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
19. Merrion Centre
A 1970s view of the Merrion Centre and Odeon Cinema seen from the car park in Woodhouse Lane. It pre-dates the building of Morrisons Supermarket which opened on November 21, 1972. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
20. Enjoyed this gallery?
Share your memories of the Merrion Centre with Andrew Hutchinson via email at: [email protected] ot tweet him - @AndyHutchYPN | YPN Photo: YPN