Leeds nostalgia: Horse power of history

HORSE POWER was a way of life for city dwellers before the advent of the motorcar; and even for some time after that, they were a common sight on the streets of Leeds.

Today’s pictures show some of the last working horses to be seen on the streets of Leeds. Yes, the Tetley drew horses did continue to run right up until the 1990s.

Still, it’s interesting to see they were still in use commercially in the 1950s and possibly slightly after that.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The first picture (top dates from the spring of 1958 and was taken by John Edenbrow. It shows Dobbin and his cart down the side of the Grand Theatre in Leeds, where some theatrical stage fittings were being delivered.

For the record The Grand Theatre was built in 1877-78 and designed by George Corson.

The second picture shows Ringtons Tea being delivered in and around Leeds by horse and trap. It evokes images of Victorian splendour and gentility.

This particular equine hitched up to a Rington’s trap was taken by a Yorkshire Evening Post photographer and it first appeared in the paper on August 13, 1949.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Lady Pit Lane was the site of the Ringtons factory and their delivery base. Every morning all the horses and traps would be lined-up ready to make their deliveries around the Leeds area.

Gradually the horses were replaced by battery powered vans. Ringtons still offers doorstep deliveries. The company was founded by Leeds-born Samuel Smith OBE. He moved from his home town to Newcastle Upon Tyne to begin selling tea. Samuel Smith passed away aged 77 in 1949 and his sons took over.

By 1954 all but one of Ringtons deliveries were made by motor vehicles.