A busy and bustling City Square takes centre stage in this gallery of memories charting a year in the life of your city centre in the mid-1940s. They turn back the clock to 1946 and bring into focus a range of landmarks and news stories from the year. It was a 12 months which featured a referendum voting to open cinemas on a Sunday. Familiar landmarks and street scenes in focus include City Square, Gaumont Cinema, The Headrow and New Briggate and Pack Horse Yard. 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: 15 rarely-seen photos take you back to Leeds in the 1940s 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 city centre
City Square and Wellington Street with the Queens Hotel on the left and the Majestic cinema on the right in May 1946. The Black Prince statue is visible on the far right. The brick air raid shelters built in the square during WW2 were later demolished. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
2. Leeds city centre
Leeds City Tramways Shelter outside the Queens Hotel on a grey December day. The photograph looks towards Wellington Street and the Majestic Cinema past the News Theatre and City Station. Pictured in December 1946. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
3. Leeds city centre
The Odeon cinema at the corner of The Headrow and New Briggate. 'The House on 92nd Street' was showing and there was a campaign to vote for Sunday Cinemas. Pictured in March 1946. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
4. Leeds city centre
Gaumont Cinema on Cookridge Street. The photo was taken to show proposed site for car parking accomodation. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
5. Leeds city centre
A view down Pack Horse Yard, a narrow alley connecting Briggate and Lands Lane. Cars are parked along it. Pictured in December 1946. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
6. Leeds city centre
A queue of people in a Leeds City Tramways shelter City Square, on a grey December day. Behind is the Queens Hotel with cars parked outside. The photograph looks towards Boar Lane and the Midland Bank and Royal Exchange buildings. The posts of the overhead tram cables have blackout paint remaining from the war. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net