A sign on Briggate indicating the street has undergone significant change and was closed to through traffic.placeholder image
A sign on Briggate indicating the street has undergone significant change and was closed to through traffic. | Fred Haigh Collection

17 photos to take you back to Leeds in 1997

By Andrew Hutchinson
Published 18th Apr 2022, 04:45 GMT
Updated 19th Apr 2022, 08:22 GMT

It was a year the winds of change blew in to a city ready to embrace change.

Leeds felt like a city on the up throughout 1997. City folk had with money to spend with city centre shops enjoying a renaissance and the new concept of 'personal shopping' at Harvey Nichols proving an intriguing opportunity. Sandwiches went upmarket as Pret a Manger opened a city centre store while fitness fans received a boost with the launch of the new Esporta Health and Fitness Club in Cookridge. Enjoy these photos, a mix from the YEP archive and others published courtesy of photographic archive Leodis, which is run by Leeds Library & Information Service, charting a year in the life of your city. READ MORE: 16 photos to take you back to Leeds in 1996 LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro on facebook

Some of the colourfully dressed participants at the West Indian carnival at Potternewton Park in August 1997, talking to the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Linda Middleton.

7. Chapeltown

Some of the colourfully dressed participants at the West Indian carnival at Potternewton Park in August 1997, talking to the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Linda Middleton. | Linda Middleton Photo: Linda Middleton

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The new Pret a Manger opened on Bond Street in November 1997. Pictured is Yorkshire cricketer Darren Gough trying out sandwiches.

8. Leeds city centre

The new Pret a Manger opened on Bond Street in November 1997. Pictured is Yorkshire cricketer Darren Gough trying out sandwiches. | YPN Photo: YPN

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An aerial view of the 450 acre Thorp Arch Trading estate off Walton Road in April 1997. In 1942 a Royal Ordinance Factory opened on it. It took 18 months to build and cost £5.9 million.

9. Thorp Arch

An aerial view of the 450 acre Thorp Arch Trading estate off Walton Road in April 1997. In 1942 a Royal Ordinance Factory opened on it. It took 18 months to build and cost £5.9 million. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

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Leeds City Libraries' children's event held in Victoria Gardens outside the Central Library in July 1997.

10. Leeds city centre

Leeds City Libraries' children's event held in Victoria Gardens outside the Central Library in July 1997. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

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Inside Beeston Branch Library which is situated in the grounds of Hugh Gaitskill School on St. Anthony's Drive. The library was built in the early 1970's and underwent a major refurbishment in 1997.

11. Beeston

Inside Beeston Branch Library which is situated in the grounds of Hugh Gaitskill School on St. Anthony's Drive. The library was built in the early 1970's and underwent a major refurbishment in 1997. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

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Members of Farnley Hill Methodist Church are in costume as 18th century serving maids on the occasion of the bicentenary. The celebrations mark the date of June 5, 1797, when the original Farnley Hill Methodist Church first opened.

12. Farnley

Members of Farnley Hill Methodist Church are in costume as 18th century serving maids on the occasion of the bicentenary. The celebrations mark the date of June 5, 1797, when the original Farnley Hill Methodist Church first opened. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net

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