Air raid shelters on City Square, which for years had represented a daily reminder of the clear and present threat of bombings raids by the Nazi German Luftwaffe were demolished. This was 1946, a year in which a city and its residents came back out from the shadows and tried to look to the future. These 18 photos celebrate the year in the life of your city. The images are published courtesy of photographic archive Leodis, which is run by Leeds Library & Information Service. They also run heritage blog The Secret Library Leeds, which provides a behind the scenes look at the Central Library and highlights from its special collections, including rare books hidden away in the stacks. READ MORE: The Leeds Blitz – Nine air raids which brought death and devastation LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro on facebook YEP RETRO NEWSLETTER: Sign up for our free monthly email digest of Leeds nostalgia
1. Leeds in 1946
The demolition of air raid shelters on City Square in August 1946. Onlookers observe the situation. Standard Buildings with Barclays Bank local head office, Standard Life Assurance and British General Insurance are visible in the background. Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
2. Leeds in 1946
The Gaumont Cinema on Cookridge Street. This photo taken to show proposed site for car parking accommodation. When it first opened as the Coliseum on Wednesday, July 15, 1885, it was run as a concert hall and variety theatre and originally seated an audience of 3,000 although the seating was later reduced to 1,700. Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
3. Leeds in 1946
The Globe Hotel on Back Rockingham Street in June 1946. Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
4. Leeds in 1946
York Place in August 1946. Business premises, include Jas. Cottam Manufacturing Agent, W. T. Henley's Telegraph Works Co. Ltd., Tetlow and Taylor Ltd., Marshall Smith and Killerby All Woollen Manufacturers and G and R Robinson and Co. Linen Manufacturers. Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
5. Leeds in 1946
Officials at the Institute of Park Administration Conference held at Leeds Town Hall, which opened on August 29, 1946. Among those pictured are the Lord Mayor, Alderman David Beevers, fourth from the left, and Thomas R Trigg, fifth from the left, director of the Parks Department, who was president of the Institute at the time. Photo: Leodis
6. Leeds in 1946
Rockingham Street at the corner with Cross Rockingham Street in August 1946. A boy with back to camera looking in the window of a shop. Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net