The new shopping precinct which opened about 10 weeks before Christmas in 1972. It was built at the corner of Albion Street and Queen Street. The photo was taken in August 1973; the neatly laid out gardens with flowing water features did not last much longer due to vandalism.placeholder image
The new shopping precinct which opened about 10 weeks before Christmas in 1972. It was built at the corner of Albion Street and Queen Street. The photo was taken in August 1973; the neatly laid out gardens with flowing water features did not last much longer due to vandalism. | David Atkinson Archive

16 colour photos take you back to Morley in 1973

Andrew Hutchinson
By Andrew Hutchinson

Specialist Reporter

Published 23rd Mar 2024, 04:45 BST

Shopping and sport take centre stage in this nostalgic look at a year in the life of Morley in the early 1970s.

These wonderful colour photos taker you back to the town in 1973 and showcase how a new shopping centre was attracting attention from locals while a new sports complex was taking shape. The images are published courtesy of the David Atkinson Archive whose collection is housed photographic archive Leodis, which is run by Leeds Library & Information Service. READ MORE: 23 colour photos take you back to Morley in 1963 LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro on facebook YEP NEWSLETTERS: Sign up for free news and sport emails

By the time of the photo in August 1973 the end of the Town Hall buildings had been built up against (Yorkshire Bank) after only a few years of being opened out by the demolition of the old gas showrooms. At this time the Yorkshire Bank was the first building in Windsor Court. Between Albert Webster's and Sheard's chemist was the entrance to a narrow alleyway called Gisburn Court that contained old houses, now demolished.

7. Morley in 1973

By the time of the photo in August 1973 the end of the Town Hall buildings had been built up against (Yorkshire Bank) after only a few years of being opened out by the demolition of the old gas showrooms. At this time the Yorkshire Bank was the first building in Windsor Court. Between Albert Webster's and Sheard's chemist was the entrance to a narrow alleyway called Gisburn Court that contained old houses, now demolished. | David Atkinson Archive Photo: David Atkinson Archive

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A small section of Queen Street taken from the Town Hall tower with a telephoto lens. This was shortly after Morley Council had obtained grants for cleaning up some of the buildings in the main street, and both the Queen Hotel and the Exchange Buildings appear to have benefitted from these. Parking has already become a difficult problem with double yellow lines down one side.

8. Morley in 1973

A small section of Queen Street taken from the Town Hall tower with a telephoto lens. This was shortly after Morley Council had obtained grants for cleaning up some of the buildings in the main street, and both the Queen Hotel and the Exchange Buildings appear to have benefitted from these. Parking has already become a difficult problem with double yellow lines down one side. | David Atkinson Archive Photo: David Atkinson Archive

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Hopkins Gardens with Scatcherd Lane in the foreground and Queen Street on the right. A building at the bottom of the picture is in the process of being demolished. Pictured in June 1973.

9. Morley in 1973

Hopkins Gardens with Scatcherd Lane in the foreground and Queen Street on the right. A building at the bottom of the picture is in the process of being demolished. Pictured in June 1973. | David Atkinson Archive Photo: David Atkinson Archive

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The junction of Scatcherd Lane, running through the centre from the left, with queen Street, from top to bottom on the right. Beyond Scatcherd Lane are the Hopkins Garden and Children's playground in Scatcherd Park.

10. Morley in 1973

The junction of Scatcherd Lane, running through the centre from the left, with queen Street, from top to bottom on the right. Beyond Scatcherd Lane are the Hopkins Garden and Children's playground in Scatcherd Park. | David Atkinson Archive Photo: David Atkinson Archive

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A photo looking straight along Queen Street southwards from the Town Hall tower. The Co-operative Society is still functioning in the Emporium building on the left and quite a lot of the buildings have been recently sandblasted. Bus shelters rather than just bus stops have been introduced though as yet there is no pedestrian crossing. Pictured in June 1973.

11. Morley in 1973

A photo looking straight along Queen Street southwards from the Town Hall tower. The Co-operative Society is still functioning in the Emporium building on the left and quite a lot of the buildings have been recently sandblasted. Bus shelters rather than just bus stops have been introduced though as yet there is no pedestrian crossing. Pictured in June 1973. | David Atkinson Archive Photo: David Atkinson Archive

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A telephoto shot of Queen Street between the Queen's Hotel and the Post Office near the Fountain. The centre of the photograph is by the top of Peel Street. Pictured in June 1973.

12. Morley in 1973

A telephoto shot of Queen Street between the Queen's Hotel and the Post Office near the Fountain. The centre of the photograph is by the top of Peel Street. Pictured in June 1973. | David Atkinson Archive Photo: David Atkinson Archive

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