Leeds Daily Photo - Leeds Photography in Yorkshire

Jessops Photo Closes

2013-01-11T23:46:00.001Z

Picture of Jessops Photo store Leeds.

Today across the country the long established photo retailer Jessops closed its doors and ceased trading.

A company founded back in 1935 by Frank Jessops the company expanded in the 1980's to 50 stores. In 1996 the founders son Alan sold up to a management buyout, it was later sold to a private equity group.

Latterly the company floated on the stock exchange and eventually there were more than 250 stores. More recently the stores numbers fell to the point that as of today all 187 Jessops stores were closed this afternoon by the administrators. With the store closure all 1,370 Jessops store employees have today been made redundant.

I personally think this that this is a very sad day for these employees who have today lost their jobs. But more than that it is also a sad day for photography here in the UK.

Jessops was I know a hands on store, the staff being at least the ones I met keen photographers. A camera was not a electrical item in a box, not to be opened until it was delivered to your door. Perhaps Amazon may have been cheaper, but try getting some personal hands on advice on their website.

This closure marks the end of any specialised photographic chain of any size here in the UK. Prior to this another chain Jacobs photo went to the wall last summer. I know that some people that were employed by Jacobs until 7 months ago were no doubt relieved to find work at Jessops. These employees and lets not forget photographers will have had a cruel blow today.

Old Pub in Richmond Hill

2013-01-11T08:06:00.005Z

Picture of former pub in Richmond Hill, Leeds. This pub the Fisherman's Hut public house looks to have been closed for some years. It was a dank and damp day when I passed it a few days back. I may be wrong but I think there has only been one day with no rain since the new year started. It has already rained a little first thing this morning. This was one of the reasons I posted some nice summer picture over the last few days. This pub is a short walk down from the Grade I listed church of St Saviour. There is another Anglican church St Hilda nearby which I will post about on another date. I attended a musical event at St Hilda last year and I took some photos of the stained glass windows therein. On the tiles above the corner of the pub building is the date 1929, so I guess that was when it was built. The only thing I know about this rather dilapidated former pub is that it was a Tetley's public house. This old pub is on the corner of Ellerby Lane and Cross Green Lane. It lies just across from the big newish Echo Central flats. I have only visited this area a few times and have not quite worked out where Richmond Hill starts and Cross Green finishes. one thing of note shortly after walking away from the pub I noticed a red kite flying high perhaps 50 yards ahead. I watched it for a few minuted till it flew off into the distance. I have seen these beautiful birds elsewhere around Leeds before but never this close to the city centre.

Wildflower Meadow Wensleydale

2013-01-10T09:56:00.001Z

Picture of Wildflower Meadow in Wensleydale, N Yorkshire.

Continuing my short season of posts with a Summer theme here is a picture from Wensleydale in N Yorkshire.

I had been driving around after visiting Bolton Castle, a 14th-century castle in Wensleydale two Summers ago when I passed a small meadow brimming with wildflowers.

City Square in Summer

2013-01-08T23:59:00.002Z

Picture of Old Post Office in City Square, Leeds.

I have always liked this old building and look back fondly to the days when it was the city Post Office.

Today the building has been converted into a restaurant on the ground floor and apartments upstairs. I well recall entering the spacious lobby of the post office and waiting in a generally short queue to be served.

Today there are two other post offices in Leeds city centre and I really try to avoid visiting them for anything. The management have taken a really great British company and with the help of the government over the last few years turned it into something very different.

Leeds Wildflowers

2013-01-07T22:33:00.002Z

Picture of wildflowers in Holbeck, Leeds.

Here is another Sunny Leeds picture from over the past year or so that was taken in the Summer.

This is a picture of some derelict or waste ground in Holbeck just an easy walk from the Leeds train station. This area would have been a hive of activity when Leeds was a city of industry and we made things.

Sunny Scarecrow

2013-01-06T23:59:00.002Z

Picture of scarecrow on allotment in Leeds.

Following my short theme of sunny pictures here is another photo that I took last summer.

This is perhaps the least scary scarecrow that I have ever seen. I saw this scarcrow on some allotments in Calverley, Leeds. Whilst the scarecrow may not be scary it certainly fits in with sunny.

Leeds Flower Bed

2013-01-05T22:14:00.001Z

Picture of a Leeds flowerbed.

I have decided to ignore the dull and overcast weather of the last few days here in Leeds. I will continue for a few more days with pictures of Leeds in the sunshine.

To this end the above photograph I took in the village of Calverley, Leeds in the park last summer. I had walked into Calverley park to watch the cricket being played. Whilst in the park I walked close by this rather nice old fashioned flower bed..

Pencils

2013-01-04T23:31:00.002Z

Picture of Pencils in Art Gallery.

Words...

Leeds in Summer

2013-01-03T23:54:00.004Z

Picture of Leeds in Summer.

Ok enough of the rain, at least on this blog for the next 24 hours it will by dry and sunny.

Here is a picture of Leeds city centre basking on a beautiful early summers day. This is a small public park in the business district of the city. All around this square are located the offices of solicitors and chambers of barristers.

Moles in Yorkshire Countryside

2013-01-02T18:25:00.003Z

Picture of moles on a fence in Yorkshire.

Here we have a photograph taken by me some years ago. Before I would have considered myself a photographer.

A couple of good friends and I had walked up above Malham and walking down a lane some miles away I saw these moles hung on the farmers fence. I had not seen moles hung like this since the days of my far away youth. Since that day the nearest here is the nearest I have got to seeing or taking a photograph of a mole.

Personally I would much refer these furry little animals to go about there daily life undisturbed.

Garforth Church Banner

2013-01-01T23:40:00.001Z

Picture of Mothers Union banner at Garforth church.

Last year I visited many churches around the city of Leeds and indeed further afield. Some of these churches I visited because it was the week of Treasures Revealed in Leeds.

Many other churches I visited because I have an interest in old church buildings generally but especially those dating from the Edwardian period and earlier.

I hope to visit many more churches over the coming year 2013. Here is a picture from last year of the Mothers Union banner inside the church at Garforth near Leeds. The church is St Mary the Virgin an Anglican church in the town of Garforth.

I have posted pictures of other Mothers Union banners of a Leeds church, that being in Headingley.

End of Year 2012

2012-12-31T23:23:00.001Z

Picture of Gotts Park Leeds in rain.

First off I would like to wish the visitors to the Leeds Daily Photo both regular and occasional a Very Happy New Year. To those visitors from the UK I would add an extra wish for better weather in the coming year.

I had thought that the weather yesterday was wet but if anything today it was worse, driving rain and blustery enough to make my ears ache from the cold. I ought to add that this was out at Gotts Park here in Leeds this morning where I took the above final photograph of 2012. Apart from myself the only people in the public park were the inevitable dog walkers.

My only real resolution for the new year is to do more portrait and studio photography. There will be news of a new photography studio for hire here in Leeds city centre. I have been invited to try it out so the least I can do is do a post on it sometime shortly.

Summer Garden Otley

2012-12-30T23:33:00.002Z

Picture of a cottage garden Otley.

Today I drove through the town of Otley, just passing through and the weather was grim. Just as a contrast a photo that I took in Otley back in September. This small garden in the town centre is just so beautiful with a riot of flowers. It was perhaps not the best day back then and I have tweaked the photograph in PS.

Today it rained heavily, again and was also blustery too. There was quite a lot of water on the roads and also around some of the fields. Heres a picture that I took above Otley of sheep in the snow two years ago.

200th Anniversary of Bronte Wedding

2012-12-29T23:59:00.000Z

Picture of Bronte Marriage Church.

Today is the 200th anniversary of the marriage of the Reverend Patrick Bronte and Maria Branwell who was to become his wife.

The wedding took place here in Guiseley Parish Church on 29th December 1812. In the above photo taken by me this morning is the rail at which they took the wedding vows and above the rail a wooden plaque celebrating the marriage here. Also between the rain and the wooden plaque there is a copy of the marriage certificate of Patrick Brontë and Maria Branwell.

On marriage to Patrick, Maria was aged 29 and the couple would go on to have 6 children before she died of cancer aged 38 on the 15 September 1821. Their marriage lasted fewer than ten years but within that time the legacy of the four younger children (the eldest two Maria and Elizabeth died before the age of 12) was set in place. Today those four, the three sisters Charlotte, Emily and Anne and their brother Branwell live on in the classic works of literature set right here in Yorkshire.

To celebrate this anniversary the bells of the church here at Guiseley were rung this morning with a 2 and 3/4 hour full peal.

Today as a special holiday treat, here we have a first. Audio on the blog. Above is an audio player that should play a small piece of the sound of bells at Guiseley Parish Church ringing this morning. I stood outside in the churchyard in the rain with my Blackberry, so thats why the quality is a bit off what it sounded like earlier today. Today bell ringing, tomorrow... I have toyed with the idea of a little video but first perhaps a panorama.

Whitkirk Manor Almost

2012-12-28T23:13:00.001Z

Picture of sign at the Manor House Whitkirk, Leeds.

Here is a sign on the gate post at the Manor House Whitkirk.

The light was rather harsh and only covered half the picture of the house, so I passed on this one. I did take some other shots, any picture is better than none at all.

I feel sure I took some photos some time back on a Spring or Summer day. I will look when I get some time, my earlier photos were catalogued with a less than systematic effort. To be fair, when I started this blog it really did not occur to me that there might any kind of demand for my back catalogue.

Perhaps like me you recall the church cat that I met on a previous trip to Whitkirk..

Whitkirk Church

2012-12-27T23:08:00.000Z

Picture of Whitkirk Church Leeds. A short distance from the estate of Temple Newsam is the church of St. Mary at Whitkirk. The first mention of Whitkirk is over 1,000 ago and its meaning was the Old English for White Church. The church is very ancient and the oldest in Leeds the land being given to the Knights Templar in the 12th C along with manor and the church. The church has a memorial to the engineer John Smeaton perhaps known best for his building of the Eddystone lighthouse.

Boxing Day Walk

2012-12-26T23:50:00.003Z

Picture of parkland at Temple Newsam estate Leeds.

Most people being off work today, this being Boxing Day here in the UK. Many follow the tradition of going out with family and friends for a walk in the countryside. Here in and around Leeds one popular place to walk is across the parkland on the estate of Temple Newsam.

The house or perhaps more properly mansion at Temple Newsam is interesting in its own right. Henry, Lord Darnley husband of Mary Queen of Scots was born here in Temple Newsam house.

The estate here is a good place to go for a long walk across open countryside at Temple Newsam.

Temple Newsam these days is owned by Leeds city council and is one of the parks here in the city of Leeds.

Merry Christmas From Leeds

2012-12-25T22:51:00.002Z

Picture of Leeds Christmas tree.

So here we are, my blog is heading into the 5th year of the Leeds in Yorkshire Daily Photo. I was struggling to think of a suitable post for tonight, Christmas. Them it came to me... Unusually I will post a picture from an earlier post.

This photo of the Christmas tree in the heart of Leeds at City Square with the statue of the Black Prince and the illuminated Queens Hotel at the back.

I Wish a Very Merry Christmas to all my readers across the City Daily Photo and indeed elsewhere..

Christmas Tree - Corn Exchange

2012-12-24T22:49:00.001Z

Picture of Christmas Tree in Leeds.

This tall Christmas Tree is in the main hall of the Corn Exchange, Leeds.

I posted my very first picture here on my Leeds in Yorkshire Daily Photo on this day the 24th December 2008.

Father Christmas

2012-12-23T23:26:00.002Z

Picture of Father Christmas at the Royal Armouries museum Leeds.

They at the Armouries are truly privileged to be visited by the true Father Christmas, although quite how he fits it in with his workload. Here in the UK Father Christmas was traditionally wearing a green cloak and when I met him that was how he was dressed. Santa told me that his green cloak was sewn by hand by Mrs Christmas.

Just before I spoke with Santa I watched an encounter with some young children, one Ho, Ho, Ho and they were in a magical place.

If you look closely in the background behind Sants Grotto you may see one of the many cannon that are housed in the museum.

Leeds Traffic in Rain

2012-12-22T21:57:00.001Z

Picture of Leeds traffic in rain.

I did think about a festive Christmassy post today and indeed I did actually get to meet the real Father Christmas. But it rained again for most of the day, it could have even been described as falling into the Grim Up North category of weather.

So here we have some cars driving through the rain heading up towards Crown Point Bridge. I was rather struggling with rain and wind whilst trying to get some kind of impression of movement in the photo.

View Through Monk Bridge

2012-12-21T23:54:00.001Z

Picture of river Aire Leeds.

This is the view from Whitehall Road looking through the iron lattice on the Monk Bridge along the river Aire. Its funny how I had forgotten what was adjacent to this prior to the construction of the building that is the new home of The Yorkshire Post.

For many years before this it was Doncasters Monk Bridge Ltd., iron and steel manufacturers when the river would have been handy for the water. Just beyond the river is a railway viaduct again this would have been of use close to a large steel works. I took this photo around 4 weeks back when there were a few leaves remaining on the trees.

The development in the background is City Island Apartments. I have been down there a couple of times in the past couple of years but apart from the flats it appears to me that there is nothing else of interest over there.

Cold and Wet

2012-12-20T22:57:00.001Z

Picture of a high river Aire Leeds.

Today here in Leeds it has rained for around 30 hours, since perhaps teatime yesterday.

This was the view looking from the bridge at Crown Point Road along the river towards Centenary Bridge and beyond. I stood on the bridge having walked up from the Royal Armouries for a look around. Great news from the armouries here in Leeds, I have it on good authority that there will be more jousting in 2013.

Tetleys Brewery

2012-12-19T23:37:00.002Z

Picture of work at former Tetleys brewery site, Leeds.

Work is progressing down at the former brewery that was Tetleys here in Hunslet, Leeds. There had been a Tetley brewery down here since 1822. Later through mergers in various forms the company in 1978 merged with J Lyons to become Allied Lyons.

In 1993 the company sold a 50 stake to Carlsberg and that was the beginning of the end. Carlsberg bought the rest of the brewer a few years later, then in 2004 dropped the Tetleys part of the name to become Carlsberg UK. Carlsberg decided to close the brewery here and it brewed the last beer in February 2011.

Where there were once over a 1,000 employees there are now a hand-full, one of whom is in the machine shown in the above photo. In the background of the picture are some of the many flats that form Brewery Wharf.

Because of the current state of the UK economy much of the old site is being transformed into a large car park, at least in the short term. There are plans to turn the former Tetleys HQ building into an art gallery.

Leeds Santa Dash Last

2012-12-18T23:23:00.002Z

Picture of runners at Leeds Santa dash.

These four guys work together at ASDA head office here in the city and had just done the Leeds Santa Dash. Its great fun and raising funds for St Gemma's, what's not to like.

Some runners had an unfair advantage... four legs.

Thats the end of the photographs from this years Leeds Santa Dash.

St Gemma's already have a calendar of events for next year, why not get a team of friends or perhaps mates from work and join in?