19 of the best photos take you back to Leeds city centre in 1948

By Andrew Hutchinson

Published 9th Dec 2023, 04:45 BST

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A vast array of city centre landmarks fall under the spotlight in this gallery charting a year in the life of Leeds in 1948.

The Headrow, Briggate, Wellington Street, East Parade, Woodhouse Lane, Albion Place and Swinegate are all featured in this wonderful collection of photos which focus on your city centre in 1948. The images provide a fascinating insight into the daily hustle and bustle of life during the year. The images are a mix from the YEP archive and others published courtesy of photographic archive Leodis, which is run by Leeds Library & Information Service. READ MORE: 40 photo gems of Leeds city centre from the 1940s LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro on facebook

The junction of Wade Lane and Merrion Street, towards Woodhouse Lane, where the Central High School can be seen. In the foreground is a car park with a John Mason removal van and several coaches in it. An advertisement for Guinness is on the far right. Pictured in March 1948.

1. Leeds city centre in 1948

The junction of Wade Lane and Merrion Street, towards Woodhouse Lane, where the Central High School can be seen. In the foreground is a car park with a John Mason removal van and several coaches in it. An advertisement for Guinness is on the far right. Pictured in March 1948. Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

A policeman stands under no entry sign on Commercial Street. The Woods & Baxter shop is in the background.

2. Leeds city centre in 1948

A policeman stands under no entry sign on Commercial Street. The Woods & Baxter shop is in the background. Photo: YPN

Post-war Briggate after 1948. One of the cars helps to date the image. It is a split windscreen MM Series Morris Minor, first produced in 1948. It has the "low lights" - headlights fitted at a low level either side of the grille. By the early 1950s Morris Minors were in production with the headlights in a raised position. As we don't know how old the car is from the image we could be looking at a 1950s scene here, but it is certainly 1948 or after. Woolworth's fifth British store opened on the Headrow in 1912, but the purpose-built Briggate store opened on the site of the Albion Hotel in December 1928. The Bull and Mouth Hotel, then the Victory, was bought in 1939 for extensions, but their building was delayed until 1955 which would indicate that the photograph is dated somewhere between 1948 and 1955. Woolworth's closed in May 1987, leaving a branch in the Merrion Centre. Schofield's moved into the building in September of the same year, while its own Headrow site was redeveloped as the Schofield's Centre.

3. Leeds city centre in 1948

Post-war Briggate after 1948. One of the cars helps to date the image. It is a split windscreen MM Series Morris Minor, first produced in 1948. It has the "low lights" - headlights fitted at a low level either side of the grille. By the early 1950s Morris Minors were in production with the headlights in a raised position. As we don't know how old the car is from the image we could be looking at a 1950s scene here, but it is certainly 1948 or after. Woolworth's fifth British store opened on the Headrow in 1912, but the purpose-built Briggate store opened on the site of the Albion Hotel in December 1928. The Bull and Mouth Hotel, then the Victory, was bought in 1939 for extensions, but their building was delayed until 1955 which would indicate that the photograph is dated somewhere between 1948 and 1955. Woolworth's closed in May 1987, leaving a branch in the Merrion Centre. Schofield's moved into the building in September of the same year, while its own Headrow site was redeveloped as the Schofield's Centre. Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

The Queen of Scots locomotive arrives at Leeds Central Station in July 1948.

4. Leeds city centre in 1948

The Queen of Scots locomotive arrives at Leeds Central Station in July 1948. Photo: YPN

Wellington Street in August 1948.

5. Leeds in 1948

Wellington Street in August 1948. Photo: YPN

Plans for the proposed light industrial estate on Westgate in July 1948. The Victorian Mills, Wellington Bridge and Coronet House are all listed.

6. Leeds city centre in 1948

Plans for the proposed light industrial estate on Westgate in July 1948. The Victorian Mills, Wellington Bridge and Coronet House are all listed. Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net