It was the year city centre shoppers were enjoying what a new city centre pedestrian precinct had to offer. And Vallances on the corner of Central Road and New Market Street opposite the Corn Exchange had played their part towards a better environment by cleaning the outside of the department store. The transformation from black to mellow red brick had proved a talking point as had a complete refit of the ground floor providing better display facilities for the wide range of radio, TV, hi-fi and domestic appliances for sale. This was Leeds in 1972 and the these 21 photos chart the year in the life of your city and its residents. It was a 12 months which featured saw Leeds City Fire Brigade move into its new headquarters at the city end of Kirkstall Road and the opening of the £7.65 million Leeds South East Urban motorway. City centre landmarks are featured in this collection of photos as well as memories from around the city’s suburb’s with Headingley, Bramley, Holbeck, Horsforth and Hunslet all in focus. The images are a mix from the YEP archive, West Yorkshire Archive Service and others published courtesy of photographic archive Leodis, which is run by Leeds Library & Information Service. READ MORE: Lost city centre landmarks - The Leeds Skywalk LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro on facebook YEP RETRO NEWSLETTER: Sign up for our free monthly email digest of Leeds nostalgia
13. Headingley
Yorkshire's new coach Doug Padgett demonstrates the 'left leg and bat close together' technique to young hopefuls at the Headingley nets in March 1972. | YPN Photo: YPN
14. Harehills
Members of the Harehills Park (Leeds) Ladies Bowling Club team pictured in April 1972. Seven of the 10 members of the team were also members of the Women's Circle including Lilian Dunham, president of the Yorkshire County Parks Amateur Bowling Association (Ladies Section), seen here in the foreground. | YPN Photo: YPN
15. Leeds city centre
The infectious Oompah atmosphere of the Hofbrauhaus in the Merrion Centre in April 1972. | YPN Photo: YPN
16. Cottingley
Philip Darby pictured in the adventure playground in October 1972. | YPN Photo: YPN
17. Kippax
The proposed site of an amusement arcade on High Street in November 1972. | YPN Photo: YPN
18. Hunslet
A block of four back-to-back properties on Primrose Place, numbers run from 1 to 4 left to right. On the end of the row are outside toilets. On the right edge, Burton Row is just visible. Pictured in February 1972. | West Yorkshire Archive Service Photo: West Yorkshire Archive Service