A bus on Roundhay Road near the Karnac Road junction in August 1959. The bus is the number 6, Roundhay Road, Briggate, Hunslet Road line heading for Briggate. An advertisement on the side of the bus reads, Double £75,000 + Surplus = Vernons, Fairer for All! On the far left is the Pearson & Benton newsagents with an awning stretched over the pavement. On the far right at number 250 is The Picture House. This 900 seat cinema opened on Monday, December 16, 1912, showing 'The Mine Owner', and closed Saturday, October 5, 1963 showing 'Last days of Pompeii'. On Friday, October 11, 1963 it went into use as a bingo hall and was eventually demolished in 1968. At the time of this photograph the cinema was showing Burt Lancaster in The Crimson Pirate (1952).placeholder image
A bus on Roundhay Road near the Karnac Road junction in August 1959. The bus is the number 6, Roundhay Road, Briggate, Hunslet Road line heading for Briggate. An advertisement on the side of the bus reads, Double £75,000 + Surplus = Vernons, Fairer for All! On the far left is the Pearson & Benton newsagents with an awning stretched over the pavement. On the far right at number 250 is The Picture House. This 900 seat cinema opened on Monday, December 16, 1912, showing 'The Mine Owner', and closed Saturday, October 5, 1963 showing 'Last days of Pompeii'. On Friday, October 11, 1963 it went into use as a bingo hall and was eventually demolished in 1968. At the time of this photograph the cinema was showing Burt Lancaster in The Crimson Pirate (1952).

Leeds in the 1950s: Photos showcase a decade in the life of Harehills

Andrew Hutchinson
By Andrew Hutchinson

Specialist Reporter

Published 14th Sep 2023, 04:45 GMT
Updated 6th Feb 2025, 14:14 GMT

These evocative photos celebrate a decade in the life of Harehills and its residents in the 1950s.

Life on well travelled streets – from Roundhay Road to Harehills Lane – in the heart of the community are brought into focus thanks to this mini gallery of photo gems. Shops, cinemas and pubs are featured during a decade of social and economic change. The images are a mix from the Tramway Museum Society and others published courtesy of photographic archive Leodis, which is run by Leeds Library & Information Service. READ MORE: 10 photos take you back to Harehills in the 1960s LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro on facebook YEP RETRO NEWSLETTER: Sign up for our free monthly email digest of Leeds nostalgia

A view looking south-east on Bayswater Avenue from Gledhow Road in September 1953. Advertisements are prominent on the gable end. They are for Merrols Butterscotch Bon-Bons, Daz Detergent (two of the same), Anglo XL Chewing gum (four a penny). A poster advertises Leeds Ideal Homes Exhibition, commencing 8th September. Other posters are for the Newton Picture Palace (which closes on the 3rd of September), and the Ilkley Show.

7. Harehills in the 1950s

A view looking south-east on Bayswater Avenue from Gledhow Road in September 1953. Advertisements are prominent on the gable end. They are for Merrols Butterscotch Bon-Bons, Daz Detergent (two of the same), Anglo XL Chewing gum (four a penny). A poster advertises Leeds Ideal Homes Exhibition, commencing 8th September. Other posters are for the Newton Picture Palace (which closes on the 3rd of September), and the Ilkley Show. Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

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Looking west across the waste ground towards Florence Street in January 1952. The bottom of this view shows the waste ground with two children playing with a tricycle. The top shows part of several buildings including a garage at the left. You can see the top of a brick terrace house and the top of the Western cinema, with the refuse destructor chimney in the distance. To the right an advertising hoarding covers the gable end of another brick building.

8. Harehills in the 1950s

Looking west across the waste ground towards Florence Street in January 1952. The bottom of this view shows the waste ground with two children playing with a tricycle. The top shows part of several buildings including a garage at the left. You can see the top of a brick terrace house and the top of the Western cinema, with the refuse destructor chimney in the distance. To the right an advertising hoarding covers the gable end of another brick building. Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

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Easterly Road from the junction with Roundhay Road in July 1950. Tram tracks run in the central reservation; this is the Harehills terminus. Two trams can be seen, in the front ex-Hull no.455 on route 4 to Kirkstall Abbey, and at the back Horsfield tram no.232.

9. Harehills in the 1950s

Easterly Road from the junction with Roundhay Road in July 1950. Tram tracks run in the central reservation; this is the Harehills terminus. Two trams can be seen, in the front ex-Hull no.455 on route 4 to Kirkstall Abbey, and at the back Horsfield tram no.232. Photo: Tramway Museum Society

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Share your memories of Harehills in the 1950s with Andrew Hutchinson via email at: andrew.hutchinson@jpress.co.uk or tweet him - @AndyHutchYPN

10. Enjoyed this gallery?

Share your memories of Harehills in the 1950s with Andrew Hutchinson via email at: [email protected] or tweet him - @AndyHutchYPN Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

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