My mum used to work in the tea rooms in Central station. when she got the job she had to go to London for two weeks to be trained into how to make the tea in the way the railways wanted it made. She met my dad there, he worked as a shunter at Copley Hill further up the line and he would get lifts on goods trains into work and back.
Very interesting Stephen, that’s sounds just like life used to be in those days and how many couples met in those days, particularly at work. Stan Barstow’s book and film “A kind of loving” illustrates this well. Nowadays it’s meeting a complete stranger on line who you’ve never seen !!
I worked there from ‘61 until ‘65 and had many many cups of bovril there in that time in the company of Copley Hill shed master and rail Inspectors so was likely served by your mum Stephen more thanks once.
It's disgusting the amount of high glass monstrosities that are continuing to go up in Leeds. Classic old buildings are sacrificed for glass buildings a five year old could design.
In the summer of 1975, the company I was working for (Sir Robert McAlpine) rented the land where the old goods yards once stood, a gang of Joiners were based there for a couple of months to make the shutters up for the floor levels at the new Bond Street Centre, we were at the far end, right next to the Y.E.P. building, I remembered noticing that they hadn't knocked the wall down that seperated the yard from the Y.E.P. and it still stands today. I was apprentice Joiner, and I was obsessed with watching the temperature rising on the clock display on the Y.E.P. tower every day, those were the days when we had proper weather, summers that caused droughts every year, it was like someone switched the sun on in May, and didn't turn it off again until back end of August, my time in that yard is a memory that has stayed with me for 45 years, happy days that are so far away from the nightmares of today.
Thanks for sharing your story Steve. That's really interesting. I used to catch the bus past that clock, either going to school or the Olympic Pool. It always seemed so futuristic.
Your videos are such a joy! I live in the Netherlands now but I'm from Leeds originally, so its so lovely hearing a familiar voice and seeing how the city has changed. You're a wonderful presenter and editor keep up the great work.
I work around this area. It's good to know the history. I know there is still a tower near the green space where I work . But always wanted to know the exact location of the station? Now I know, thank you.
If the planners had known about increased demand for rail services in future decades, the Leeds Central Station could have formed part of Leeds City Station.
@@rikkilamb The distance would not be an issue in recent decades due to additional capacity and the additional space could be used for retail and bus station interchange.
I remember Central Station as a child in the 1960s. We'd catch the train to Bradford from it. I also remember the old Leeds City Station from the early 1960s when steam trains were still running. I remember hiding behind a bench to get away from the noisy dirty loco!
I used to catch the tram deom Compton Lane to go train spotting at Central. Fell in love with anything GNR, LNER and BR engines. Peppercorn's A1's looked magnificent simmering away at the buffer stops as one entered. Even 'Meld & Crepello' looked magnificent as the Deltics worked their way in. Sneaking round Copley Hill, 56C I think, gives me goose bumps even to this day. Magnificent A4,2 & 1's from ground level and their gigantic driving wheels. A moment in time lost forever...........
I have vague memories of Central Station - I think we used it when visiting friends in Keighley. But Leeds City was the main station we used, with grandparents taking me and my brother on seaside trips. I remember walking up the wonderful art deco concourse, with barriers to the right. Trains were mostly steam, but I remember dad taking me to the station to see a new fangled diesel train.
Great video and very interesting. Although what Leeds needs now is, more train stations and railways, so just going round in circles. Also that car that went through red lights shouldn't be on the road.
in 1964 at the age of 15 I went to the Royal Navy recruitment centre, which was opposite Central Station. I then joined up in 1965 aged 15 and a half. nowadays at that age one is classed as a child.
Thank you, very interesting indeed. I remember Central Station very well, probably better than City station. In the early sixties I was articled to a firm of Chartered Auctioneers/Surveyors and we had to work every Saturday morning. My parents lived in North Yorkshire so when we finished work at 12 noon on Saturday, I used to have to run from Albion Street to Central Station to get the 12.08 train to Skipton to meet my Dad who used to come to pick me up. Happy memories and times, all sadly gone now.
I remember my Brother and I being really excited if we were going anywhere by train. There was a big lettering machine on the platform and for 1d you could print your name out on a piece of tin. Dad always provided the penny and helped us turn the big dial to each letter. It was always the highlight of our visit. My Brother for some odd reason liked to ride in the parcel shelf in the carriage. Many happy memories of the station.
It is worth mentioing that the soap works was taken over by Elida Gibbs and it was common to smell mint when walking past as they made toothpaste there.
There also used to be a strong perfume smell (very pleasant indeed) in the late afternoon at the bottom of Cookridge Street opposite Permanent House. There was a row of small shops there just above the Cenotaph flag pole and the bus stop for Lawnswood, West Park, Cookridge and Tinshill buses. I think one of these may have been the source? I really loved Leeds in the 60s, 70,s and 80s but having now lived in Derbyshire for 30 years, I probably wouldn’t know it! I lived there from 1947 until 1993.
@@dryflyman7121 those small shops are still there but have gone a little more upmarket now. The first to go was the sweet shop once the schools were moved out of the city centre The source was actually Elida Gibbs. The prevailing wind conditions in that area are what causes it. A long time ago when Benjamin Gott first moved to Leeds he bought a house in Park Square. He was looked down upon as he was an industrialist and the other residents were professional people. He was ostracised when he attended what is now Leeds Minster. So he decided to move out of the city centre but wanted his revenge. So he built a house in what is now Gott's Park and paid for the building of St Bartholomew's Church. He built the church to be larger than Leeds Minster and placed it in a position so it could be clearly seen from the city centre. Then he built what was then the largest woollen mill in the world on the site that became the old Yorkshire Post buildings. But before he built the mill he researched the prevailing wind conditions. He did this so that the smoke and soot from the mill would be deposited on a regular basis on Park Square.
@@dryflyman7121 I had a geography teacher at High School (who came from Wigan) who felt to be able to understand geography you had to understand your local geography first. So he ignored the syllabus and have us first focus on what we could see around us and relate to, including the history that went with it. I remember the first piece of homework he ever gave us was to draw a map (with street names) of our journey from home to school. As we all lived in the suburbs and the school was opposite the Merrion centre that was quite a task as we were all 11.
I love your channel, but I really do wish you were a bit quicker on the image changing moments. It seems like painful eternity watching the new pic change to the old.
Dont do that just fine i like the change over im into every detail thanks just 2years old when the central finished but remember the change overs thanks for this great stuff.
What happened to the truck lifting tower that was left after the Central Station was pulled down? It was in the Airesiide Centre when that was there. I thought it was a listed building?
I remember Central Station between 1958 and 1961. It was tatty, dirty and badly maintained in those days, and a great contrast with City Station which was well cared for. Central seemed doomed for the chop well before it actually happened.
My mum used to work in the tea rooms in Central station. when she got the job she had to go to London for two weeks to be trained into how to make the tea in the way the railways wanted it made. She met my dad there, he worked as a shunter at Copley Hill further up the line and he would get lifts on goods trains into work and back.
Very interesting Stephen, that’s sounds just like life used to be in those days and how many couples met in those days, particularly at work. Stan Barstow’s book and film “A kind of loving” illustrates this well.
Nowadays it’s meeting a complete stranger on line who you’ve never seen !!
I worked there from ‘61 until ‘65 and had many many cups of bovril there in that time in the company of Copley Hill shed master and rail Inspectors so was likely served by your mum Stephen more thanks once.
@@kennethstill5945 Mum left the tea room in 1955.
It's disgusting the amount of high glass monstrosities that are continuing to go up in Leeds. Classic old buildings are sacrificed for glass buildings a five year old could design.
In the summer of 1975, the company I was working for (Sir Robert McAlpine) rented the land where the old goods yards once stood, a gang of Joiners were based there for a couple of months to make the shutters up for the floor levels at the new Bond Street Centre, we were at the far end, right next to the Y.E.P. building, I remembered noticing that they hadn't knocked the wall down that seperated the yard from the Y.E.P. and it still stands today. I was apprentice Joiner, and I was obsessed with watching the temperature rising on the clock display on the Y.E.P. tower every day, those were the days when we had proper weather, summers that caused droughts every year, it was like someone switched the sun on in May, and didn't turn it off again until back end of August, my time in that yard is a memory that has stayed with me for 45 years, happy days that are so far away from the nightmares of today.
Thanks for sharing your story Steve. That's really interesting. I used to catch the bus past that clock, either going to school or the Olympic Pool. It always seemed so futuristic.
I've worked around this area for many years now. It has been fascinating to watch this history.
Thank you.
Thanks Trevor. You are welcome
I always enjoy your films, thanks for this one. Also remaining from Leeds Central is the Wagon Lift building amidst the shiny new glass and steel!
Thanks Nigel
Your videos are such a joy! I live in the Netherlands now but I'm from Leeds originally, so its so lovely hearing a familiar voice and seeing how the city has changed. You're a wonderful presenter and editor keep up the great work.
What a lovely comment. Thank you so much!
I work around this area. It's good to know the history. I know there is still a tower near the green space where I work . But always wanted to know the exact location of the station? Now I know, thank you.
Thanks Robz
What a treat these videos are! Thank you for all the hard work you put in to make them so enjoyable and informative.
Thank you
If the planners had known about increased demand for rail services in future decades, the Leeds Central Station could have formed part of Leeds City Station.
I doubt it, it was too far away
@@rikkilamb The distance would not be an issue in recent decades due to additional capacity and the additional space could be used for retail and bus station interchange.
great vid, pity you didn't get the old carriage lift in
Fabulous video. Leeds born and raised since 1971. Brings back a few early memories of landmarks, keep up the good work
Thanks Johnny
I remember Central Station as a child in the 1960s. We'd catch the train to Bradford from it. I also remember the old Leeds City Station from the early 1960s when steam trains were still running. I remember hiding behind a bench to get away from the noisy dirty loco!
Fascinating thanks for posting!
Thank you Phil
I used to catch the tram deom Compton Lane to go train spotting at Central. Fell in love with anything GNR, LNER and BR engines. Peppercorn's A1's looked magnificent simmering away at the buffer stops as one entered. Even 'Meld & Crepello' looked magnificent as the Deltics worked their way in. Sneaking round Copley Hill, 56C I think, gives me goose bumps even to this day. Magnificent A4,2 & 1's from ground level and their gigantic driving wheels. A moment in time lost forever...........
Thanks for sharing Michael. Trains were diesel when I started watching them. I loved the Deltics.
Very interesting Film. I worked at Royal Mail House from 1989 to 98.
Thanks Jonathan
I have vague memories of Central Station - I think we used it when visiting friends in Keighley.
But Leeds City was the main station we used, with grandparents taking me and my brother on seaside trips. I remember walking up the wonderful art deco concourse, with barriers to the right. Trains were mostly steam, but I remember dad taking me to the station to see a new fangled diesel train.
Great video and very interesting. Although what Leeds needs now is, more train stations and railways, so just going round in circles. Also that car that went through red lights shouldn't be on the road.
Thanks Caleb. You are right - public transport is one aspect of Leeds that needs more improvements!
in 1964 at the age of 15 I went to the Royal Navy recruitment centre, which was opposite Central Station. I then joined up in 1965 aged 15 and a half. nowadays at that age one is classed as a child.
Yes brilliant insight into the former Station Site.. I own an apartment in Westpoint which is right on the footprint of the Passenger Station
Thank you. And what an interesting place to live.
I have always liked this area of the city, and whilst it has certainly changed, it still has character. A very enjoyable video.
Thanks Paul
This is a great insight. God forbid that area become the High Line. It is nice to see multistory buildings in place there.
Thank you, very interesting indeed. I remember Central Station very well, probably better than City station. In the early sixties I was articled to a firm of Chartered Auctioneers/Surveyors and we had to work every Saturday morning. My parents lived in North Yorkshire so when we finished work at 12 noon on Saturday, I used to have to run from Albion Street to Central Station to get the 12.08 train to Skipton to meet my Dad who used to come to pick me up. Happy memories and times, all sadly gone now.
Thank you for sharing your memories.
I remember my Brother and I being really excited if we were going anywhere by train. There was a big lettering machine on the platform and for 1d you could print your name out on a piece of tin. Dad always provided the penny and helped us turn the big dial to each letter. It was always the highlight of our visit. My Brother for some odd reason liked to ride in the parcel shelf in the carriage. Many happy memories of the station.
Thanks for sharing your story Diane
It is worth mentioing that the soap works was taken over by Elida Gibbs and it was common to smell mint when walking past as they made toothpaste there.
There also used to be a strong perfume smell (very pleasant indeed) in the late afternoon at the bottom of Cookridge Street opposite Permanent House. There was a row of small shops there just above the Cenotaph flag pole and the bus stop for Lawnswood, West Park, Cookridge and Tinshill buses. I think one of these may have been the source?
I really loved Leeds in the 60s, 70,s and 80s but having now lived in Derbyshire for 30 years, I probably wouldn’t know it! I lived there from 1947 until 1993.
@@dryflyman7121 those small shops are still there but have gone a little more upmarket now. The first to go was the sweet shop once the schools were moved out of the city centre The source was actually Elida Gibbs. The prevailing wind conditions in that area are what causes it.
A long time ago when Benjamin Gott first moved to Leeds he bought a house in Park Square. He was looked down upon as he was an industrialist and the other residents were professional people. He was ostracised when he attended what is now Leeds Minster. So he decided to move out of the city centre but wanted his revenge. So he built a house in what is now Gott's Park and paid for the building of St Bartholomew's Church. He built the church to be larger than Leeds Minster and placed it in a position so it could be clearly seen from the city centre. Then he built what was then the largest woollen mill in the world on the site that became the old Yorkshire Post buildings. But before he built the mill he researched the prevailing wind conditions. He did this so that the smoke and soot from the mill would be deposited on a regular basis on Park Square.
@@stephenhodgson3506 great story Stephen 🤣, thank you. What is really spooky is my first wife’s maiden name was Gott !! 😱
@@dryflyman7121 I had a geography teacher at High School (who came from Wigan) who felt to be able to understand geography you had to understand your local geography first. So he ignored the syllabus and have us first focus on what we could see around us and relate to, including the history that went with it. I remember the first piece of homework he ever gave us was to draw a map (with street names) of our journey from home to school. As we all lived in the suburbs and the school was opposite the Merrion centre that was quite a task as we were all 11.
Superb video, great channel, subbed! 👍🏻
Thank you Philip
I love your channel, but I really do wish you were a bit quicker on the image changing moments. It seems like painful eternity watching the new pic change to the old.
Thanks for your feedback Ian, I will look at that on future videos.
Dont do that just fine i like the change over im into every detail thanks just 2years old when the central finished but remember the change overs thanks for this great stuff.
@@mr.pastry8077 Thank you
What happened to the truck lifting tower that was left after the Central Station was pulled down? It was in the Airesiide Centre when that was there. I thought it was a listed building?
@@josiecoote8975It is still there
I remember Central Station between 1958 and 1961. It was tatty, dirty and badly maintained in those days, and a great contrast with City Station which was well cared for. Central seemed doomed for the chop well before it actually happened.
I think you are probably right Martin.