advertise the day's features. The side entrance to the Grand Theatre can be seen on the right. Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

The junction with Briggate and Commercial Street. Manfield and Sons Boot and Shoemakers on corner. Pictured in April 1942.

4. Briggate in the 1940s

The junction with Briggate and Commercial Street. Manfield and Sons Boot and Shoemakers on corner. Pictured in April 1942. Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

Post-war Briggate after 1948, with trams, very few cars and a pedestrian population. One of the cars helps to date the image. It is a split windscreen MM Series Morris Minor, first produced in 1948. It has the "low lights" - headlights fitted at a low level either side of the grille. By the early 1950s Morris Minors were in production with the headlights in a raised position. As we don't know how old the car is from the image we could be looking at a 1950s scene here, but it is certainly 1948 or after. Woolworth's fifth British store opened on the Headrow in 1912, but the purpose-built Briggate store opened on the site of the Albion Hotel in December 1928. The Bull and Mouth Hotel, then the Victory, was bought in 1939 for extensions, but their building was delayed until 1955 which would indicate that the photograph is dated somewhere between 1948 and 1955. Woolworth's closed in May 1987, leaving a branch in the Merrion Centre. Schofield's moved into the building in September of the same year, while its own Headrow site was redeveloped as the Schofield's Centre.

5. Briggate in the 1940s

Post-war Briggate after 1948, with trams, very few cars and a pedestrian population. One of the cars helps to date the image. It is a split windscreen MM Series Morris Minor, first produced in 1948. It has the "low lights" - headlights fitted at a low level either side of the grille. By the early 1950s Morris Minors were in production with the headlights in a raised position. As we don't know how old the car is from the image we could be looking at a 1950s scene here, but it is certainly 1948 or after. Woolworth's fifth British store opened on the Headrow in 1912, but the purpose-built Briggate store opened on the site of the Albion Hotel in December 1928. The Bull and Mouth Hotel, then the Victory, was bought in 1939 for extensions, but their building was delayed until 1955 which would indicate that the photograph is dated somewhere between 1948 and 1955. Woolworth's closed in May 1987, leaving a branch in the Merrion Centre. Schofield's moved into the building in September of the same year, while its own Headrow site was redeveloped as the Schofield's Centre. Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

The west side of Briggate, showing, from left, number 55, Bramham's Foods Ltd, pork butcher, (with the Lonsdale Restaurant above); number 56, Timpson Ltd, boot makers, (on the left is the entrance to Pack Horse Yard, where a sign for 'Ye Olde Pack Horse Inn' is visible). A pillar box is outside. Number 57 is the Lancashire & Cheshire Rubber Co. Ltd. (waterproof clothing), also The Black Boy Chocolate Co. Ltd. Number 58 is the Dolcis Shoe Co. Ltd, which has a 'John M. Dunderdale' lorry parked outside.

6. Briggate in the 1940s

The west side of Briggate, showing, from left, number 55, Bramham's Foods Ltd, pork butcher, (with the Lonsdale Restaurant above); number 56, Timpson Ltd, boot makers, (on the left is the entrance to Pack Horse Yard, where a sign for 'Ye Olde Pack Horse Inn' is visible). A pillar box is outside. Number 57 is the Lancashire & Cheshire Rubber Co. Ltd. (waterproof clothing), also The Black Boy Chocolate Co. Ltd. Number 58 is the Dolcis Shoe Co. Ltd, which has a 'John M. Dunderdale' lorry parked outside. Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

Memories Leeds The Secret Library Leeds