Leeds Then and Now

Author: Eric Musgrave Series: Then and Now

A photographic history

Using archive photos from the 1860s to the 1960 paired with a modern viewpoint, Leeds Then and Now shows how the great northern powerhouse has retained and adapted its classic Victorian buildings, such as Kirkgate Market, to a 21st-century economy.

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Summary

A photographic history

Description

The centre of Leeds is the wide thoroughfare of Briggate and it has been since at least 1207 when the path northwards from the crossing over the River Aire – literally the bridge gate – was established. As with most settlements, Leeds started out as dwellings next to the water. The first mention of Leeds was made by the scholarly monk The Venerable Bede in his Ecclesiastical History of the English People of 731 AD when he referred to the region of Loidis, but he was scant on details.

The modern Leeds is a product of the Industrial Revolution, a great Victorian northern industrial city shaped by the manufacturing boom that began in the late 18th century and employed thousands of people for almost 200 years in industries like textiles, clothing manufacturing, metalworking and engineering.

Using historic images, some dating back to the 19th century, paired with their modern-day viewpoint, Eric Musgrave charts the evolution of the city from its industrial heyday through the disruptions of two world wars, to its position as one of the most prominent of the northern powerhouses.

Sites include: City Square, Park Place, Leeds University, Leeds Town Hall, Odeon Cinema, Kirkgate Market, Briggate, Headrow, Boar Lane, Vicar Lane, Duncan Street, Quarry Hill Flats, Queens Arcade, Cross Arcade, Leeds Cathedral.

Critic Reviews

“'A fascinating photographic exploration of a thriving city'”

Yorkshire Evening Post

'Works as a testament to a grown-up city that’s comfortable in its own skin.'

John Lake

'A fascinating new book... which reveals what Leeds city centre looked like more than 100 years ago'

LeedsLive

'Whether you were born in Leeds, live or have lived in the city or have just arrived here, this is the book for you… a great coffee table book [that] will evoke memories and a few laughs.’

The Leeds Guide

About the Author

Eric has written about fashion for 25 years. An award-winning editor-in-chief of DRAPERS, the UK's top fashion business weekly, he has also held senior roles at MEN'S WEAR, INTERNATIONAL TEXTILES (Amsterdam), FASHION WEEKLY and SPORTSWEAR INTERNATIONAL (Milan). He was the launch editor of men's style mag, FOR HIM MAGAZINE (now FHM). He is now a consultant to the fashion business and writes for many publications.