This view looks east along York Street towards the junction with Duke Street, showing a number 54 bus bound for Rodley. To the right of the image is the Lloyds Arms public house, since demolished. On the left is Munro House; the ground floor here is occupied by Walter Wragg Ltd., motor car agents and dealers.placeholder image
This view looks east along York Street towards the junction with Duke Street, showing a number 54 bus bound for Rodley. To the right of the image is the Lloyds Arms public house, since demolished. On the left is Munro House; the ground floor here is occupied by Walter Wragg Ltd., motor car agents and dealers. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

Leeds city centre memories: 11 glorious photos take you back to 1965

Andrew Hutchinson
By Andrew Hutchinson

Specialist Reporter

Published 29th Feb 2024, 04:45 GMT

These photos are sure to evoke memories for a generation of people who travelled to Leeds city centre for work, rest and play in the mid-1960s.

They turn back the clock to 1965 to showcase the beating heart of the city with a range of landmarks in focus such as the Merrion Centre and Odeon Cinema as well as familiar shopping streets including Briggate. The images are published courtesy of photographic archive Leodis, which is run by Leeds Library & Information Service. They also run heritage blog The Secret Library Leeds, which provides a behind the scenes look at the Central Library and highlights from its special collections, including rare books hidden away in the stacks. READ MORE: Fascinating photos of Leeds city centre during the 1960s LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro on facebook

The Odeon Cinema inside the newly built Merrion Centre on balcony level. The image was taken before the phase which created Morrison Supermarket and Merrion House. Notice, therefore, that the area in the right foreground is outdoors whereas the same site is nowadays undercover and forms part of a small, indoor piazza between Morrison's supermarket and Woolworth's store.

7. Leeds city centre in 1965

The Odeon Cinema inside the newly built Merrion Centre on balcony level. The image was taken before the phase which created Morrison Supermarket and Merrion House. Notice, therefore, that the area in the right foreground is outdoors whereas the same site is nowadays undercover and forms part of a small, indoor piazza between Morrison's supermarket and Woolworth's store. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

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A Daimler CVG6/Roe 112 (1964) bus on North Street with New York Road on the right, August 1965. The registration no is 112 LNW route no 8 to Cottingley. On the left the row of single storey shops were built in the garden of a house which had belonged to the Bischoff Family, then was Hartley Hill, with Leeds Public Dispensary.

8. Leeds city centre in 1965

A Daimler CVG6/Roe 112 (1964) bus on North Street with New York Road on the right, August 1965. The registration no is 112 LNW route no 8 to Cottingley. On the left the row of single storey shops were built in the garden of a house which had belonged to the Bischoff Family, then was Hartley Hill, with Leeds Public Dispensary. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

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A single deck bus, an AEC Reliance 470/Roe 10 taken in September 1965. Registration no ANW 710C, no destination is displayed, logo Leeds City Transport. This is Briggate, just behind the bus on the left is the Junction with Duncan Street.

9. Leeds city centre in 1965

A single deck bus, an AEC Reliance 470/Roe 10 taken in September 1965. Registration no ANW 710C, no destination is displayed, logo Leeds City Transport. This is Briggate, just behind the bus on the left is the Junction with Duncan Street. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

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Pop singer PJ Proby performing at Leeds Town Hall in March 1965.He was born James Marcus Smith in Houston, Texas. He came to the UK in 1963 and reached number three in the charts with 'Hold Me'.

10. Leeds city centre in 1965

Pop singer PJ Proby performing at Leeds Town Hall in March 1965.He was born James Marcus Smith in Houston, Texas. He came to the UK in 1963 and reached number three in the charts with 'Hold Me'. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

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View from the upper level of the balcony showing the Odeon cinema in the Merrion Centre when it was newly built. It opened with a showing of 'The Fall of the Roman Empire' starring Alec Guiness and Sophie Lauren on August 17, 1964. It was the first cinema to be built in Leeds since the 1930s and cost £100,000.

11. Leeds city centre in 1965

View from the upper level of the balcony showing the Odeon cinema in the Merrion Centre when it was newly built. It opened with a showing of 'The Fall of the Roman Empire' starring Alec Guiness and Sophie Lauren on August 17, 1964. It was the first cinema to be built in Leeds since the 1930s and cost £100,000. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

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