Main Street (Briggate)
On this page we travel up Briggate from the bottom near Church Lane to the top known as Town End.
Briggate, today known as Main Street, lies at the heart of the town dividing West Garforth from Church Garforth. Once mainly residential with a few small shops it has changed over time into a busy shopping street and is the centre of the modern community.
Architecturally Main Street is now very mixed with many old buildings surviving amongst less appealing 1960s brutalist concrete and more recent redevelopment. Many old details are obscured by gaudy modern shop fronts so as always it is for interested persons to try and see through to the history beyond.
Old Shops
We begin here with a collection of old shops which were all situated on Briggate over the years. I love old shop photos from the days when people took a lot of pride in their businesses and the proprietors can often been seen posing outside.
- Date
- Unknown
- Copyright
- Unknown
- Full Res
- 782 x 497px | 277.5K |
George Mosby’s Drapery Establishment [2].
- Date
- Unknown
- Copyright
- Unknown
- Full Res
- 389 x 558px | 125.2K |
Fox’s cycle shop which stood on the East side of Main Street near to Chapel Close [3].
- Date
- Unknown
- Copyright
- Unknown
- Full Res
- 786 x 484px | 235.3K |
The fish and chip shop which stood on the East side of Main Street near to Chapel Close [3].
- Date
- Unknown
- Copyright
- Unknown
- Full Res
- 791 x 543px | 281.5K |
Mallison’s shop which was also known as ‘Reliance Stores’ [3].
- Date
- Unknown
- Copyright
- Unknown
- Full Res
- 489 x 589px | 185.0K |
Burras Peake men’s wear shop. Pictured is Harold Bramley with manager Jack Haswell [3].
Burras Peake were a Leeds based menswear company with a factory on Gelderd Road and shops in various locations such as Garforth, Otley and Pontefract as well as the City centre.
- Date
- Unknown
- Copyright
- Unknown
- Full Res
- 577 x 753px | 307.0K
‘Daddy Breckon’s’ sweet shop, located in the unit that was later Fenwick’s Newsagents for many years [3].
- Date
- 1950s
- Copyright
- Unknown
- Full Res
- 770 x 464px | 231.6K |
Mr. Starkey’s cobbler’s shop in Main Street during the 1950s. This building was demolished and Mr. Starkey moved his business to the end of Barley Hill Road [3].
I can remember the shop that Mr. Starkey had on Barley Hill Road from when I was small as my Mum used to take her shoes in there to be mended. Mr. Starkey was an older man by that point and I remember he had a very slow and monotone way of speaking! He must have been in his business for an awfully long time as I don’t think that shop closed until c.1995.
Lower Briggate - General Stores and Post Office
TB Smith’s General Store on the left and the Post Office (hidden by an awning)
- Date
- c1906
- Copyright
- Phototype Co.
- Full Res
- 1335 x 831px | 626.9K |
- Postcard
- Phototype 1878
- Date
- …
- Copyright
- …
- Full Res
- … | …
The old Post Office
- Date
- c1925
- Copyright
- Hoult
- Full Res
- 2000 x 1231px | 1.5M
- Postcard
- Hoult NN01
- Date
- …
- Copyright
- …
- Full Res
- … | …
The old Council Offices which stood where T.B. Smith’s General Store once stood [3].
The cage on the roof of the building held the air raid siren from the war which I can remember being there in the 80s when I was small.
- Date
- 1990s or early 21st century
- Copyright
- Unknown
- Full Res
- 782 x 487px | 235.2K
- Date
- 5th August 2007
- Copyright
- Ian Atkinson
- Full Res
- 2000 x 1208px | 1.3M
Lower Briggate - Holly House and Alfred Smith Grocers
- Date
- c.1907
- Copyright
- Bramley
- Full Res
- 783 x 493px | 301.1K |
- Postcard
- Bramley B07
- Date
- 5th August 2007
- Copyright
- Ian Atkinson
- Full Res
- 2000 x 1353px | 1.2M
- Date
- c.1907
- Copyright
- Bramley
- Full Res
- 2000 x 1307px | 1.9M
- Postcard
- Bramley B07 Tinted
- Date
- c1905
- Copyright
- Parkinson & Roy
- Full Res
- 2000 x 1287px | 1.5M
- Postcard
- Parkinson & Roy NN03
Looking up Briggate with Holly House in the centre left of the frame along with the end of Barley Hill Road.
The pale building on the far side of Barley Hill road was Preston’s tailors shop. Later on this unit was Knowles’ greengrocers and Everett’s the butcher’s [3]. This unit is now La Bella Vita Italian restaurant.
- Date
- Unknown
- Copyright
- Lilywhite
- Full Res
- 2048 x 1257px | 923.3K
- Postcard
- Lilywhite GFH16
- Date
- …
- Copyright
- …
- Full Res
- … | …
- Date
- Unknown
- Copyright
- Richards
- Full Res
- 2000 x 1247px | 1.0M
- Postcard
- Richards 02
- Date
- …
- Copyright
- …
- Full Res
- … | …
- Date
- c1967
- Copyright
- The Francis Frith Collection
- Full Res
- 2000 x 1270px | 2.5M |
- Postcard
- Frith GFH40
- Date
- …
- Copyright
- …
- Full Res
- … | …
Opposite the end of Barley Hill Road looking down towards Lidgett Lane.
In the centre right of the frame is Alfred Smith’s grocery shop and the attached living quarters known as Holly House (‘China Town’ in the contemporary image). Holly House later became the Leeds and Holbeck Building Society.
Alfred Smith’s shop was later owned by a Mrs Holliday and then the Shaws [3].
- Date
- Unknown
- Copyright
- Parkinson & Roy
- Full Res
- 781 x 497px | 251.0K |
- Postcard
- Parkinson & Roy NN14
- Date
- 25th August 2007
- Copyright
- Ian Atkinson
- Full Res
- 2000 x 1241px | 1.1M
- Date
- c.1900–1910
- Copyright
- Unknown
- Full Res
- 1651 x 1023px | 821.3K |
Holly House with the edge of Barley Hill Road just visible in the centre right of the frame. The house in the left of the frame no longer exists and newer shops have been re-built in its place.
The little girl in the picture is Flo ‘Flo Toes’ James who in later life was a teacher at the Parochial School and also starred in local theatre [3].
Lower Briggate - Sweet Shop Parade
- Date
- Unknown
- Copyright
- Parkinson & Roy
- Full Res
- 2000 x 1264px | 1.4M |
- Postcard
- Parkinson & Roy 559
- Date
- 5th August 2007
- Copyright
- Ian Atkinson
- Full Res
- 2000 x 1247px | 1.1M
Looking towards Lidgett Lane, this image shows Holly House and the end of Barley Hill Road in the centre of the frame.
In the right of the frame is a parade of shops comprising of H. Appleyard, P. Breckon’s sweet shop and and Louis Dimler’s pork butcher’s [3].
- Date
- Unknown
- Copyright
- Unknown
- Full Res
- 2000 x 1130px | 1.2M |
- Date
- 5th August 2007
- Copyright
- Ian Atkinson
- Full Res
- 2000 x 1006px | 1.1M
Briggate Centre
The middle of Main Street with the top of Coupland Road in the right of the frame.
It is possible that this particular photograph is of a procession carrying the cross from St. Joseph’s to the newly built St. Benedict’s in Aberford Road [3].
- Date
- Possibly 1960s
- Copyright
- Unknown
- Full Res
- 782 x 476px | 285.6K
- Date
- 27th August 2007
- Copyright
- Ian Atkinson
- Full Res
- 2000 x 1228px | 1.2M
Looking towards Town End from the middle of Main Street. The houses on the right were demolished in the 1950s, but the large house beyond them, Eagle House, still stands today at the end of Chapel Lane [2].
- Date
- c1908
- Copyright
- Bramley
- Full Res
- 500 x 307px | 29.5K |
- Postcard
- Bramley B08
- Date
- …
- Copyright
- …
- Full Res
- … | …
- Date
- c.1908
- Copyright
- Bramley
- Full Res
- 2000 x 1296px | 1.6M
- Postcard
- Bramley B08 Tinted
- Date
- c.1912
- Copyright
- Laycocks
- Full Res
- 2000 x 1250px | 1.4M
- Postcard
- Laycocks 494
- Date
- Unknown
- Copyright
- Parkinson & Roy
- Full Res
- 2000 x 1257px | 1.8M |
- Postcard
- Parkinson & Roy NN09
- Date
- …
- Copyright
- …
- Full Res
- … | …
- Date
- Unknown
- Copyright
- Unknown
- Full Res
- 787 x 464px | 225.2K |
- Date
- 27th August 2007
- Copyright
- Ian Atkinson
- Full Res
- 2000 x 1295px | 1.4M
Eagle House can be seen in the right of the frame in this image of Armistice Day celebrations.
- Date
- 1918
- Copyright
- Unknown
- Full Res
- 1490 x 919px | 746.8K |
- Date
- 27th August 2007
- Copyright
- Ian Atkinson
- Full Res
- 2000 x 1252px | 1.4M
The right hand side of Main Steet with the Welfare Hall in the centre left of the frame.
The houses shown, ‘Colliery Row’ and ‘Long Curtain Row’, were replaced by a parade of shops.
It was here that Jack Charlton, the footballer once ran his men’s wear business [3].
- Date
- Unknown
- Copyright
- Unknown
- Full Res
- 783 x 498px | 271.6K |
- Date
- 27th August 2007
- Copyright
- Ian Atkinson
- Full Res
- 2000 x 1257px | 1.4M
- Date
- c1935
- Copyright
- Milton
- Full Res
- 2000 x 1267px | 1.2M
- Postcard
- Milton NN02
- Date
- …
- Copyright
- …
- Full Res
- … | …
- Date
- c1967
- Copyright
- The Francis Frith Collection
- Full Res
- 2000 x 1306px | 2.4M |
- Postcard
- Frith GFH44
- Date
- 19th April 2019
- Copyright
- Ian Atkinson
- Full Res
- 2000 x 1314px | 1.5M
- Date
- c1967
- Copyright
- The Francis Frith Collection
- Full Res
- 2000 x 1266px | 2.4M |
- Postcard
- Frith GFH46
- Date
- 19th April 2019
- Copyright
- Ian Atkinson
- Full Res
- 2000 x 1310px | 1.4M
- Date
- Unknown
- Copyright
- Richards
- Full Res
- 2428 x 1496px | 898.0K
- Postcard
- Richards 7
- Date
- …
- Copyright
- …
- Full Res
- … | …
Coupland Road and Marshall’s
Coupland Road with the Salvation Army Citdel just visible in the right of the frame [3].
- Date
- Unknown
- Copyright
- Milton
- Full Res
- 1060 x 682px | 217.3K |
- Postcard
- Milton NN05
- Date
- 5th August 2007
- Copyright
- Ian Atkinson
- Full Res
- 2000 x 1243px | 1.3M
- Date
- Unknown
- Copyright
- Laycocks
- Full Res
- 2000 x 1211px | 1.3M
- Postcard
- Laycocks 1051
- Date
- Unknown
- Copyright
- Parkinson & Roy
- Full Res
- 500 x 332px | 70.9K |
- Postcard
- Parkinson & Roy NN08
- Date
- Unknown
- Copyright
- Unknown
- Full Res
- 387 x 566px | 100.5K
Marshall’s Brickworks used to be situated where Halliday Court now stands, off Coupland Road.
Bricks from this works were used to build things all over Garforth, including Salem Chapel, Station Bridge and the Welfare Hall.
The clay that the bricks were made from came from a quarry in Barley Hill Road, known locally as ‘t’clay ’ole’, which was located on the land now covered by the car park [2].
This image shows the chimney stack for the brickworks being demolished.
Briggate Upper
A view of the top part of Main Street which in the late 19th century was known as ‘Catley Hill’ after a grocer who had a shop there [3].
- Date
- c1914
- Copyright
- Bramley
- Full Res
- 2000 x 1222px | 1.2M |
- Postcard
- Bramley B09
- Date
- 27th August 2007
- Copyright
- Ian Atkinson
- Full Res
- 2000 x 1259px | 1.2M
- Date
- Unknown
- Copyright
- Laycocks
- Full Res
- 500 x 334px | 41.7K |
- Postcard
- Laycocks 487
- Date
- …
- Copyright
- …
- Full Res
- … | …
- Date
- 1980s/1990s
- Copyright
- Unknown
- Full Res
- 790 x 533px | 274.7K
- Date
- …
- Copyright
- …
- Full Res
- … | …
The top of Main Street from the 1960s showing a procession for the Festival Queen [3].
- Date
- 1960s
- Copyright
- Unknown
- Full Res
- 790 x 499px | 265.4K
- Date
- 27th August 2007
- Copyright
- Ian Atkinson
- Full Res
- 2000 x 1268px | 1.3M
This snowy photo is looking back down Main Street and was taken by Mr. Holroyd the chemist [3].
- Date
- Unknown
- Copyright
- Unknown
- Full Res
- 783 x 498px | 274.6K |
- Date
- 27th August 2007
- Copyright
- Ian Atkinson
- Full Res
- 2000 x 1235px | 1.4M
A view down Main St. from Town End, notice the ghost sign still visible today for 'Sugar Coated Pills Made by Parkinson the Pill People'
- Date
- Unknown
- Copyright
- Unknown
- Full Res
- 500 x 285px | 36.7K |
- Date
- 30th March 2019
- Copyright
- Ian Atkinson
- Full Res
- 2000 x 1231px | 1.2M
The police house stood at the top of Main Street where Pease’s car park is now. The station moved to the current premises in Lidgett Lane in the 1970s [3].
The building with the gable in the roof was the Leeds Industrial Co-operative Society which can still be seen today within the gable itself
- Date
- Unknown
- Copyright
- Phototype Co.
- Full Res
- 2632 x 1612px | 1.0M |
- Postcard
- Phototype 1886
- Date
- 20th April 2019
- Copyright
- Ian Atkinson
- Full Res
- 2000 x 1290px | 1.1M
Primitive Methodist Chapel
The Primitive Methodist Chapel in Chapel Lane near the top of Main St. was built in 1876, as can be seen from the date engraved into the front of the building. Today it is the home of SLP College which is a musical theatre school.
- Date
- After 1876
- Copyright
- Unknown
- Full Res
- 779 x 474px | 284.8K |
- Date
- 5th August 2007
- Copyright
- Ian Atkinson
- Full Res
- 2000 x 1614px | 2.0M
- Date
- c.1910
- Copyright
- Bramley
- Full Res
- 1478 x 884px | 582.8K
- Postcard
- Bramley NN21
