Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Leeds Live
Leeds Live
National
Kristian Johnson

Remarkable Briggate photo from 150 years ago released to encourage others to divulge memories of Leeds

These incredible photos from yesteryear show what Leeds city centre looked like long before the days of electric buses and international chain stores.

One of the two images is almost 150 years old, and they both focus on the city's main shopping streets such as Briggate and The Headrow.

The remarkable black and white pictures have been released by Leeds City Council ahead of an exhibition to show just how drastically the face of fashion has changed in Leeds.

It's hoped the snippets of the city's illustrious heritage will encourage others to pass on their old photographs.

Curators for the Fast x Slow Fashion exhibition aren't just on the lookout for old clothes though. They are also asking for people to submit memories of clothes shopping in Leeds and garments worn and purchased nowadays.

Vanessa Jones, Leeds Museums and Galleries' assistant curator of costume and textiles, said: "Fashion and retail have been cornerstones of Leeds and its economy for hundreds of years, with Yorkshire being a global leader in the textile trade and the birthplace of some of the world's most recognisable clothing brands.

"It's our hope that with the public's help, we can capture some of the more personal stories associated with Leeds's retail scene and show how shopping in our city has changed."

Fast x Slow Fashion: Shopping for clothes in Leeds, 1720 – 2020 will be at Leeds City Museum next February. To get involved and share your photos and memories, tag #LeedsThreads on social media or email vanessa.jones@leeds.gov.uk.

Visit our dedicated Leeds News page for the biggest talking points from across the city.    

LeedsLive has launched a WhatsApp group to keep you up to date with the latest news! Click here to join and follow the instructions on your phone. Your number won't be shared with anyone else in the group.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.