An ornate 1894 date on a building on Lower Briggate, Leeds.

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Leodian
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Joined: Thu 10 Jun, 2010 8:03 am

An ornate 1894 date on a building on Lower Briggate, Leeds.

Post by Leodian »

There is an ornate 1894 date above the building that is currently the Bowers Tap on Lower Briggate. I'm not certain but I think this building used to be where Watson Cairns was until that closed many years back. I've noticed the date for quite a while but I seem to have never photographed it so I took these photos on December 11 2018. The first shows the building's location on Lower Briggate, the second is a closer view of the date and the nice carving/moulding above it and the third is a close-up of the 1894 date. I've done various searches of Secret Leeds and somewhat surprisingly this topic did not seem to have been covered before.
1894DatedBuildingLowerBriggateLeedsDec112018(1).jpg
1894DatedBuildingLowerBriggateLeedsDec112018(1).jpg (169.71 KiB) Viewed 3335 times
1894DatedBuildingLowerBriggateLeedsDec112018(2).jpg
1894DatedBuildingLowerBriggateLeedsDec112018(2).jpg (158.74 KiB) Viewed 3335 times
1894DatedBuildingLowerBriggateLeedsDec112018(3)..jpg
1894DatedBuildingLowerBriggateLeedsDec112018(3)..jpg (148.21 KiB) Viewed 3335 times
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harrym1byt
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Joined: Sun 22 Mar, 2015 10:07 pm

Re: An ornate 1894 date on a building on Lower Briggate, Leeds.

Post by harrym1byt »

From memory, that was Watson Cairns - door in the middle and window displays either side as you walked in, with at the very back, a parts counter. Upstairs was mostly turned over to toys. Lower down Lower Briggate - there used to be a smaller establishment Halfords, who sold smaller two wheelers.

volvojack
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Joined: Tue 26 Jan, 2016 11:57 am

Re: An ornate 1894 date on a building on Lower Briggate, Leeds.

Post by volvojack »

It is difficult to remember everything from 50/60 years ago but i recall that there was a tailors shop on the corner of Duncan Street and Lower Briggate then there was a collection of shops including W/Cairns. This being a shop that sold cycles would display them both inside and out, needing a bit of frontage. Then there was the entrance up to the "Whip Pub" and also Sim Stanklers Tailors There was also a small carpet shop "Economic Carpets" All these shops were on the same side. Possibly more but i can't bring them to mind
There was also an entrance with stairs leading up to what was then the "Irish National Club " before they moved up to York Road.
Last edited by volvojack on Wed 19 Dec, 2018 4:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.

meder
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Joined: Sat 24 Nov, 2018 10:01 pm

Re: An ornate 1894 date on a building on Lower Briggate, Leeds.

Post by meder »

Yes it was the Watson and Cairns .
I spent many Satudays there looking at the bikes [could not afford to buy one] just dreampt of the impossible.

meder
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat 24 Nov, 2018 10:01 pm

Re: An ornate 1894 date on a building on Lower Briggate, Leeds.

Post by meder »

Yes it was the Watson and Cairns .
I spent many Satudays there looking at the bikes [could not afford to buy one] just dreampt of the impossible.

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