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

This photograph of Britannia Mills on Britannia Road in August 1965 was taken after the mill was closed but prior to any demolition taking place. The mill belonged to William Baines and Sons Ltd. The earliest building was the three storey block with central hoist along the roadside which dated from 1860 and is shown as a lithograph in William Smith's 'Rambles About Morley' of 1866. The long, low weaving shed by its side dates from the late nineteenth century. Behind these two is a more modern red brick structure very like several of the same type at other Morley mills.

13. Morley in 1965

This photograph of Britannia Mills on Britannia Road in August 1965 was taken after the mill was closed but prior to any demolition taking place. The mill belonged to William Baines and Sons Ltd. The earliest building was the three storey block with central hoist along the roadside which dated from 1860 and is shown as a lithograph in William Smith's 'Rambles About Morley' of 1866. The long, low weaving shed by its side dates from the late nineteenth century. Behind these two is a more modern red brick structure very like several of the same type at other Morley mills. Photo: David Atkinson Archive

Photo Sales
Manager Henry Atkinson and head dyer Bob Goodall examining a selection of pattern books, used to send to potential customers, in the weaving office of J.& S. Rhodes Ltd in July 1965. The firm owned three mills in Morley - the Prospect, the Queens and the Valley. The Valley Mills was first to close in the 1950s. Queens Mill, where Henry Atkinson had been manager, closed about 1960. It was situated immediately behind Morley Town Hall and was affected by the disastrous fire in August 1961 at its neighbouring mill, Albert Mills, when the dome of the Town Hall was also damaged. Because of this the Queens Mill and Albert Mills were demolished by the middle of 1962. Mr. Atkinson transferred once more to Prospect Mills.

14. Morley in 1965

Manager Henry Atkinson and head dyer Bob Goodall examining a selection of pattern books, used to send to potential customers, in the weaving office of J.& S. Rhodes Ltd in July 1965. The firm owned three mills in Morley - the Prospect, the Queens and the Valley. The Valley Mills was first to close in the 1950s. Queens Mill, where Henry Atkinson had been manager, closed about 1960. It was situated immediately behind Morley Town Hall and was affected by the disastrous fire in August 1961 at its neighbouring mill, Albert Mills, when the dome of the Town Hall was also damaged. Because of this the Queens Mill and Albert Mills were demolished by the middle of 1962. Mr. Atkinson transferred once more to Prospect Mills. Photo: David Atkinson Archive

Photo Sales
St. Francis RC Primary School on Highcliffe Road pictured in August 1965. Many Morley parents who wanted specific Roman Catholic tuition for their children sent them to St. Anthony's at Beeston before the building of this school. The movement to acquire a specific Catholic primary school in Morley gained momentum in the mid 1950s and ten years later the dream had been fulfilled.

15. Morley in 1965

St. Francis RC Primary School on Highcliffe Road pictured in August 1965. Many Morley parents who wanted specific Roman Catholic tuition for their children sent them to St. Anthony's at Beeston before the building of this school. The movement to acquire a specific Catholic primary school in Morley gained momentum in the mid 1950s and ten years later the dream had been fulfilled. Photo: David Atkinson Archive

Photo Sales
Public seating in Queen Street in front of the gardens of Windsor House at the junction of Albion Street and Queen Street in July 1965. This area of open space was created when the former gas and/or electricity showroom building at the side of the Town Hall buildings was demolished in the early 1960s. The side of the Town Hall buildings has been exposed and an illuminated street plan of Morley showing 'You are here' placed at its side. The area remained clear until 1972 when the shops and banks of the Windsor Court shopping precinct came to the edge of Queen Street again.

16. Morley in 1965

Public seating in Queen Street in front of the gardens of Windsor House at the junction of Albion Street and Queen Street in July 1965. This area of open space was created when the former gas and/or electricity showroom building at the side of the Town Hall buildings was demolished in the early 1960s. The side of the Town Hall buildings has been exposed and an illuminated street plan of Morley showing 'You are here' placed at its side. The area remained clear until 1972 when the shops and banks of the Windsor Court shopping precinct came to the edge of Queen Street again. Photo: David Atkinson Archive

Photo Sales
A view looking north along Queen Street from the tower of Morley Town Hall which includes a substantial part of the town. The roof at the very bottom of the picture is that of Lloyd's Bank which is still standing. All the other roofs on this side of the road as far as the park have been cleared away and replaced by the Queen's Court complex of flats and shops. Pictured in April 1965.

17. Morley in 1965

A view looking north along Queen Street from the tower of Morley Town Hall which includes a substantial part of the town. The roof at the very bottom of the picture is that of Lloyd's Bank which is still standing. All the other roofs on this side of the road as far as the park have been cleared away and replaced by the Queen's Court complex of flats and shops. Pictured in April 1965. Photo: David Atkinson Archive

Photo Sales
A 'West Riding' double decker Leyland bus waiting at the Wakefield bus stop outside the Morley Co-op buildings in Queen Street. The old bus stop barriers had not yet been replaced by shelters. The Co-op still occupied its 1937 (red brick) and 1957 (right of the bus) building, but its 1899 building, by the red van, had already been turned into a supermarket (Grandways then Carlines) which was competing with the Co-op itself. Somewhat later, both the Co-op and the supermarkets closed and the post-war building and Emporium became a variety of individual retail outlets, while the ground floor of the 1899 building became Barclays Bank, next door to the other banks just further down Queen Street. Pictured in July 1965.

18. Morley in 1965

A 'West Riding' double decker Leyland bus waiting at the Wakefield bus stop outside the Morley Co-op buildings in Queen Street. The old bus stop barriers had not yet been replaced by shelters. The Co-op still occupied its 1937 (red brick) and 1957 (right of the bus) building, but its 1899 building, by the red van, had already been turned into a supermarket (Grandways then Carlines) which was competing with the Co-op itself. Somewhat later, both the Co-op and the supermarkets closed and the post-war building and Emporium became a variety of individual retail outlets, while the ground floor of the 1899 building became Barclays Bank, next door to the other banks just further down Queen Street. Pictured in July 1965. Photo: David Atkinson Archive

Photo Sales
Previous
3 / 3
Next Page
Related topics:MorleySouth Leeds1960s
Celebrating 135 years of telling Leeds' stories
Follow us
© 2026 Iconic Media Group Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice