Blue Plaque at Tesco Supermarket Oakwood, Leeds

This Leeds civic trust blue plaque mark the life of Robert Blackburn and his company Blackburn Aircraft.

Robert Blackburn, OBE, FRAeS (March 26, 1885 – September 10, 1955) was an English aviation pioneer and the founder of Blackburn Aircraft who was born in Kirkstall, Leeds.

The Leeds civic trust blue plaque reads:

The Olympia Works

Robert Blackburn - aviation pioneer built aircraft here including over 100 BE2C army and navy biplanes and the famous Kangaroo, Swift and Sopwith Baby planes. He test flew the BE2Cs on Soldiers' Field and from there, in 1919, operated passenger flights to London and Amsterdam.

1914 - 1932

The factory shut when Blackburns moved production out to Brough, but re-opened prior to world war 2 and worked on the planes needed to fight the Nazis and closed finally in 1946.

I used to live behind the clock at Oakwood, quite close to this site but never knew the history. To think that the famous Swordfish aircraft of the Fleet air arm were built and flown from here in north Leeds. Although designed by Fairey the majority of Swordfish aircraft were built by Blackburns.

Today this site is now home to a Tesco supermarket and also Homebase.

WW1 Tommy - Leeds

This is a World War 1 Tommy as presented by Richard Hollick an interpreter of history at the Royal Armouries museum here in Leeds. Richard is holding a real WW1 era Lee-Enfield bolt action rifle with bayonet fixed.

The British soldier during WWI was referred to as Tommy, this had been so since the 19th century but it was especially so during the Great War. The Germans would shout across no mans land "Tommy", the French also called the common British soldier Tommy.

You can see another interpreter at the Royal Armouries museum, Carla Starkey as Florence Nightingale "the lady with the lamp" here.

Daily at the museum a team of interpreters bring history to life by playing various characters from the past. There are several photographs of museum staff member Andrew Balmforth here on the Leeds daily photo

Leif HagenDec 30, 2009 05:10 AM "Tommy" did a nice job with the depiction! Hope he was careful with the gun!

Briggate, Leeds

Picture of Briggate in the heart of the shopping district of Leeds, Yorkshire.

Briggate is one of the oldest streets in the city of Leeds and was founded in 1207 when the road began on the north side of the Leeds Bridge over the River Aire. The name 'Briggate' derives from 'the road to the bridge'.

Today Briggate is a pedestrianised shopping street with most of Leeds department stores on it, including Harvey Nichols. There are also banks, restaurants and cafes along Briggate, there are also some old alleyways leading to old public houses including The Packhorse.

St Oswald's Church - Castle Bolton in Yorkshire Dales

This picture shows the small church of St Oswald's in Castle Bolton in Wensleydale in the Yorkshire dales.

St Oswald's church is adjacent to the 14th century Bolton castle. The church is a small but beautiful and mostly unaltered medieval place of worship.

The above photograph shows the interior of St Oswalds church, Castle bolton.

I saw this notice on the door of the church and smiled inwardly. "Please close the door to stop the swallows flying into the church. They make a great mess".

CathyAug 3, 2009 03:19 AM It's a beautiful church and the sign is priceless.

Reply Nikki BeaumontAug 3, 2009 04:51 AM What an interesting church! And pretty shots of it inside and out. I love that you included the hand-lettered sign! And I am glad that they leave the door unlocked so that people can enjoy the beautiful interior. I am just blown away by the age of this structure and glad that it has obviously been well taken care of.

Reply LoisAug 3, 2009 06:47 AM I'll bet they do make a great mess, but what fun to watch them!

Reply marleyAug 3, 2009 10:01 AM I like the look of this church. The inside is superb without the mess!

Reply Ken MacAug 4, 2009 03:05 PM stunning, the but wide angle gives me vertigo.

Kildwick Wall Flowers

This picture shows some flowers growing out of an old stone wall in the village of Kildwick not far from the town of Skipton in Yorkshire.

I went over to Skipton to collect something and stopped in Kildwick to get a few photos for this blog. It always amazes me when I see flowers growing like these on a vertical wall. It is little things like these flowers and the daffodils on the roadside that make Kildwick such an attractive small village.

Gerald (Hyde DP) said... Saw some similar flowers growing out of a wall in St Annes last week. Wish I knew what they were called.

MAY 7, 2010 8:11 PM

Duck in Snow Leeds Towpath

Today I walked along a section of the canal towpath just south of Leeds city centre not far from the City Inn hotel. Sadly I had no bread with me, because this mallard duck seemed to think that I might have some. He seemed cheerful enough though and was quite happy to pose in the snow for me. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2010

Polar Bear Coat?

I came across this advert in an old Leeds trade directory, it was quite a while back since I first copied it but it is pre 1914-18 war.

It was the subject matter that got my attention.

The advertisement for the International Fur Store on Regent Street in London reads "The finest furs in the very latest fashions" and goes on "Surpreme good taste". Now I am not a tree hugger or squeamish but there are in the drawing a polar bear, squirrel, two foxes, a seal with pup and what looks to me to be an ocelot. Perhaps it is just as well that fashions have changed as I really cannot think of any excuse for wearing the fur of a polar bear, unless you happen to be a polar bear!

It also says "Carriage, motor and travelling rugs in great variety" and "Gentlemen's fur lined overcoats ready for immediate wear"

Vicki said... "I really cannot think of any excuse for wearing the fur of a polar bear, unless you happen to be a polar bear."

Agreed!

What an amazing glimpse into our past, but what a shocking advertisement. Imagine the outcry if it was published today.

JANUARY 19, 2011 3:30 AM sixmats said... The times, they are a changin'.

JANUARY 19, 2011 12:34 PM raskolniikov said... we were savages back then. hey wait a minute, we still are, just in different clothes and with different manners! :-)

JANUARY 19, 2011 11:00 PM

City Square at Dusk

This picture is a photo of City Square in the heart of Leeds facing towards the old Post Office building.

The daylight was very nearly gone when I took this photograph last week on my way to meet and hopefully get some photographs of structural engineer Jane at work on Centenary Bridge on the Leeds waterfront.

Thank You Google - The Search Engine

Few large industry dominant companies can perhaps be as well thought of by their millions of users and customers as Google the Internet search engine firm.

This picture is a photograph of an office PC user faced with the Google front page.

All of us and especially those under the age of around 25 take Google for granted. Google started life in the garage of Susan Wojcicki, now Vice President of Product Management at Google. Ten years ago Google had 40 employees, today there are around 20,000 and in the meantime Google is the beginning of most peoples daily web experience.

I like Google (the search engine), it is so simple to use and also I think very good at what it does. My Leeds Daily Photo is now 15 months old and my photography is looked at by people from all over the world, partly due to Google. When I was a young man this would have been very unlikely.

Today people from around the globe and especially the English speaking world can find my photography and short articles about life here in Leeds and Yorkshire just a few clicks away.

Vera Leigh - SOE Secret Agent, Leeds

My photo today shows a Rose Valois brown wool felt hat with feather and wood ornament trims, c. 1940. Parisian millinery Rose Valois founded in 1927 had as a designer Vera Leigh who when the Germans invaded France in 1940 joined the resistance.

Vera Leigh was (born Vera Glass) here in Leeds on this day the 17th March 1903, abandoned by her parents as a baby she was adopted by American Eugene Leigh who trained horses in France. After training in the fashion industry Vera worked as a designer at Rose Valois.

After helping allied servicemen escape from France, in 1942 Vera too escaped and found her way to England. Vera volunteered her services to the war effort and I guess because she spoke French like and native and had lived and worked in France she was recruited by the Special Operations Executive (SOE) for dangerous work in France.

Given the codename Simone, Vera was flown back to France on 13 May 1943 as a courier and was arrested by the Gestapo in October the same year in Paris. Secret agents like Vera Leigh were subject to the Nacht und Nebel (German for "Night and Fog") order that effectively meant that captured agents would disappear.

Along with fellow SOE agents Diana Rowden, Andrée Borrel and Sonya Olschanezky, Vera was taken to the Concentration Camp at Natzweiler on 6th July 1944. Later that same day (one month after the D Day landings in Normandy) the four women were injected with phenol and pushed into the furnace.

Vera Leigh was 41 years old at the time of her death in the only concentration camp run by the Germans in France (the French ran one at Drancy). Vera was nominated for the George Cross for her work in occupied France, but after the war the powers that be wanted to forget all about SOE so nothing came of it.

In France the SOE Memorial is a monument to the members of the Special Operations Executive F Section who lost their lives for the liberation of France. The memorial was unveiled in the town of Valençay in the Indre département of France on May 6, 1991. The memorial lists the names of the 91 men and 13 women members of the SOE who gave their lives for France's freedom.

Vera Eugenie Leigh was one of 39 women agents sent to France from F section of SOE and you do not have to be good at maths to work out the odds. On this her birthday I thought it would be nice to dedicate this little post to Vera, a brave and resourceful woman.

This photograph is courtesy of Jonathan Walford at Kickshaw Productions and the Fashion History Museum.

Anyone wishing to know more of the women of SOE, I can recommend the following:

A Life in Secrets: Vera Atkins and the Lost Agents of SOE written by Sarah Helm, I have almost finished reading this book and it is well written and full of detail.

Les femmes de l'ombre (2008) AKA Female Agents, available on DVD, I saw this at the cinema and also have the DVD. Lest we forget says it all, this film is not for the squemish and like the book I think this film is well worth watching.

Outer Ring Road in Bloom, Leeds

This picture shows another view of the daffodils on the bank of the A6120 outer ring road, Leeds.

There are many thousands of daffodils along this stretch of road, on both sides of the roadway.

Tropical World - Roundhay Park, Leeds

This is a picture of the building that houses Tropical World, home to the Meerkats of Leeds.

There are Butterflies, Meerkats, Parrots, Iguanas, Lemurs and even a variety of crocodile within this building.

Yesterday I finally caught up with the Leeds Roller Dolls who were hosts to the Birmingham Blitz Dames here in Leeds at the Sports Hall, Leeds University. I had no real idea what to expect my only experience of roller derby being a viewing of the movie Whip It. It was faster than I thought and Leeds Roller Dolls were gracious hosts. When I have sorted through the photographs I took, I shall post several here on the Leeds Daily Photo.

Not a Dalmatian...

This is a picture of Muldoon, a very pretty horse here in Yorkshire.

I was driving along a country road and saw in the distance a very spotted white horse and went around the field to get access. He is very friendly but has according to a lady who lives opposite a bad habit of nipping with his teeth.

Sadly I had no carrots or even an apple with me, though perhaps next time I go over to the village of Esholt I may well remember to take one with me. He is called Muldoon after the Peter Cook song, Spotty Muldoon.

Bridge at Granary Wharf

This picture is of the bridge over the Leeds - Liverpool Canal to Granary Wharf on the Leeds Waterfront.

The bridge is part of the original structure of the canal but a new roadway surface has been laid across it. The area that this bridge leads to has been redeveloped over the last couple of years with apartment blocks and the City Inn hotel.

This photo was taken at the end of the afternoon and it is perhaps a little over photo shopped into black and white on the left in the photo is Bridgewater Place.

I had intended to post today about the Middleton Railway here in Leeds but I was having problems with blogger last night and somehow managed to delete the post, then discovered picture I was going to use was far too small. Arrgghhh!

T. Becque said... I like the "over photo shopped" effect. It's moody and the highlights lead you through the picture and down the street.

APRIL 1, 2010 7:35 PM Rob said... I'm thinking this one is perfect with the dark tones and light, adds perfect moodyness.

APRIL 2, 2010 1:41 PM Gunn said... Superb!

APRIL 7, 2010 7:53

Sea Holly Flower

This picture is of a Sea Holly flower I bought to give to a friend and I could not resist getting a few photos before I handed over the flower to my friend.

Whilst the common name of this plant is the Sea Holly its proper name is Eryngium and that is what the florist called it when I bought it. This Sea Holly plant is a cultivated variety of the native plant found around coastlines in Europe.

My nearby florist keeps some really nice and unusual flowers and the building has a movie connection too, perhaps I will do a post about that sometime.

Steffe said... Not a very common flower in Sweden. It grows on the islands of Gotland and Öland.

APRIL 10, 2010 11:39 AM Claudia said... Beautiful picture!

APRIL 10, 2010 4:48 PM Hilda said... I've never seen it before. So pretty!

APRIL 11, 2010 4:47 AM

Free Tap Water

This is a picture of a glass being filled with free tapwater.

On April 6th here in the UK a new law came into force, anywhere selling alcohol for consumption on the premises must provide free tap water should a customer ask for it.

This measure is one of several that was introduced on that date with the intention of encouraging people not to drink alcohol to excess.

Thanks to my friend Ellen for the water and the plate, glass, fork and also for pouring from the jug...

Michelle | Business Cards said... Water can significantly prolong actually being drunk and can even sober one up as what beer does is to dehydrate you.

APRIL 16, 2010 7:50 AM Lois said... It's a great shot!

APRIL 16, 2010 3:42 PM Katie said... I didnt know this! How interesting!

APRIL 19, 2010 11:27 PM

St John the Evangelist Church in Spring, Leeds

Picture of the church of St John the Evangelist, Leeds in springtime.

This is not the first time I have featured this fine old church building that is located in Leeds city centre. Because of its location I suspect quite a few people in Leeds never notice this old church. Since St Johns was built in the early part of the 17th C there is today a much more recent shopping centre standing between the church and the Headrow.

Here you can see another view of the church of St John, Leeds taken in the last of this winters snow but from the other side.

Arthur Aaron - Statue Eastgate

The above photo shows a detail from the much larger statue in memory of this brave young man.

Arthur Aaron VC DFM was a pilot in WW2 who was awarded the VC in recognition of most conspicuous bravery.

On the great many war memorials in the villages, towns and cities of Britain quite a few have an inscription which is a quote from the bible... "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends". John 15,13.

Born in Leeds in 1922, Aaron was a pupil at Roundhay School in the city, later he went on to study architecture in the city.

In March 1941, Aaron became one of 23 cadets who formed the inaugural Flight of Leeds University Air Squadron. Aaron learnt to fly in Texas in the USA at the Number 1 British Flying Training School at Terrell where he received his pilots wings.

Arthur Aaron was captain and pilot of a Stirling bomber of 218 Sqn RAF based a Downham Market in Norfolk when on a raid on Turin on 12/13 August 1943 the aircraft was hit and several crew members were wounded and the navigator, Canadian Cornelius A. Brennan killed. Arthur Aaron was badly wounded and so was the aircraft, but he guided the bomb aimer and enabled him to fly the plane to a base in Algeria.

With a crew of 7, less the navigator Arthur Aaron saved the remaining crew and his aircraft but died of his wounds a few hours after the aicraft landed safely at an airfield in Algeria.

John Speed - A Brave Man

Picture of memorial to PS John Speed on Kirkgate in Leeds.

I never knew John Speed, he was a police officer, a sergeant here in Leeds and in 1984 he was shot and killed when he went to the aid of a colleague who had just been shot and wounded. This happened near the Leeds parish church on 31st October 1984 and today a marble memorial stands testament to the bravery of an unarmed officer who long before health and safety became an issue died in the service of the public.

The memorial was unveiled in a ceremony in 1986, the police never caught the man responsible and living in the city back then I remember it was a big story then.

Later when the investigation was going nowhere I was visited by a couple of officers who came to my home to ask me if I had done it. The police back then had decided that because it was someone with a firearm perhaps the killer had been in the forces. There was a problem with that theory, I had won a shooting competition, in a joint services competition. So yes I could have handled a gun and shot the officer but the killer shot at 3 officers, wounding one, killing one and missing the 3rd. I said sorry but dead men tell no tales, when they left they were not amused.

The killer of John Speed, David Gricewith, was only identified as the gunman after his own death, more than two years later in a police chase after an armed robbery.

My uncle was for many years a police officer and when I was a boy we lived across the road from the local police HQ so I knew quite a few policemen and women. In those days being a copper was about nicking the local ne'er-do-wells and the oath taken by officers included the words "without fear or favour, affection or ill will". Upholding the law was a lot simpler back then in the days before ACPO and political correctness gone mad.

In my book all three officers on that day in 1984 were brave men, armed with nothing but a warrant card, a wooden truncheon (that had not really changed since Victorian times) and a uniform.

Madge said... Lovely post about this memorial to the public servants, the police (can I add the firemen too) who put their lives on the line daily for the better good of all of us...

JULY 29, 2011 11:36 PM Gerald (Hyde DP) said... I remember that event - and yes I know who much things have changed - there was a glimmer that things could have been getting better but now I'm not sure.

JULY 30, 2011 9:50 PM Gunn said... Yes, there are some brave people around.... And there are things I can not understand could happen. Thanks for your concerns about what took place here in Norway on July 22.

JULY 31, 2011 10:37 PM

The Yorkshire Sausage

Yesterday was Yorkshire day and in in the town of Ilkley a small crowd of mostly Yorkshire folk gathered to sing On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at, the unofficial anthem of Yorkshire, but more of that later.

Award winning Ilkley butcher, David Lishman launched the official Yorkshire Sausage, with celebrity TV chef Rosemary Shrager doing the honours by unveiled the sausages, tasting them and saying how delicious they were.

Having lived in the Leeds area for around 25 years now and Ilkley being no distance away I have been aware of David and his passion for good local Yorkshire meat and especially but not least the sausages he produces. I have always loved well made butchers sausages, made by people who know what they are doing and care about what they are made of. I knew of David and have on occasion enjoyed quite a few sausages from this award winning butcher, but had never met him until yesterday.

Lincolnshire and Cumberland have long been famous for their sausages and now after many sausages tasted and more than 3,300 votes we now have the Yorkshire sausage. I was offered and indeed tried the Yorkshire sausage and I did enjoy the taste and I look forward to being able to have some on my plate soon.

Yorkshire sausages will be available in West Yorkshire branches of Morrisons stores. If you like butchers sausages and live in Yorkshire ask at you local butchers, if they do not have them they can get the details from David and his team at Lishmans of Ilkley.

Yorkshire Day 2011

Today the 1st of August we celebrate Yorkshire Day on this one day each year.

I was in the town of Ilkley and caught some of the events including the one in the above picture a tea party held in the winter gardens. There was tea, Yorkshire parkin and Yorkshire folk to share it with.

The lady on the right in the photo with the little Happy Yorkshire Day flag asked me if I would take their picture. I was given the little pink flag last year by the nice people at Welcome to Yorkshire and I kept it handy for today. The lady at the back was wearing a Yorkshire Tea apron, which I thought was very appropriate.

I will post some more about Yorkshire Day here in Ilkley tomorrow including the launch of the Yorkshire sausage (as someone who is partial to a tasty banger I was interested in this).

Route 66 Leeds

Picture of Route 66 sign in Leeds, Yorkshire.

I smiled when I saw this sign down on Granary Wharf on the Leeds waterfront. This is National Route 66 of the National Cycle Network which when it is finished will run from Kingston Upon Hull and Manchester with a branch to Ashton-under-Lyne. The route will run via York, Leeds, Bradford, and Rochdale.

In the back of the photo is a glimpse of the Mint Hotel, this was from launch until around a year back called the City Inn.

Fruit Shakespeare Knew

Picture of fruit on a medlar tree in a garden in Yorkshire.

The fruit in the above picture was once commonly eaten and widely known and it features in 4 plays by William Shakespeare. The plays are Measure for Measure, As You Like It, Romeo and Juliet and the perhaps less well known Timon of Athens.

The fruit is the medlar and I took the photo a few days back in a small garden at a church not far from my place. When I first saw them I was in doubt and asked for confirmation because I had not seen any in quite a few years.

The Romans and the ancient Greeks liked to eat them and Chaucer mentions them, they were a popular Victorian fruit but today they have almost vanished from the modern table. Apparently they can be made into jelly and also chutney but I cannot ever recall seeing either. Wine can also be made from the fruit of the medlar tree.

Ballet on Briggate, Leeds

Picture of dancers from Northern Ballet performing on Briggate Leeds.

On Friday Northern Ballet came to the people of Leeds by performing on a stage in Briggate in Leeds city centre.

In the above photo are dancers Ben Chapman and Isabella Gasparini performing from a piece called We Can Play. The young girl at the edge of the photo was lost in the world of ballet and that is what this event is all about. Hopefully some of the people in the audience will perhaps go and see these dancers perform at the wonderful new home here in Leeds that Northern Ballet share with Phoenix Dance Theatre.

Along with Northern Ballet there were also dancers from Phoenix Dance Theatre and the Northern Ballet Academy.

Randy said... What a great shot. A little girl with dreams of the future.

SEPTEMBER 6, 2011 3:55 AM Paul in Powell River said... Nice shot - I like your perspective!

SEPTEMBER 6, 2011 4:32 AM PerthDailyPhoto said... Beautiful shot Paul, you and I both had ballet in mind today!

SEPTEMBER 6, 2011 4:18 PM Winchester Daily Photos said... Nice to have a little bit of culture pop up unexpectedly in the middle of the city centre. I've never been to see a ballet, but I would have stopped to look at this

SEPTEMBER 6, 2011 6:12 PM Gerald (Hyde DP) said... Great shot - lovely how you've captured the onlooker

SEPTEMBER 8, 2011 9:25 AM Stephanie said... Another good one...love those expressions and how you included the young lady!

SEPTEMBER 12, 2011 9:07 PM

Packhorse Bridge Calverley, Leeds

Picture of packhorse bridge over river Aire at Calverley, Leeds.

Walking down to the Leeds - Liverpool canal across a field I came to an old pub in the village of Calverley that I never knew was there, The Railway Inn.

A short distance from the pub was an old packhorse bridge over the river Aire. The bridge is quite a bit longer than most I have seen before, built in 1775 it is now listed as a Grade II structure.

Royal Armouries Horned Helmet Leeds

Picture of the horned helmet that is the symbol of the Royal Armouries museum, Leeds.

Anyone who has visited the Royal Armouries museum here in Leeds will most likely recognize the helmet in the above picture. The horned helmet is the symbol of the museum and is a modern interpretation of Henry VIII's Horned Helmet. You can see the actual helmet which is part of the collection here in Leeds.

Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I gave King Henry VIII of England armour that included the horned helmet in 1514. Today here at the Leeds museum this helmet is the only piece of that gift to survive.

Randy said... Very cool.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2011 11:57 PM Winchester Daily Photos said... There's a Royal Armouries down this way too, have been meaning to go for a while

SEPTEMBER 25, 2011 10:18 PM Steffe said... Wow. Never sees something like that before.

SEPTEMBER 25, 2011 10:47 PM Joan Perry; Sidewalk Curator said... Neat piece of work!

SEPTEMBER 26, 2011 12:39 AM

Royal Armouries Museum - Leeds, Yorkshire

Yesterday I posted about the horned helmet that is the symbol of the Royal Armouries museum here in Leeds. Today the above picture shows a view looking towards the Royal Amouries from the Leeds city centre direction.

I would think the museum is perhaps the most popular tourist attraction in Leeds.

Paddington Bear Seen in Leeds City Centre, Yorkshire

The above picture shows Laura and Paddington Bear who I spotted whilst walking around Leeds city centre.

There are many places I have yet to explore but thanks to this blog I am like Paddington, quite intrepid these days.

Laura is a student here in Leeds and works in a shop called teddy & co in the shopping heart of Leeds.

This image above shows the front of the Teddy & Co shop in the county arcade, Leeds. Teddy and co are the local Steif club store and there you can get Paddington Bear, pandas, Teddy bears and lots of other gifts for children big and small.

Genuine Fake Monet at Leeds Art Gallery, Yorkshire

In the photograph above you can see artist John Myatt next to one of his genuine fakes, this one a Monet.

John Myatt was here to discuss some of his work and life here at the Smart Gallery, Leeds. Unlike many painters working today his life really is worth discussing. I already knew something of John before I saw him recently on the BBC chatting about his work and life.

John is perhaps best known today as an art forger placed an advert in Private Eye (UK satirical magazine) "Genuine fakes. Nineteen and twentieth century paintings from £150". What seemed like a good idea at the time led to his downfall and he was eventually arrested and jailed for one year, serving four months for conspiracy to defraud.

I would dearly love to own one of his art works they really are very good. His paintings in the "style of" Claude Monet, Marc Chagall, Vincent Van Gogh to name but a few were good enough to fool people.

After his release from prison the Scotland Yard detective who arrested him asked him to paint a picture, later becoming a friend.

Today John paints on the right side of the law and his ‘Legitimate Fakes’ command thousands of pounds and are collected in their own right.

I was pleased to meet and have a few words with John and as you can see he was kind and posed for my camera.

Lois said... What an interesting individual!

JUNE 30, 2009 2:08 PM Steffe said... Very interesting read. I think I have seen him on TV. I'd also like to own one of his fakes, great portrait of the man.

JULY 1, 2009 11:00 AM Leif Hagen said... Great foto - interesting story! I also would love to own one of his "fakes!" I was just in Birmingham for a Rotary Intl meeting. Close to Leeds?

JULY 2, 2009 12:18 PM

Zack and John Above Arncliffe in Yorkshire

In this photograph are my good friends Zack and John, in the distance is Arncliffe, a small village in Littondale, North Yorkshire.

This photo was taken a couple of summers ago, when I took the two of them walking from Malham over the moor to Arncliffe. I think it is probable that neither Zack nor John had any idea how big Yorkshire is when you are on foot. When we arrived back at the car both of them had a much better idea.

By the end of of the day I think we walked around 15 miles, not the most direct route. Not bad considering it is cross country and up hill and down dale and at least two of our party did not realise you could travel 15 miles without a car!

Arncliffe was the original setting for the fictional village of Beckindale in the ITV soap Emmerdale Farm. I used to watch it back in its early days and learnt quite a bit about Yorkshire long before I moved up here.

Emmerdale Farm was filmed in the village of Esholt from 1976 a village between Shipley and Guiseley.

Today the renamed (1989) Emmerdale is filmed on a purpose built set, located on the Harewood estate where it has been since 1998.

Abe Lincoln said... If there is anything more fascinating about your country then I don't know it. I have, for years, been thinking in terms of Robin Hood and Sherwood forest. And I envisioned a flat plain with humongous oak trees from shore to shore. Then I see your views and Tom's, of Wigger's World, and realize it has lots of hills and dales and some, like this scene, are way up there. Those poor dudes must have been chafed in the groin by the time they made it safely back to their car. And the beauty of the scene is the little tiny houses at the bottom. It surely must also mean some really great flying for those who jump off cliffs and sledding for those on a suicide mission.

JUNE 23, 2009 12:18 PM Lois said... Looks like beautiful countryside!

JUNE 23, 2009 1:49 PM Steffe said... I think I watched one or two episodes, but it was more a show that my parents watched. Walking in nature is always rewarding. Doing it with a couple of friends, even better.

JUNE 23, 2009 7:50 PM

Time on Woodhouse Lane, Leeds

Picture of church clock on the former Blenheim Baptist Church - Woodhouse Lane, Leeds.

This large clock is on the former Blenheim Baptist Church - Woodhouse Lane in Leeds.

The building is no longer a church and now houses the offices of the Leeds branch of UNISON. The church dates from around 1858, a time when the local populace would have found this large clock a useful timepiece in the days before universal watch ownership.

Lucy Corrander : Photos said... I often think that, if I were suddenly very rich and became a public benefactor, I'd re-instate and re-introduce beautiful big clocks around the country. Now people tend to tell the time from mobile phones instead of from watches, they might even be useful - we could glance up, rather than fiddle around.

Lucy

JUNE 24, 2011 7:54 AM

Mad Shopper's Tea Party at VQ - 3, Leeds

Picture of shop staff at VQ Leeds during Mad Shoppers event.

Another photo from the Mad Shoppers Tea Party at VQ Leeds recently. This picture of some of the staff at Thomas Sabo getting into the spirit of the thing, here we have Ella, Laura, Matthew and Sara.

Picture of shop staff at VQ Leeds strike a pose!

Same group as before but in a more considered pose!

PerthDailyPhoto said... Super photo Paul, Ella, Laura, Mathew and Sara look like they are having great fun!!

JUNE 3, 2011 12:11 PM Steffe said... Fun portrait. Ella looks familiar somehow.

JUNE 3, 2011 11:31 PM

Mad Shopper's Tea Party at VQ, Leeds

Having not seen the film, missed it despite being both a Johnny Depp and Tim Burton Fan I knew who this guy was meant to be right off, but I would have struggled without the Alice theme at the recent event at VQ Leeds.

I would name him, but have mislaid my notebook since yesterday, I do know he works in mens grooming at the Kiehl store at the VQ.

Update: found notebook and also Jay emailed me. I am jay and I work for the Kiehl's family, a new skincare and body range within the VQ in leeds that has been around since 1851.

Steffe said... I buy new notebooks all the time!

Cool portrait.

JUNE 2, 2011 12:08 AM Virginia said... I"m new to your blog but this fabulous portrait brought me right here from the portal. Bravo! V

JUNE 2, 2011 12:44 AM Leif Hagen said... He's got a very striking resemblance to the real star!

JUNE 2, 2011 3:02 AM Clueless in Boston said... Very striking portrait. Well done.

JUNE 2, 2011 3:26 AM PerthDailyPhoto said... He looks fantastic in his make up Paul, almost as good as Johnny but not quite as rakish!!

JUNE 2, 2011 4:00 AM Rob said... Thats the trouble with my notebooks too, they go missing. A handsome portrait.

JUNE 2, 2011 4:18 PM

Holy Trinity Church Tower, Leeds

Picture of Holy Trinity Church tower Leeds.

Here is a view of the tower of Holy Trinity Church in Leeds city centre. Not sure how I managed to miss posting a photograph or 2 of this old Leeds landmark in the nearly 900 posts that so far make up my photographic journey through the city of Leeds.

I took this photo about a year back in June of last year whilst standing in the small lane that leads to Trevelyan Square, somewhere else yet to feature on the Leeds Daily Photo. At the time I took this photo a large retail development called Trinity Leeds was in progress adjacent to the church. The developers have installed a webcam looking down on the Trinity Leeds development that also includes the church tower in the picture. The development is due to be completed in 2013.

I was playing with the image of the church tower and quite like this version, because it looks rather arty and yet you still get an idea of the structure.

PerthDailyPhoto said... I like what you've done with your image Paul,makes it look all dark and intriguing, but still keeps the colourful touches. Lovely subject! Had a look at the webcam picture seems to be a lot of work going on in that area. Have a good Sunday.

JUNE 5, 2011 12:33 AM llandudnopictures said... This really is a beautiful image. It reminds me of China, for some reason, perhaps the dark and the red and the steepled buildings.

JUNE 5, 2011 5:31 PM

Meet Archie the Airedale, Leeds

Picture of Archie an Airedale Terrier on Briggate, Leeds in Yorkshire.

Yesterday there was a meet the police day in Leeds city centre held on Briggate but my picture today is of a civilian dog, Archie.

Archie is an Airedale Terrier and he is 3 years old and of a curious and friendly nature. The Airedale Terrier is a local breed of dog from Airedale not far from Leeds here in Yorkshire. The owner of the Airedale told something I did not know and that was that before the German Shepherd became the dog of choice the Airedale was commonly used as a police dog. As Airedale Terriers go Archie is smaller than some of the larger dogs of the breed.

I choice this frame because it gives an idea of how busy Briggate was on Saturday, as seen from a dogs view.

Lois said... Nice to meet you Archie!

JUNE 13, 2011 12:30 AM RedPat said... I have had 2 Airedales and both of them were wonderful - the most friendly of dogs. I like that Archie is rather scruffy looking rather than groomed to the nines! You made my day with this pic.

JUNE 13, 2011 10:21 PM Winchester Daily Photos said... Sweet looking dog!

JUNE 14, 2011 5:59 PM

Granite Setts in Leeds, Yorkshire

Picture of granite setts being re-laid in Leeds, Yorkshire.

This afternoon whilst walking back from Leeds parish church towards Briggate I noticed some minor construction taking place. The builders were relaying a stretch of granite setts on some railway property adjacent to railway arches just across from Cross York Street at the junction with Kirkgate.

The above photo shows some setts having been laid and bedded in so the paved area will be more or less flat. To achieve this they are using some basic tools a shovel, spirit level, lump hammer, bucket and an iron bar (bit like a flat jemmy).

Setts are a bit like cobblestones but the stone is quarried and cut to either a square or rectangular shape as opposed to naturally occurring shapes.

The photo was a little awkward to get because I had to put my camera between some iron railings to get the picture. Nearly all construction in cities like Leeds is now done behind hoardings or some other barrier to protect the public.

Lucy Corrander : Photos said... It'll be a historic picture, this.

Laying of setts is a persisting skill that surprises me.

Lucy

JUNE 10, 2011 7:37 AM

Starling - Leeds City Centre, Yorkshire

Picture of starling.

I am posting this because a friend wants to use the ecard facility and send this to someone..

I have been working on a replacement on wordpress of Leeds daily photo, it is now up and running, but needs a little more work.

Gunn said... A superb shot of a beautiful model!:)

OCTOBER 22, 2010 11:10 PM

St John the Evangelist Church in Snow Leeds, Yorkshire

Picture of St John the Evangelist church in snow, Leeds.

Recently when I posted a couple of stories about John Harrison of Leeds, his statue that stands in City Square and the church that he built and endowed St John the Evangelist church, I realised that I had not really done justice to this fine old church.

So here in the above photo is St John the Evangelist church, seen from across Merrion Gardens, towards the end of a snowy afternoon this last winter.

Dianne said... This is a beautiful photo Paul - covered in snow just like a Christmas Card scene.

MARCH 16, 2011 6:05 AM DeeBee L. said... These wintery colours give a dramatic effect to the photo, very nice.

MARCH 16, 2011 7:25 AM llandudnopictures said... Wow! Brilliant photo Paul. It would make a great Christmas card.

MARCH 16, 2011 1:04 PM RedPat said... Lovely pic - snow can make a scene soooo wonderful!

MARCH 16, 2011 11:48 PM Leif Hagen said... That's a fantastic, award-winning winter photo!

MARCH 18, 2011 4:15 AM

Air Quality Monitoring Station - Leeds Centre, Yorkshire

Picture of air quality monitoring station - Leeds centre.

This green metal container located just off Woodhouse Lane between Queens Square Court and the Woodhouse Lane Car Park is an air quality monitoring station.

There are 2 of these air quality monitoring stations, part of a national network of 132 run by DEFRA, here in Leeds. This station is part of the Automatic Urban and Rural Network (AURN) and it measures oxides of nitrogen (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO) and particles (PM10).

In the background of the photograph behind the air quality monitoring station can been seen part of the Woodhouse Lane car park.

Steffe said... Interesting. Never seen such a container in my neck of the woods.

MARCH 14, 2011 10:30 AM Llandudno Daily Pictures said... I always wonder what these odd municipal bits and bobs are for. Now I know of one extra possibility!

MARCH 14, 2011 10:54 AM Winchester Daily Photos said... Fascinating post! When I lived near Heathrow Airport we had a noise monitoring 'thing' in our garden for about 6 months (nothing as big as this!). I think the conclusion of the study was - yes Heathrow is noisy.

MARCH 14, 2011 7:25 PM

Oakwood Clock Leeds, Yorkshire

Picture of Oakwood Clock Leeds.

This tall and ornate clock tower by Leeds clock-makers Wm Potts and sons was built for Kirkgate Market in Leeds, was rejected as unsuitable for the market and later erected here in the Leeds district of Oakwood in 1912.

Standing atop the clock tower is the symbol of the city of Leeds, an owl.

I took this photo on one of those cloudy days with occasional bright sunshine coming through the clouds.

Sailor said... Thats a beautiful clock tower.

MARCH 26, 2011 10:59 PM

Busking in the Leeds Sunshine, Yorkshire

Picture of busker on Briggate in Leeds city centre, Yorkshire.

This last few days the weather here in Leeds has been very sunny and warm too.

Here on Briggate I said hi to someone I have not seen for some months, Holoman who hails from the US but now is part of the Leeds music scene. Here in the city of Leeds we have I think some of the best street musicians around and in my view Holoman is up there with the very best.

Holoman has a great voice and knows how to give a good performance and on this sunny afternoon there were quite a few people stopped to catch some of his songs. Dianne said... Good to see the sun shining in Leeds! Street artists add so much atmosphere to a City.

APRIL 10, 2011 11:46 PM RedPat said... It looks like it is a wonderful day to be singing on the street!

APRIL 11, 2011 1:27 AM TheChieftess said... Looks like a fun day!!!

APRIL 11, 2011 4:25 PM

BBC Antiques Roadshow Saltaire, Yorkshire

Picture of BBC filming Antiques Roadshow Saltaire in Yorkshire.

Last Spring the BBC came to Yorkshire to film episodes of the Antiques Roadshow, firstly in Saltaire, then the next town on their schedule Beverley in E Yorkshire.

They split the Saltaire Antiques Roadshow into 2 parts, one shown on Sunday just gone and part 2 will be shown this coming Sunday evening. You can still catch the first part of the Saltaire edition of the Antiques Roadshow on BBC iplayer.

I was invited to Beverley for the filming but could not make it. Since then I have been invited by the BBC to Frankenstein’s Wedding…Live in Leeds.

The more observant might just recognise Fiona Bruce the TV presenter, looking her up on Wikipedia I have just discovered that she was named as Rear of the Year for 2010. Rightly or wrongly Fiona is in great company previous winners include Felicity Kendal, Anneka Rice and Leeds girl Nell McAndrew.

TheChieftess said... Great shot!!!

MARCH 15, 2011 12:59 AM

Holoman - Performing at the Rose Bowl, Leeds

This is a photograph taken of US singer Holoman who is now a Leeds resident performing at a black tie function held at the Rose Bowl, Leeds.

When I was invited to take a few photos I was pleased because I liked Holoman and also I had not yet been inside the new home of Leeds Business School.

The above photo shows Jake Timothy with Holoman at the end of the performance. Mr Timothy is a Neurosurgeon here in Leeds and was the organizer of the the function held for Leeds Neurosurgery clinicians.

Tamworth Piglets Loose at Temple Newsam Home Farm

One of the really nice things about the Home Farm on the Temple Newsam estate near Leeds is that he public can get up close and personal with farm livestock like these piglets. Until they grow too big for the bars that keep them in they have free run of the farm yard.

The piglets in the photo are a breed of pig called Tamworth, the farm at Temple Newsam is a rare breeds centre and the largest in Europe.

The Tamworth breed pig originated in Sir Robert Peel's Drayton Manor Estate at Tamworth, Staffordshire, after the existing herd was interbred from 1812 with pigs from Ireland known as 'Irish Grazers', that Peel had seen in Ireland in 1809. Tamworth pigs are of a ginger to red colouration, is hardy and well disposed to people.

Sadly these fine pigs are no longer popular with commercial pig farmers and as because of this they are not as common as they at once were and the population is under threat hence you can see them here at Temple Newsam not far from Leeds.

Borders Bookshop Briggate, Leeds - Closing Down

Anyone who thinks that the current economic climate is anything but chilly (Gordon Brown for example) only need look at the high streets of our towns and cities.

This photo shows the entrance on Briggate, Leeds of the Borders bookshop a few days back, the white A4 notices on the doors say that the company went into administration last Thursday. Borders the book group run 45 bookshops around the UK and although the administrators say they are trying to sell them as a going concern it does not look good for the company and especially the 1,150 employees.

Here in Leeds city centre the Borders store is holding a closing down sale as can be seen by the new signs by the entrance in the photograph above. I took this photograph on Monday and for a book lover like me this is a sad day. If and when this Borders bookshop closes for the final time there will be only one major bookshop in Leeds city centre and that is Waterstones.