Kirkgate looking towards Briggate

Kirkgate is one of the original streets of Leeds going to the Parish Church. The original Leeds village in medieval times would have consisted of crude timber framed houses stretching along a street later called Kirkgate. Briggate was not built until 1207 when Maurice Peynel granted a charter creating the borough of Leeds and Briggate was built at the top of Kirkgate. In the thirteenth century tenants of the manor of Leeds had to the lord’s manorial oven to bake his bread and this was located at the top of Kirkgate. This image of 7th July 1956 is looking towards Briggate. The side entrance to Littlewoods, the Department Store is visible on the left. The front entrance is on Briggate with an address of 128 to 132 Briggate. The Briggate/Kirkgate corner site is occupied by women's fashion chain, Zara, with House of Fraser (Rackham's) next door. Yorkshire Penny Bank is on the right of the image at numbers 8-9 Kirkgate next to the entrance to Fish Street. A prison had been erected on Kirkgate in 1655 opposite the entrance to Fish Street.