phill.d.2
Chapletown - Francis Street
See the full size, and whole collection of Leeds aerial photos here
A vast triangle of back to back housing is formed by Harehills Avenue and Roundhay Road. Roundhay Road marks the boundary between Chapletown and Harehills, and it's not hard to see from this photo why Harehills was the most densely populated area in Europe. At one time Chapletown was a very leafy and affluent area, you only need walk down Harehills Avenue and Spencer Place to see the big old houses of yesteryear. But there has been a steady decline in the area over the years. The rich people moved further North out of the City towards the more favoured Roundhay and Moortown areas. The back to backs were built around the affluent areas effectively sandwiching it in, the big houses were later split into flats and bedsits by landlords. The area became a hotbed of drugs and prostitution from the 1970's onwards. The red light district became a favourite haunt of the Yorkshire Ripper during his reign of terror in the 1970's. Chapletown has recently seen a lot of regeneration, the notorious Hayfield pub was demolished 2002 in an effort to clean the area up and make it safer.
The large white building on Francis Street seen at the bottom of the photo would later become known as the International Club. It's claim to fame was in March 1967 when Jimi Hendrix played a gig there. The club has had several other aliases since it first opened in the 1960's. Roots, Cosmo's and lastly the Phoenix Club when it reopened after a fire. The International Club was one of several dubious blues clubs, and shebeens around the Chapletown area in the 1970's and 80's. Drinking dens, like the Lamporte Club, Strega, Room at the top, and strip joints like the 148 Club attracting some colourful characters. The big school was originally called Cowper Street primary School, but has been renamed Hillcrest Primary School.
If you would like to talk to me about these aerial images, then please contact me on my main flickr account here
Chapletown - Francis Street
See the full size, and whole collection of Leeds aerial photos here
A vast triangle of back to back housing is formed by Harehills Avenue and Roundhay Road. Roundhay Road marks the boundary between Chapletown and Harehills, and it's not hard to see from this photo why Harehills was the most densely populated area in Europe. At one time Chapletown was a very leafy and affluent area, you only need walk down Harehills Avenue and Spencer Place to see the big old houses of yesteryear. But there has been a steady decline in the area over the years. The rich people moved further North out of the City towards the more favoured Roundhay and Moortown areas. The back to backs were built around the affluent areas effectively sandwiching it in, the big houses were later split into flats and bedsits by landlords. The area became a hotbed of drugs and prostitution from the 1970's onwards. The red light district became a favourite haunt of the Yorkshire Ripper during his reign of terror in the 1970's. Chapletown has recently seen a lot of regeneration, the notorious Hayfield pub was demolished 2002 in an effort to clean the area up and make it safer.
The large white building on Francis Street seen at the bottom of the photo would later become known as the International Club. It's claim to fame was in March 1967 when Jimi Hendrix played a gig there. The club has had several other aliases since it first opened in the 1960's. Roots, Cosmo's and lastly the Phoenix Club when it reopened after a fire. The International Club was one of several dubious blues clubs, and shebeens around the Chapletown area in the 1970's and 80's. Drinking dens, like the Lamporte Club, Strega, Room at the top, and strip joints like the 148 Club attracting some colourful characters. The big school was originally called Cowper Street primary School, but has been renamed Hillcrest Primary School.
If you would like to talk to me about these aerial images, then please contact me on my main flickr account here