19 photos take you back to Leeds in 1981

By Andrew Hutchinson

Published 28th May 2023, 04:45 BST

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It was a year the earth moved for Leeds residents.

People were left bemused and bewildered after a thunderbolt struck Charles Street in the city. This was 1981, a year which also saw motorists driven to distraction by city centre parking charges while shoppers in a south Leeds town were on the hunt for bargains with the opening of an open air market. Enjoy these 19 photo memories charting a year in the life of your city. The images are a mix from from the YEP archive and others published courtesy of photographic archive Leodis, which is run by Leeds Library & Information Service. READ MORE: 22 photos take you back to Leeds in 1980 LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro on facebook

Enjoy these photo memories from around Leeds in 1981.

1. Leeds in 1981

Enjoy these photo memories from around Leeds in 1981. Photo: YPN

AEC Swift/Park Royal 1012 (1969) bus, registration no SUB 412G on route no 7, destination Hunslet. This is at the junction of Park Lane and the Inner Ring Road in March 1981. Square Building in the centre is Park Lane College, to the right is Concord House.

2. Leeds in 1981

AEC Swift/Park Royal 1012 (1969) bus, registration no SUB 412G on route no 7, destination Hunslet. This is at the junction of Park Lane and the Inner Ring Road in March 1981. Square Building in the centre is Park Lane College, to the right is Concord House. Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

A traffic warden studies one of the new parking meters in Park Square in October 1981.

3. Leeds in 1981

A traffic warden studies one of the new parking meters in Park Square in October 1981. Photo: Tim Clayton

Does the inside of this city centre boozer look familiar? The Vine pictured in July 1981.

4. Leeds in 1981

Does the inside of this city centre boozer look familiar? The Vine pictured in July 1981. Photo: YPN

The Grand Theatre staged Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in July 1981.

5. Leeds in 1981

The Grand Theatre staged Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in July 1981. Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

The first day of the new Rothwell open market which opened in May 1981 behind Blackburn Hall.

6. Leeds in 1981

The first day of the new Rothwell open market which opened in May 1981 behind Blackburn Hall. Photo: YPN