The Fountain Inn in Queen Street in July 1965. The building to the right is the Benefactory which dates back to 1890. Since this picture was taken, the Fountain Inn has been extended and the shop on the right of this 1830s building has been incorporated into the public house and the other small doorway blocked up. This part of Queen Street became pedestrianised in the 1990s and there is now much more street furniture in front of the inn.placeholder image
The Fountain Inn in Queen Street in July 1965. The building to the right is the Benefactory which dates back to 1890. Since this picture was taken, the Fountain Inn has been extended and the shop on the right of this 1830s building has been incorporated into the public house and the other small doorway blocked up. This part of Queen Street became pedestrianised in the 1990s and there is now much more street furniture in front of the inn.

Colourful snapshots chart a year in the life of Morley in 1965

Andrew Hutchinson
By Andrew Hutchinson

Specialist Reporter

Published 17th Nov 2023, 04:45 GMT
Updated 27th Feb 2025, 11:36 GMT

These colour crackers help chart a year in the life of Morley in the mid-1960s.

They focus on 1965 and bring into view landmarks across the town as well as shops, pubs and mills which employed generations of local people back in the day. The images are published courtesy of the David Atkinson Archive whose collection is housed on photographic archive Leodis, which is run by Leeds Library & Information Service. READ MORE: Memories of lost Leeds pubs in Morley, Gildersome, Churwell and Drighlington LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro on facebook YEP RETRO NEWSLETTER: Sign up for our free monthly email digest of Leeds nostalgia

The White Horse public house in the Townend. This was an area of old settlement in Morley, part of an old road from High Street to Back Lane (Commercial Street) running in front of Frain Bros. Running at right angles to the White Horse was an old terrace of housing called Newsome Square demolished in the late 1960s while behind the pub was an even older area called The Orchard which included Wordsworth Square, Halstead Square etc. which was demolished during the 1930s.

7. Morley in 1965

The White Horse public house in the Townend. This was an area of old settlement in Morley, part of an old road from High Street to Back Lane (Commercial Street) running in front of Frain Bros. Running at right angles to the White Horse was an old terrace of housing called Newsome Square demolished in the late 1960s while behind the pub was an even older area called The Orchard which included Wordsworth Square, Halstead Square etc. which was demolished during the 1930s. Photo: David Atkinson Archive

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This building at no. 6 Oddfellow Street was used as Morley's police station between about 1872 and 1895. Pictured in August 1965.

8. Morley in 1965

This building at no. 6 Oddfellow Street was used as Morley's police station between about 1872 and 1895. Pictured in August 1965. Photo: David Atkinson Archive

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Ebenezer Primitive Methodist Chapel. This photograph shows its state in August 1965 when it had been closed for about three years and suffered much vandalism. The organ had been sold and the supermarket firm of Asda Queens decided to convert it into both offices and a shop, and so, not long after this photograph was taken, the building was renovated and the carved stone at the foot of the pediment removed.

9. Morley in 1965

Ebenezer Primitive Methodist Chapel. This photograph shows its state in August 1965 when it had been closed for about three years and suffered much vandalism. The organ had been sold and the supermarket firm of Asda Queens decided to convert it into both offices and a shop, and so, not long after this photograph was taken, the building was renovated and the carved stone at the foot of the pediment removed. Photo: David Atkinson Archive

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Thornfield pictured in August 1965. It was a large detached house in its own grounds built by the well known Morley manufacturer, William Jackson of W.& E. Jackson of Peel Mills, Morley. On his death the house was inherited by his daughter who was married to William Middlebrook, a Morley and Leeds solicitor. He was Mayor of Morley in 1897 and in 1905 and Lord Mayor of Leeds in 1911. At this time he was also the M.P. for South Leeds, being a keen supporter of the Rt. Hon. H.H. Asquith, the Morley born Liberal Prime Minister from 1908 to 1916.

10. Morley in 1965

Thornfield pictured in August 1965. It was a large detached house in its own grounds built by the well known Morley manufacturer, William Jackson of W.& E. Jackson of Peel Mills, Morley. On his death the house was inherited by his daughter who was married to William Middlebrook, a Morley and Leeds solicitor. He was Mayor of Morley in 1897 and in 1905 and Lord Mayor of Leeds in 1911. At this time he was also the M.P. for South Leeds, being a keen supporter of the Rt. Hon. H.H. Asquith, the Morley born Liberal Prime Minister from 1908 to 1916. Photo: David Atkinson Archive

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A rag and bone man with his horse and cart in Asquith Avenue in October 1965

11. Morley in 1965

A rag and bone man with his horse and cart in Asquith Avenue in October 1965 Photo: David Atkinson Archive

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The entrance to Rods Mill along Rods Mill Lane in July 1965. At this time it was in the possession of Sir Harry Hardy who never used it to produce textiles, but had various chemical concerns as offshoots from the woollen industry. The notice Danger - Poison Gas probably refers to the products used in his fumigating service; ammonia and sulphuric acid were supplied to the shoddy industry. As can be seen, the Rods Mill works were overlooked by new housing on the Glen estate.

12. Morley in 1965

The entrance to Rods Mill along Rods Mill Lane in July 1965. At this time it was in the possession of Sir Harry Hardy who never used it to produce textiles, but had various chemical concerns as offshoots from the woollen industry. The notice Danger - Poison Gas probably refers to the products used in his fumigating service; ammonia and sulphuric acid were supplied to the shoddy industry. As can be seen, the Rods Mill works were overlooked by new housing on the Glen estate. Photo: David Atkinson Archive

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