Tempus Fugit

I was toddling around Leeds city centre yesterday, and re-acquainting myself with how busy it gets on a Saturday and how overwhelming all the crowds and noise feel.  Sensory overload!  Anyway, I was attending a Let Women Speak event, listening to speeches about defending womens hard-won rights and about child safeguarding.  I realised there was also an anti-war march winding through the city centre, so a lot of police were in evidence, vans parked everywhere and police horses on duty too.  

Before the event started I had some spare time, so took a few photos of the wonderful architecture you can find in the surrounding streets.  Lots of Victorian buildings, still looking splendid so many decades later.  I wonder if the same will be same for our modern tower blocks?  I bet they don't stand the test of time as well.  I'm not much of a photographer, as you'll see.  

This splendid example of 1930s art deco is the Tetley building, now an art centre.  Joshua Tetley, 1778 - 1859, was in the brewing industry, and this building's all that is left of the former brewery site.  Ignore the hideous blue construction on the right of the picture.  It's probably practical, but it's a real eyesore, don't you think?  

Not far from the Tetley is what used to be the Salem Congregational Institute.  I would've preferred a full length picture of this, but that would've included a car parked directly outside, a chunk of ugly modern fencing and an oversized wheelie bin!  Built in 1791, this is Grade 2 listed.  A little light research informs me this is the oldest non-conformist chapel in Leeds, and it's been fully restored inside and contains 'several colocation data centres' (nope, me neither) as well as offices, an exhibition space and a licensed bar.  Also a glass floored 350 seat auditiorium, so sounds like a place that'd be fascinating to get inside and have a good root around.  

This is a detail from Leeds Bridge over the River Aire, and dates from 1870.  It's also Grade 2 listed.  The owls and sheep form part of the Leeds Coat of Arms.  Wool was a big industry years ago, so the sheep's fleece symbolizes that, while the three stars relate to Sir Thomas Danby who was the first mayor of Leeds.  The owls were taken from Sir John Savile's coat of arms, being the first alderman of Leeds.  

I don't know the name of this building, but it reminds me of the famous flat iron in New York.  (Not that I've seen it in person, you understand.  Not been that lucky.)  Presumably this oddly shaped building was made to squeeze into a corner, hemmed in by others, but they've been demolished and it's remained standing proud.  

I'll round-up these architectural gems with this beauty.  Tempus fugit, or times flies.  Doesn't it just?  This stands above what used to be a clockmakers, fittingly enough.  John Dyson, 1845-1916, ran his business from here, and it's well worth hopping over to this website page for a fascinating glimpse of his life and career.  Including details of a 'time ball' that was linked electrically to Greenwich and which spectacularly dropped at 1pm every day so locals could set their watches to London time.  I bet that was a real crowd-puller.  The shop closed for good in 1990, but it must've been a heck of a sight in its heyday.  

Well, what else can I blather on about?  Actually, I'd like to show you a couple more pictures, this time of a business closer by.  It's a flower shop, called appropriately 'The Flower House' in Garforth.  

I passed by this morning, and they've put up their Christmas windows.  I'm not one for decorations before December, but I make an exception for this creativity. 

Doesn't it look festive?  Okay, that's all for today.  I hope you enjoy what's left of your weekend.  Bye!