Leeds nostalgia: Colour photo gems showcase Morley in 1966

By Andrew Hutchinson

Published 4th Oct 2023, 04:45 BST

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These glorious colour photos put the focus on a year in the life of Morley and its residents in the mid-1960s.

1966 is the year in the spotlight with pubs, shops and landmarks all featured in this gallery of memories. They reveal a 12 months of change with large swathes of the town demolished to make way for developments and road widening. The images are published courtesy of the David Atkinson Archive whose collection is housed on photographic archive Leodis, which is run by Leeds Library & Information Service. READ MORE: Morley in 1962 – The year a landmark rose like a phoenix from the flames LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro on facebook

Victoria Road sub post office, seen on the left, in the last days of its existence in August 1966. The row to which the post office was attached has already been demolished and the replacement to the right is well on the way towards completion.

1. Morley in 1966

Victoria Road sub post office, seen on the left, in the last days of its existence in August 1966. The row to which the post office was attached has already been demolished and the replacement to the right is well on the way towards completion. Photo: David Atkinson Archive

Queen Street Wesleyan Chapel Sunday School Building from the Infants' School playground pictured in June 1966. The overgrown nature of the Methodist churchyard behind the railings is visible. After this building was demolished for the Tesco supermarket in 1968 all the tombstones were set back to the surrounding wall and a garden of rest created. Years later the Infants School was closed and it was converted to a day nursery in the 1980s.

2. Morley in 1966

Queen Street Wesleyan Chapel Sunday School Building from the Infants' School playground pictured in June 1966. The overgrown nature of the Methodist churchyard behind the railings is visible. After this building was demolished for the Tesco supermarket in 1968 all the tombstones were set back to the surrounding wall and a garden of rest created. Years later the Infants School was closed and it was converted to a day nursery in the 1980s. Photo: David Atkinson Archive

Scatcherd Hill looking towards Morley Bottoms in September 1966. Demolition of the buildings on the left hand side of the road is taking place in preparation for the road widening which it was expected would ease traffic congestion in this part of the town. These buildings, with their backs on Dawson Hill, were a strange mixture in architectural terms and dated from 1848. At one time there was a tombstone shop and a pawnbroker.

3. Morley in 1966

Scatcherd Hill looking towards Morley Bottoms in September 1966. Demolition of the buildings on the left hand side of the road is taking place in preparation for the road widening which it was expected would ease traffic congestion in this part of the town. These buildings, with their backs on Dawson Hill, were a strange mixture in architectural terms and dated from 1848. At one time there was a tombstone shop and a pawnbroker. Photo: David Atkinson Archive

The Gillroyd Mills and the Bantam Grove Mills were the last two to be built along the course of Owlers Beck which originated near the top of High Street. This photograph is taken on land belonging to Gillroyd Mills and in the foreground there is a flooded clay pit. Pictured in September 1966.

4. Morley in 1966

The Gillroyd Mills and the Bantam Grove Mills were the last two to be built along the course of Owlers Beck which originated near the top of High Street. This photograph is taken on land belonging to Gillroyd Mills and in the foreground there is a flooded clay pit. Pictured in September 1966. Photo: David Atkinson Archive

The Nelson Arms Hotel opposite St. Peter's Parish Church on Victoria Road in June 1966. This pub was built by 1800 and was named in honour of Nelson's victory over the French fleet at Aboukir Bay in 1798, sometimes also called the Battle of the Nile. For some years between 1800 and 1817 a local magistrate Watson Scatcherd used to dispense justice in a room at the Nelson Arms.

5. Morley in 1966

The Nelson Arms Hotel opposite St. Peter's Parish Church on Victoria Road in June 1966. This pub was built by 1800 and was named in honour of Nelson's victory over the French fleet at Aboukir Bay in 1798, sometimes also called the Battle of the Nile. For some years between 1800 and 1817 a local magistrate Watson Scatcherd used to dispense justice in a room at the Nelson Arms. Photo: David Atkinson Archive

Rose Cottage on Victoria Road pictured in October 1966. It was lived in until about the end of the First World War after which it became a store shed for Stubley (Lindley's) Farm. Although made a listed building in the 1980s this old style Morley single storey flagged cottage remained in a dilapidated condition until it was finally knocked down in 1999.

6. Morley in 1966

Rose Cottage on Victoria Road pictured in October 1966. It was lived in until about the end of the First World War after which it became a store shed for Stubley (Lindley's) Farm. Although made a listed building in the 1980s this old style Morley single storey flagged cottage remained in a dilapidated condition until it was finally knocked down in 1999. Photo: David Atkinson Archive