As I mentioned above this video was made to show my son's friends in Australia where he had come from. He had emigrated to Australia about six months before the video and he is still there and now has a family of his own
Just come across this by accident. I like how you described St. John's Centre as posh & expensive. It's one of the cheapest now. That and the Merrion Centre. Trinity, Victoria Gate & Victoria Arcade are the tourist places now.
It seemed weird seeing traffic going up the part of Briggate that's now only for pedestrians. I moved to Leeds in 1986 from Cumbria, so I remember going on a bus on that street.
"They're building everywhere in Leeds now, everywhere you look there's a crane stood up in the air".. Watching this in 2022, thats one of the few things that HASN'T changed! Of course many of the city centre roads have since been pedestrianised, most notable "Suicide alley". Lots of seldom-used bike lanes now too.
Thank you! I lived on Stratford Street and went to Cross Flatts Park school in the 70's. Brings back so many memories. Shame the area has become run down now.
Brilliant. My Dad was from Leeds, and my son lives there now so I've visited it loads over the years. Driving down Briggate, seems so weird now. The "Olympic" swimming pool, lol. Thanks for sharing this.
Loved this. I moved out of the Colwyns in March that year. I swear I recognize the trailer that was on Harlech Rd. Loved seeing Woollies and Littlewoods stores and all the drive down what are now pedestrianised zones. Thanks for sharing
It's amazing to see all the old cars, 1989 would be the year of the new G reg cars. Amazing how much the Leeds cc skyline has developed since this vid!
moved to Leeds in 1993, remember it like this. Lived in Holbeck & Beeston for most of the time I was there & left in 2021, so saw all the changes. Thanks for uploading.
its a amazing video this I was only a kid around this time but I remember all the lil things in town and after growing up through the years its changed so much, I think for the worst to be honest but still would have been nice if there was more videos like this.
At 5.50 they cross the River Aire via Leeds Bridge not Crown Point Bridge. And, you may be pleased to know that they never did knock down all the buildings on Boar Lane (11.40).
This is treasure. Super video and brings back all the old memories. You can’t drive through half of these roads now a days. Life was simple society was more tolerant with the right cultural balance.
It's 2022, has Gillian unpacked her boxes yet? 😆😉 Thanks for this! I moved to Leeds in 2013 and it's interesting to see how Leeds has changed over 30 years 👍
Yep they did but I was into the Mondays , Roses, Hacienda and clubbing then. Oasis played there too. So did many great bands. Good venue was The Duchess.
U lived in leeds (kirkstall) due to work 1990-1991 this takes me right back to how it was! Its changed so much since then - some of it for the better but some not even tho it looks drab 30 years ago i still think it had more character.
I lived in Westwood St in the 60s went to Bewler St Infants ...Old Lane then named Hugh Gaitskell ...and finished my education at Parkside High on Gypsy Lane whilst living on the new Westwood Est from 1965 ....wonderful memories
In terms of improvements I would include the pedestrianisation of some of the city centre , but they're still very few people cycling now I only spotted one person on a bicycle then and unfortunately we've lost the Leeds International Swimming Pool which was great if you were in the city centre and you fancied a dip, I wanted to spot myself but could not make out my younger self, overall an excellent video
Cycling doesn't occur over night - you need a generation of people who aren't raised to drive everywhere. Hopefully its just an aberation. Our grandparents used to get around fine, and somehow today it's more congested, everyone is fat and sedentry, city centres have lost their historic charm, all because people idolise the car. You also need suitable connections from places of retail, work, and leisure, to residential places. If the centre has cycle lanes, but people don't feel comfortable cycling a kilometre or two from the suburbs, then the centre won't be used to its fullest extent. Leeds is fairly flat, it could be a good cycling city. But when I have cycled around Leeds, roads very quickly become difficult to navigate on bike. You very quickly get forced onto roads that aren't suitable for bikes, or have to contend with car infrastructure - dangerous lane changes, traffic lights, roundabouts etc. Good cycling requires a comprehensive shift whereby cars are not prioritised mindlessly.
I spent a lot of time in that area as a kid as my grandma lived there it was full of hard working people with pride..I drive down dewsbury road regularly nowadays and the shithole it has turned into is heartbreaking
This is amazing i was 16 and lived at the top of crossflatts park on Park Avenue , it was my playground , oh and the St.Johns centre was amazing for comics and skateboarding 😉
God how leeds has changed now 2016 you would not have thought in 1989 The high rise buildings and growth in population You should do a vid now to send to your son
It's changed again since 2016. Leeds was pretty buzzing back then. Getting plastered at The Angel Inn, then going to McNoodle King to pick up a box of Singapore noodles, then heading back to my mate's place in Beeston to get my head down for the night. Good times. Now everything's closed down and the atmosphere has completely gone because of the virus. Well, more because of Boris.
I remember driving in my friends car past Thomas Danbury 6 form college in 1989 and my friend sez "theres an open day on, let's go in" so we went in and 2 hours later we were back at my friend's mums house up Carr Manor view bangin' 2 of the students 😊....it was Great being young!
thats so weird seeing briggate as a public road... then again i was born in 90 so i'm missing out on a lot, really like seeing these old videos of leeds center :D
No, I'm sorry. This video was recorded with one of the giant video recorders that you balanced on your shoulder. the other videos were of family and either private or not of interest.
Why did Bob need to roll the window down to cool the car when you stopped outside the church.. when you’d left the passenger door wide open??? Great video, cheers for putting it online :)
@@darrenknight4787. God I remember that. Hot weather, first sign of engine overheating and the heating goes on full all melting in the fucking thing! Brilliant. Tights for fan belts.
I would like to know what sort of music video? I certainly wouldn't like it if the video was presented in an uncomplimentary fashion. More detail please.
@@edwardmellor342 My band has recorded a single called 'Leeds '89' which I wrote about my own life, I grew up in Mirfield and Dewsbury and as a teenager would visit Leeds on Saturdays, and my song is about Leeds in 1989. We are an indie band playing guitar music. The video will be used in a complimentary fashion as part of my fond memories.
As much as Leeds has changed, it’s still incredibly familiar and lots of things certainly haven’t changed a bit. Driving up Briggate was a bit weird but the rest of it isn’t any different. Amazing after all these days.
I'm not sure. I would have to watch the video again myself. I can't say I noticed or remember. To answer a previous comment, I haven't seen Robert for many years and I've no idea what happened to him.
Very surprised about all the car’s and van’s being vintage nowadays not very many of them survived Worth big bucks these days people are crying out for them Take a look at tv program called bangers and cash a family run auction and the prices of some of these gems is unbelievable really worth watching,, Seen a ford escort xr3i needed a lot of work made over £15k Ordinary old fords and Vauxhalls making mega money
Lovely video, thanks for sharing. I used to live in Halton and one of my aunties lived next to Cross Flatts Park, so I know that area very well. Pedestrians showing why Leeds has the worst-mannered ones in the world.
40 years on and I still have the occasional nightmare about school swimming lessons at that God-awful Olympic pool. Sadistic bullying pig of an instructor who instilled into me a lifelong hatred of swimming pools. Great trip down Memory Lane apart from that though 😂
Checked the tax vehicle on the fird at the minute 6. Tax due on September 1986, past time bought on 1984. Are you sure this video is 1989? Probably they didn't pay the vehicle tax on time 🤣
I can't answer questions about the vehicle tax. Not my car. The camera was borrowed for a wedding and the tour shown was only part of the total sent to my son. It was definitely 1989.
Absolute shithole. I used to go to score there as a pal Lewis lived there. Always sound then late 90’s early 2000’s Romanian travellers and the like moved in and were just going round taxing folk , no fucking about. Scum.
Have you lived in Leeds long? Dont you know the difference between Leeds Bridge and Crown Point Bridge. Also Duncan Sr and Boar Lane. Get it right, sigh!!!
This was a time When Leeds was more serene. English & had more soul!! Don't like the new Leeds, it's a pretentious pile of student infested multicultural poop!
Not a dark skin in sight! Let that sink in all you leeds residents! Think about how YOUR city has been ruined by British MP's. You owe those MP's some payback!
Those were the days back then,who would have thought we would be living in a world 🌎 of woke dope bull shit now we're everybody is offended by everything
This was my Dad's video. He sadly passed in May this year (2024). I remember him filming this. 😢💔
As I mentioned above this video was made to show my son's friends in Australia where he had come from. He had emigrated to Australia about six months before the video and he is still there and now has a family of his own
Send him an update and show him how multiculturalism has enriched leeds! LOL.
Just come across this by accident. I like how you described St. John's Centre as posh & expensive. It's one of the cheapest now. That and the Merrion Centre. Trinity, Victoria Gate & Victoria Arcade are the tourist places now.
It seemed weird seeing traffic going up the part of Briggate that's now only for pedestrians. I moved to Leeds in 1986 from Cumbria, so I remember going on a bus on that street.
And I bet he hasnt returned, lol, to this shit hole.
"They're building everywhere in Leeds now, everywhere you look there's a crane stood up in the air"..
Watching this in 2022, thats one of the few things that HASN'T changed! Of course many of the city centre roads have since been pedestrianised, most notable "Suicide alley". Lots of seldom-used bike lanes now too.
Fantastic trip down memory lane for me. I was living every mile and can't believe it was 30 years ago. Thanks very much.
Thank you! I lived on Stratford Street and went to Cross Flatts Park school in the 70's. Brings back so many memories. Shame the area has become run down now.
Brilliant. My Dad was from Leeds, and my son lives there now so I've visited it loads over the years. Driving down Briggate, seems so weird now. The "Olympic" swimming pool, lol. Thanks for sharing this.
Loved this. I moved out of the Colwyns in March that year. I swear I recognize the trailer that was on Harlech Rd. Loved seeing Woollies and Littlewoods stores and all the drive down what are now pedestrianised zones. Thanks for sharing
It's amazing to see all the old cars, 1989 would be the year of the new G reg cars. Amazing how much the Leeds cc skyline has developed since this vid!
moved to Leeds in 1993, remember it like this. Lived in Holbeck & Beeston for most of the time I was there & left in 2021, so saw all the changes. Thanks for uploading.
Love this video the days when you could drive round town and not get lost, thanks for posting.
Best video I've ever seen shocking how some of the buildings in centre of town made it feel special e.g. The building opposite majestic
Just love it. Wow how Leeds has changed. Great stuff lads xx
its a amazing video this I was only a kid around this time but I remember all the lil things in town and after growing up through the years its changed so much, I think for the worst to be honest but still would have been nice if there was more videos like this.
Yep, it certainly has changed for the worse.
great vid.... Its amazing how quickly your getting around the town.
At 5.50 they cross the River Aire via Leeds Bridge not Crown Point Bridge.
And, you may be pleased to know that they never did knock down all the buildings on Boar Lane (11.40).
It's been mentioned before, about the bridge I mean.
This is excellent! Thanks for uploading!
This is treasure. Super video and brings back all the old memories. You can’t drive through half of these roads now a days. Life was simple society was more tolerant with the right cultural balance.
It's 2022, has Gillian unpacked her boxes yet? 😆😉 Thanks for this! I moved to Leeds in 2013 and it's interesting to see how Leeds has changed over 30 years 👍
Nirvana played the Duchess of York in 1989
Yep they did but I was into the Mondays , Roses, Hacienda and clubbing then. Oasis played there too. So did many great bands. Good venue was The Duchess.
U lived in leeds (kirkstall) due to work 1990-1991 this takes me right back to how it was! Its changed so much since then - some of it for the better but some not even tho it looks drab 30 years ago i still think it had more character.
Ha I flipping love this I remember The Dutchess of York, The Beyond, supported by Manic Street Preachers. So ace to see Leeds back in the late 80s
Both Oasis and Nirvana played The Duchess on vicar lane when they were hardly known. Got some right bands back in the day.
I was 23 in 1989 living in moortown this is awesome ...Tons of classic cars ...
I lived in Westwood St in the 60s went to Bewler St Infants ...Old Lane then named Hugh Gaitskell ...and finished my education at Parkside High on Gypsy Lane whilst living on the new Westwood Est from 1965 ....wonderful memories
Old cars Austin princess had one of them and dogs just running out on road good old days
What a refreshing journey well done 👍.
Great memory’s. Thank you. ...
throw me back to 1989, roads look so clean
In terms of improvements I would include the pedestrianisation of some of the city centre , but they're still very few people cycling now I only spotted one person on a bicycle then and unfortunately we've lost the Leeds International Swimming Pool which was great if you were in the city centre and you fancied a dip, I wanted to spot myself but could not make out my younger self, overall an excellent video
Cycling doesn't occur over night - you need a generation of people who aren't raised to drive everywhere. Hopefully its just an aberation. Our grandparents used to get around fine, and somehow today it's more congested, everyone is fat and sedentry, city centres have lost their historic charm, all because people idolise the car.
You also need suitable connections from places of retail, work, and leisure, to residential places. If the centre has cycle lanes, but people don't feel comfortable cycling a kilometre or two from the suburbs, then the centre won't be used to its fullest extent.
Leeds is fairly flat, it could be a good cycling city. But when I have cycled around Leeds, roads very quickly become difficult to navigate on bike. You very quickly get forced onto roads that aren't suitable for bikes, or have to contend with car infrastructure - dangerous lane changes, traffic lights, roundabouts etc.
Good cycling requires a comprehensive shift whereby cars are not prioritised mindlessly.
Great video shame there aren't any more as good .
Brilliant I wish Leeds was still like that
A great little video . thank you:-)
is the driver robert who used to go to the church of the nazerene , if so i new him very well id love to see him again
The drivers name was indeed Robert. Unfortunately we lost touch many years ago. I wouldn't know where he is now.
Shame. Great double act!
I spent a lot of time in that area as a kid as my grandma lived there it was full of hard working people with pride..I drive down dewsbury road regularly nowadays and the shithole it has turned into is heartbreaking
It would be worth re-digitizing this with a more modern VHS to digital recorder that can do 1080p HD
I agree with you. Unfortunately, I no longer have access to the tape.
@@edwardmellor342 that's a shame, but thanks for uploading anyway, inspired me to pull out my old VHS camera yesterday
This is amazing i was 16 and lived at the top of crossflatts park on Park Avenue , it was my playground , oh and the St.Johns centre was amazing for comics and skateboarding 😉
The city centre of Leeds has literally doubled in size since this video with many skyscraper buildings now up
5.50mins in is Leeds Bridge not Crown Point Bridge
“Own a Sierra and they think the own the world” haha! amazing!
Could be applied to Mercedes owners nowadays.
@@plottwist1733 or Audi
@11.14 "give em a seirra and they think they own the road" - The original Audi driver haha
God how leeds has changed now 2016 you would not have thought in 1989 The high rise buildings and growth in population You should do a vid now to send to your son
Yeah, he could see what a fucking shithole its become.
It's changed again since 2016. Leeds was pretty buzzing back then. Getting plastered at The Angel Inn, then going to McNoodle King to pick up a box of Singapore noodles, then heading back to my mate's place in Beeston to get my head down for the night. Good times. Now everything's closed down and the atmosphere has completely gone because of the virus. Well, more because of Boris.
I remember driving in my friends car past Thomas Danbury 6 form college in 1989 and my friend sez "theres an open day on, let's go in" so we went in and 2 hours later we were back at my friend's mums house up Carr Manor view bangin' 2 of the students 😊....it was Great being young!
Eeeh memories! I was raised in Leeds and moved away in 85,i could remember the streets on the video.Is the Mucky Duck pub still there?
thats so weird seeing briggate as a public road... then again i was born in 90 so i'm missing out on a lot,
really like seeing these old videos of leeds center :D
Shame we can't see what was on at the Odeon at that time!
past Glens diner love this video.
Do you have anymore videos ??
No, I'm sorry. This video was recorded with one of the giant video recorders that you balanced on your shoulder. the other videos were of family and either private or not of interest.
Why did Bob need to roll the window down to cool the car when you stopped outside the church.. when you’d left the passenger door wide open??? Great video, cheers for putting it online :)
the car would have overheated ,so you put your hot blowers on to cool the engine
@@darrenknight4787. God I remember that. Hot weather, first sign of engine overheating and the heating goes on full all melting in the fucking thing! Brilliant. Tights for fan belts.
30 years later you would have seen me going to jobcentre PARK PLACE
Think this is the video chris moyles talked about on his radio show a couple of days ago
Watching 35 years later and there are even more cranes stuck in the air
How clean the street's are compared to today 😢
Hi Edward I want to ask if I can have permission to use your film for a music video.
I would like to know what sort of music video? I certainly wouldn't like it if the video was presented in an uncomplimentary fashion. More detail please.
@@edwardmellor342 My band has recorded a single called 'Leeds '89' which I wrote about my own life, I grew up in Mirfield and Dewsbury and as a teenager would visit Leeds on Saturdays, and my song is about Leeds in 1989.
We are an indie band playing guitar music. The video will be used in a complimentary fashion as part of my fond memories.
I have no problems with you using the footage for the purpose you describe. I would like to see the result if that's possible?
@@edwardmellor342 th-cam.com/video/M9yL2uZa9UY/w-d-xo.html
Awww, I wanted to see the house you were going too! :-(
Hi Edward, I work for the BBC in Leeds. We'd like to do something with this footage if possible. Could we get in touch with you? Thanks all the best.
It needs deinterlacing probably to stabilise the picture when moving. Good interesting footage though!
great video .... still dont know what was on at the odeon tho .. haha
Austin Ambassador A189 GKV appears to have survived. Vanden Plas 2 litre!
As much as Leeds has changed, it’s still incredibly familiar and lots of things certainly haven’t changed a bit. Driving up Briggate was a bit weird but the rest of it isn’t any different. Amazing after all these days.
Imagine that being able to drive around town without the risk of a stealth fine these days
I'm not sure. I would have to watch the video again myself. I can't say I noticed or remember. To answer a previous comment, I haven't seen Robert for many years and I've no idea what happened to him.
Certainly. If you can provide a means of contacting you I will do.
Fantastic my email is jacob.tomlinson@bbc.co.uk thanks again.
last time i saw rob myself was over 20 years ago
Looking at it now in 2025 where did it all go wrong
i enjoyed this vid i know the driver i would love to get in contact with him again . i used to go to church with him .
6:36 they still aren't 😭
I remember random dogs running around with no owner. You don't see that anymore.
The bingo hall on dewsbury lane is a brothel now
Unfortunately I lost touch shortly after the video was made. I've no idea where he is now.
Thanks for this.
they started on Maud Avenue were my nan used to live
Very surprised about all the car’s and van’s being vintage nowadays not very many of them survived
Worth big bucks these days people are crying out for them
Take a look at tv program called bangers and cash a family run auction and the prices of some of these gems is unbelievable really worth watching,,
Seen a ford escort xr3i needed a lot of work made over £15k
Ordinary old fords and Vauxhalls making mega money
Hush Puppy sign was a Bassett Hound, not a Sausage Dog!!!
Vauxhall Carlton estate?
The video started in Maud Avenue, Beeston, Down Dewsbury Road into the city and back out of the city though Holbeck and back to Beeston Town Street.
I was talking about the car. Lol.
Edward Mellor
I worked at Salford Van Hire for 17 years. Now at bus company .. mechanic..
That same trip would take 3 hours now 🤣
Look how much fewer cars are on the road!
Lovely video, thanks for sharing. I used to live in Halton and one of my aunties lived next to Cross Flatts Park, so I know that area very well. Pedestrians showing why Leeds has the worst-mannered ones in the world.
International pool and YEP buildings now demolished
Can’t drive up Briggate anymore. Now pedestrian only.
40 years on and I still have the occasional nightmare about school swimming lessons at that God-awful Olympic pool. Sadistic bullying pig of an instructor who instilled into me a lifelong hatred of swimming pools.
Great trip down Memory Lane apart from that though 😂
very interesting
Dogs roaming around. That no longer happens.
Still plenty of rubbish though.
The old Mungral dogs everyone just use to let them roam.
I remember fletchers the car dealership getting smashed up when leeds played chelsea
Good old days,and no loop road lol
Typical Skoda driver at 17:10. Reliant Regal at 24:07.
Checked the tax vehicle on the fird at the minute 6. Tax due on September 1986, past time bought on 1984. Are you sure this video is 1989? Probably they didn't pay the vehicle tax on time 🤣
I can't answer questions about the vehicle tax. Not my car. The camera was borrowed for a wedding and the tour shown was only part of the total sent to my son. It was definitely 1989.
When leeds was full uh Edd bangers, Peter and all Laughingnt ass off
Not a speed bump in sight or any polish either great video.
So true pal now it's full of the twats
@@johnmackintosh3952 full of more twats like you
31 years later in 2020 and it still looks almost exactly the same except there are more asians and foreigners lol
LOL more asians and foreigners! I think you forgot more “twats”.
2nd comment i know every road, if i do not have familey there i have work mates who live there.
Briggate all Pedestrianised now.
Traffic lights ---GRRRRRRRRRRRR
Leeds is beautiful I am living in Beaston (. 20 / 01 / 2020 )
Are you for real you think this is beutiful
1989, the start of the decline into the utter shit hole Beeston is today.Tell me I'm wrong?
You're not
Absolute shithole. I used to go to score there as a pal Lewis lived there. Always sound then late 90’s early 2000’s Romanian travellers and the like moved in and were just going round taxing folk , no fucking about. Scum.
quite ironic the clip ends right outside the Ice Pak building /soon to be islamic community centre. Poignant or what ?
Join us at Patriotic Alternative 🏴🇬🇧
Middleton ls11
Driving up briggate 😂
Have you lived in Leeds long? Dont you know the difference between Leeds Bridge and Crown Point Bridge. Also Duncan Sr and Boar Lane. Get it right, sigh!!!
This was a time When Leeds was more serene. English & had more soul!! Don't like the new Leeds, it's a pretentious pile of student infested multicultural poop!
What happens when you have a uni 😂
Poor civil engineering
Not a dark skin in sight! Let that sink in all you leeds residents! Think about how YOUR city has been ruined by British MP's. You owe those MP's some payback!
Hell yeah.
Really??? ruined in what way??? Because someone has darker skin than you? What a moron.
Not a dark skin in sight when? Trust me pal there were plenty in 89.
Oh right so it was always a shit hole
Those were the days back then,who would have thought we would be living in a world 🌎 of woke dope bull shit now we're everybody is offended by everything