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Leeds Live
Leeds Live
National
Mellissa Dzinzi

The 'fascinating' discovery running underneath Leeds road dug up for repairs

Images have emerged of the remains of a tramline in Guiseley which stopped running almost 100 years ago.

Ellis Dashwood shared pictures online of the old tramlines which have been left exposed while roadworks take place on the Otley Road junction of Back Lane Guiseley.

The tramlines, which opened in June 1909, went from Guiseley to Leeds until around 1934 when they shut down.

Although the trams no longer run, the tram depot still stands in Guiseley today but is now used as Nuffield Gym - 100 yards away from where the tramlines are exposed.

There used to be trams going from Leeds to Guiseley (Ellis Dashwood)

Ellis, 43, who has lived in the area all his life said the history around the tramlines is fascinating.

He said: “I’m not a historian or anything like that, it’s just something I noticed in the roadworks and wondered if that’s the old tramlines from Leeds to Guiseley.

“If you go 100 yards up the road you’ll still see the building which is the old tram deport and it still says Leeds City Tramways on the wall of course now it’s a gym.

Former Leeds City Tramway building in Guiseley (Dave Bevis)

“I believe that Leeds is probably one of the biggest cities in the country and have one of the largest network of trams.

"If you drive on the A65 into Leeds you can still see some of the buildings, for example at Kirkstall there’s the old powerhouse which powered the tramlines and still stands today.

“I’ve lived in Guiseley all my life and when you work and live around these things you notice things and you pick things up.

Trams used to dominate the roads all over Leeds - but they were discontinued in 1959 (Geograph: Dr Neil Clifton)

“People drive past all these things and never realise what they used to be before.

“The first tram in Guiseley was in June 1909 and it was roughly the same year that Guiseley Football Club was formed.

"The football club being 20/30 yards away and that’s still standing but unfortunately, the trams arent.

“There’s lots of history around about it when you look. A lot of people seem to be fascinated by it.”

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