Timber yard in Armley Road

weenie · Post by **weenie** » Fri 16 Mar, 2012 10:50 pm

Many thanks to you all for this info, i have passed it on to my friend. you guys really do make this site, all your wealth of knowledge!, keep up the good workWeenie

ArmleyLass47 · Post by **ArmleyLass47** » Mon 19 Mar, 2012 1:57 pm

I also remember the wood up at the side of Wilbys. I went to Castleton school from 1954 to 1958 and had to walk down Armley Road from Pickering Street. In the mists of time, or yonks ago lol, I am sure that was the only wood I remember in a timber yard but cannot remember what the name was on the gate. Sorry if this message is late but I have had trouble with my PC so couldnt get on earlier. regards Armley Lass

Arry Awk · Post by **Arry Awk** » Mon 19 Mar, 2012 5:20 pm

Hiya Stutterdog and all posters on the subject of Wilby's!The photo of Armley Road from Chrism sure brought backthe memories of 1944/45 when I took my first job, aged 14!with Marston Radiators as apprentice Maintenance electrician. You will deduce that there was still a war on,and Wilby's hadbeen commandeered as a satellite(?) workshop for Marston'salong with various small workshops further down Armley Rdover the bridge near the Albion, in Brunel St. (Old terraced houses converted).The tradesmen at Wilby's (Joiners/Carpenters etc used tofashion all sorts of jigs, benches and items used in aircraftproduction in Marston's factory.(Anybody still awake?) I do remember great stacks of timber in the yard alongsideWilby's,so this is obviously what Weenie'sfriend 'darn sarf' was remembering. The Howarth Partnershipis obviously Howarth Timber that was based at Bramley TownEnd,Now Greggs!Now tha's wokken me up, Stutterdog, Has anyone challengedmy claim of being the OLDEST poster on Secret Leeds? someof the newbies seem to be able to remember a lot that I do!Cheers, 'Arry

stutterdog · Post by **stutterdog** » Mon 19 Mar, 2012 6:16 pm

'Arry 'Awk wrote: Hiya Stutterdog and all posters on the subject of Wilby's!The photo of Armley Road from Chrism sure brought backthe memories of 1944/45 when I took my first job, aged 14!with Marston Radiators as apprentice Maintenance electrician. You will deduce that there was still a war on,and Wilby's hadbeen commandeered as a satellite(?) workshop for Marston'salong with various small workshops further down Armley Rdover the bridge near the Albion, in Brunel St. (Old terraced houses converted).The tradesmen at Wilby's (Joiners/Carpenters etc used tofashion all sorts of jigs, benches and items used in aircraftproduction in Marston's factory.(Anybody still awake?) I do remember great stacks of timber in the yard alongsideWilby's,so this is obviously what Weenie'sfriend 'darn sarf' was remembering. The Howarth Partnershipis obviously Howarth Timber that was based at Bramley TownEnd,Now Greggs!Now tha's wokken me up, Stutterdog, Has anyone challengedmy claim of being the OLDEST poster on Secret Leeds? someof the newbies seem to be able to remember a lot that I do!Cheers, 'Arry @arry! We've woke you up! Thanks for coming on,and great to see the interesting information you have imparted. I too worked at Marston Excelsior or Radiators from 1957 t01963 but even though there were lots of old hand sthere that worked through the war years I never heard it mentioned that the Wilby's workforce and their workshops were used for making jigs for aircraft production there..You learn something everyday on this site! What about Hardwicks though,nr the Albion? does that not stand out as a candidate for Weenies wood yard? I think you could possibly be the oldest contributer to SL.You are certainly one of the most venerated!

ArmleyLass47 · Post by **ArmleyLass47** » Mon 19 Mar, 2012 7:25 pm

Its not how old ya are its how much do ya remember lad.Having a brain that remembers from being 2 years 9months when my sister was barn and i had to get out of my lovely warm cot in November and move over to a single bed I remember alot. laugh.There has always got to be an old un and good luck to ya lad. SITHA

Arry Awk · Post by **Arry Awk** » Tue 20 Mar, 2012 5:32 pm

Hiya Stutterdog. I think we did a rundown of our (different) times at Marstons (ICI). We rememberedIrvin Todhunter among others and discussed the blitzed housesand the 'Hollow' in the Gloucesters. Must be a couple of years backon here at least! Can't remember the thread title, though!I think I also recalled that being on maintenance,we had toinstall lighting and electrical gear in those old houses/ turned workshops for Marstons. We also repaired a lot of stuff anddid highly technical stuff like changing lightbulbs lol!I vaguley remember Hardwicks as a junkyard in those days(40's) Was it on Arkwright or Brunel st?Armley Lass 47! Thanks for your kind comments! I,tooremember CYCLING (from Burley Rd./ viaduct Rd) up Pickering St to get to work at Marstons in '44/45! Also remember a grand Fish-'oil'just up the road opposite Marston's ! Happy days! (I think!)cheers 'Arry

Post by **chameleon** » Tue 20 Mar, 2012 6:01 pm

Hi Arry - mastered the new laptopamabob then! Good to see you back

stutterdog · Post by **stutterdog** » Tue 20 Mar, 2012 6:19 pm

'Arry 'Awk wrote: Hiya Stutterdog. I think we did a rundown of our (different) times at Marstons (ICI). We rememberedIrvin Todhunter among others and discussed the blitzed housesand the 'Hollow' in the Gloucesters. Must be a couple of years backon here at least! Can't remember the thread title, though!I think I also recalled that being on maintenance,we had toinstall lighting and electrical gear in those old houses/ turned workshops for Marstons. We also repaired a lot of stuff anddid highly technical stuff like changing lightbulbs lol!I vaguley remember Hardwicks as a junkyard in those days(40's) Was it on Arkwright or Brunel st?Armley Lass 47! Thanks for your kind comments! I,tooremember CYCLING (from Burley Rd./ viaduct Rd) up Pickering St to get to work at Marstons in '44/45! Also remember a grand Fish-'oil'just up the road opposite Marston's ! Happy days! (I think!)cheers 'Arry Hello 'arryI drove past Marston's (Denso) today on my way to Leeds and noticed it has been completely closed down and it's now up for sale. End of an era there then! I presume they've moved production to their site at Baildon.I too have some very happy memories of my time at Marstons.

Chrism · Post by **Chrism** » Wed 21 Mar, 2012 11:54 am

Me mam worked at Marstons in the mid 60's - mid 70 (?). I think she was the receptionist there, I remember going in after school (Castleton) to get a couple of pennies for some spice on the way home.

ArmleyLass47 · Post by **ArmleyLass47** » Thu 22 Mar, 2012 5:14 pm

Already commented but two more comments if I may.Marston Radiators was where my lovely Uncle Jim Midgleyworked. Think it was from the late 50's to the 70's. I have photos of him with his 25 years Clock theybought him and also when he retired after 35 years theycollected for him. Unfortunately, he died in 1988 buthe was a great Uncle and always had a word for everyoneand his laugh still rings in my ears.Secondly, someone has mentioned the bombed housesin the Winchesters I remember seeing them when I wasat Castleton School. I always remember the story wasthat a young girl about 8 had died there when it was bombedbut she didnt come from Leeds.Since that time I now do my ancestry and have found hundredsof them living in and around Leeds. I seem to be more Yorkshirethan Yorkshire. I then found out that the poor girl who diedin the Winchesters had come from the bombing in Hull toget away from it to relatives and of course the bomb wasmeant for the arminition factory whose name has gone fromme not living in Leeds for years. Seemingly, she was alsoa distant cousin of mine from my research so it was interestingas well as distressing to find that little nugget out. I wonderedwhy I was always thinking about her when I went to Castleton.