Leeds Central Bus Station on its reopening in September 1963 by the Lord Mayor, Alderman E. J. Wooler. £66,000 had been spent on its rebuilding. Buses can be seen at the stands and traffic can be seen moving on St. Peter's Street. St. Peter's Church is in the background.placeholder image
Leeds Central Bus Station on its reopening in September 1963 by the Lord Mayor, Alderman E. J. Wooler. £66,000 had been spent on its rebuilding. Buses can be seen at the stands and traffic can be seen moving on St. Peter's Street. St. Peter's Church is in the background. | West Yorkshire Archive Service

12 of the best photos take you back to Leeds city centre in 1963

Andrew Hutchinson
By Andrew Hutchinson

Specialist Reporter

Published 27th Jun 2024, 04:45 GMT

These wonderful memories chart a year in the life of Leeds city centre in the early 1960s.

1963 proved to be a 12 months to remember thanks to a performance from The Beatles, the reopening of Leeds Central Bus Station and a high wire press stunt for Billy Smart’s circus. The images are a mix from West Yorkshire Archive Service and others published courtesy of photographic archive Leodis, which is run by Leeds Library & Information Service. READ MORE: 23 of the best photos take you back to Leeds city centre in 1967 LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro on facebook YEP RETRO NEWSLETTER: Sign up for our free monthly email digest of Leeds nostalgia

The rear of a row of through terraced properties on Belle Vue Road looking from Park Lane in June 1963.

7. Leeds city centre in 1963

The rear of a row of through terraced properties on Belle Vue Road looking from Park Lane in June 1963. | West Yorkshire Archive Service Photo: West Yorkshire Archive Service

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Protesters outside the Plaza cinema on Briggate in October 1963.. They were objecting to the Italian film 'Mondo Cane'. Mondo Cane (A Dog's World, also a mild Italian curse) was a documentary movie released in 1962 by Italian filmmakers Gualtiero Jacopetti and Franco Prosperi. Posters outside the cinema advertising the film warn "This film will shock" The film went on to be a huge commercial success.

8. Leeds city centre in 1963

Protesters outside the Plaza cinema on Briggate in October 1963.. They were objecting to the Italian film 'Mondo Cane'. Mondo Cane (A Dog's World, also a mild Italian curse) was a documentary movie released in 1962 by Italian filmmakers Gualtiero Jacopetti and Franco Prosperi. Posters outside the cinema advertising the film warn "This film will shock" The film went on to be a huge commercial success. | West Yorkshire Archive Service Photo: West Yorkshire Archive Service

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September 1963 and Leeds Central Bus Station was reopened by Lord Mayor Alderman EJ Wooler after a £66,000 rebuild. Pictured are M S Murphy, inspector and Mrs Margeret Ferguson, conductress, in one of the shelters They are wearing their new dark green uniforms.

9. Leeds city centre in 1963

September 1963 and Leeds Central Bus Station was reopened by Lord Mayor Alderman EJ Wooler after a £66,000 rebuild. Pictured are M S Murphy, inspector and Mrs Margeret Ferguson, conductress, in one of the shelters They are wearing their new dark green uniforms. | West Yorkshire Archive Service Photo: West Yorkshire Archive Service

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Kirk Ings Yard off The Calls in December 1963. On the right is the side entrance to number 33 The Calls, home to W.A. Norfolk & Son, Potato Merchants.

10. Leeds city centre in 1963

Kirk Ings Yard off The Calls in December 1963. On the right is the side entrance to number 33 The Calls, home to W.A. Norfolk & Son, Potato Merchants. | West Yorkshire Archive Service Photo: West Yorkshire Archive Service

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The Calls in December 1963. On the left of the image is number 33 The Calls, home to the W.A. Norfolk & Son Potoato Merchants. Visible on the right is a flat bed lorry loaded up with sacked goods. Behind this can be seen number 45 The Calls, this is the Parochial Room of St Peter's Church, Kirkgate.

11. Leeds city centre in 1963

The Calls in December 1963. On the left of the image is number 33 The Calls, home to the W.A. Norfolk & Son Potoato Merchants. Visible on the right is a flat bed lorry loaded up with sacked goods. Behind this can be seen number 45 The Calls, this is the Parochial Room of St Peter's Church, Kirkgate. | West Yorkshire Archive Service Photo: West Yorkshire Archive Service

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Kirkgate House on Church Row in December 1963. Here are a row of four terraced houses numbers 2 - 5. At the corner with High Court is number 1 Church Row home to Davisworth & Co Sign. A sign on the left of this building shows the way to Leeds Council of Social Services and Citizens Advice Bureau located in Kirkgate House.

12. Leeds city centre in 1963

Kirkgate House on Church Row in December 1963. Here are a row of four terraced houses numbers 2 - 5. At the corner with High Court is number 1 Church Row home to Davisworth & Co Sign. A sign on the left of this building shows the way to Leeds Council of Social Services and Citizens Advice Bureau located in Kirkgate House. | West Yorkshire Archive Service Photo: West Yorkshire Archive Service

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