The Merrion Centre was a first for Leeds - the city's first shopping and leisure centre. It cost £6 million to build and was the property of Town Centre Securities Ltd. It was opened in May 1964 by Marjorie Ziff, wife of the chairman Arnold Ziff. She opened a case with a golden key, containing a cake modelled on the shopping centre. The completed first stage included a cinema, ballroom, bowling alley and shops. These photos chart the rise of the Merrion Centre, its opening and beyond to the end of the 1960s. The images are a mix from the YEP archive, West Yorkshire Archive Service and others published courtesy of photographic archive Leodis, which is run by Leeds Library & Information Service. READ MORE: Watch - Secrets of Leeds Queens Hotel revealed including hidden tunnel LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro on facebook YEP RETRO NEWSLETTER: Sign up for our free monthly email digest of Leeds nostalgia
1. Merrion Centre
Marjorie Ziff, wife of the chairman of Town Centre securities Ltd, pictured in May 1964 opening a case with a golden key, containing a cake modelled on the shopping centre. | West Yorkshire Archive Service Photo: West Yorkshire Archive Service
2. Merrion Centre
A bird's eye view of the partially completed Merrion Centre in April 1965. Merrion Way is on the right, Merrion Street on the left. Wade Lane is running left to right in front of the centre. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
3. Merrion Centre
Rowland Winn Ltd, garage, on Woodhouse Lane pictured in 1958. It was demolished in 1963 along with very large workshops to make way for the Merrion Centre. | YPN Photo: YPN
5. Merrion Centre
Inside the Mecca Ballroom at the Merrion Centre in 1964. | YPN Photo: YPN
6. Merrion Centre
Merrion Centre under construction in April 1965. Merrion Street in bottom right corner. Woodhouse Lane runs past the front, corner of Cookridge Street, Civic Hall car park, which can all be seen on the left. In the top right corner, clothing factory of J.Hepworth and Son Ltd. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net