... Lowtown, Pudsey

The Town Hall, Pudsey
about 1970

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Standing at the top of Lowtown in the centre of Pudsey, this was not a purpose built Town Hall like many of it's contemporaries, it was originally the Mechanics Institute. Built in 1880, this stolid 'edifice', standing squarely on the corner of Robin Lane is a monument to Pudsey's pugnacious independence. It was Pudsey's answer to state enforced education.
It was extended in 1900 and in 1908 became Pudsey Town Hall, remaining so until the Borough of Pudsey became part of Leeds in 1974.

Lowtown looking towards the Town Hall
circa 1900

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Lowtown, looking west, up towards the Town Hall. This view shows the junction of Lowtown and Manor House Street. The Co-op store, built in 1871, is on the left with the tower of the Town Hall looming up behind it.
In the distance is Druggist's Corner, where the traffic lights are today. It was so named after Joseph Walker's chemist's shop which stood on the corner.

Lowtown looking down
early 1920's

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Lowtown, looking east, down towards the city of Leeds some seven miles away.
The frontage of the well-known grocers shop, James C. Booth, appears on the left, at the corner of Booth's Yard.

Trinity Methodist Chapel
through the years

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This collage shows the Old Clock Chapel on the left and centre and the larger Trinity chapel that stands on the same site today.
The Old Clock Chapel, Lowtown, was erected in 1816 for the Methodists. The first preaching house, which had opened in 1773 opposite the Manor Hall, some two hundred yards away, had soon become too small. The Methodists supported two Sunday schools, the Lower established in Lowtown in 1807 and the Upper established in 1826.
The Trinity Methodist Chapel, Lowtown, built on the site of the Clock Chapel, was opened on 1 May 1899. It ceased to be used as a church in 1982 and was converted into an arts centre and shopping mall, while keeping the exterior intact, much of the interior has now become offices for the local Citizens Advice Bureau and a Night Club.

Trinity Chapel interior
about 1900

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Here is the fine interior of Trinity Methodist Church in 1904, just four years after it was opened. The Church is dominated by the massive organ and ornate pulpit.
Are the Sabboth School choir "sitting up" for the Sunday School Anniversary, or for Whitsuntide?.

Booths Yard, Pudsey
about 1990

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Booth's Yard, Lowtown. This group of buildings is mainly of late seventeenth-century date, and was formerly called Hammerton Fold. They were in a very run-down state until bought by Mr Prideaux for restoration in about 1981. The remains of medieval workshops and buildings were uncovered by a group of volunteers led by, a Civic Society member, Mr Andrew McDermid.
The photograph shows the restored buildings, now occupied by a variety of small businesses and shops.

Ellis's Garage
about 1970

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An earlier garage on the site, Albert's Garage, replaced Thompson Craven's cobblers hut.
Today it is Craven's Fish and Chip Restaurant - a strange coincidence!.

Lowtown Railway Station
1964

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This rather sad looking photograph shows a diesel multiple unit about to leave Lowtown station, the day before the station was closed in 1964.

The bottom of Lowtown
1960's

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Most of the property is now demolished. The cottages in the background "Town End Terrace" came down in the 1960's in the name of slum clearance. Until Pudsey's Parliamentary Enclosure nearly two hundred years ago this was all common land, part of Crimbles Green.
The Victoria Hotel can just be seen in the distance.

The Britannia Hotel
around 1900

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The Britannia Hotel is at the very bottom of Lowtown Hill, on the border with Bramley. Although technically just outside Pudsey, it has for many years been the haunt of "Lowtowners".