The typography showcased in this book has been hand painted and crafted in both modern and historical context some of the typography shown has been around for decades and others more recent.
Leeds is a city filled with culture and history, not only in the buildings and landmarks but in the typography. From the map on the next page use the key to help you find some of the most interesting pieces of type around.
Hand - Crafted Type In Leeds
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1. Mrs Atha’s Central Rd, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS1 6DE
2. Hyde Park Picture House 73 Brudenell Road, Leeds LS6 1JD
3. Sydney Green, Clothing Manufacturers St Peters Buildings,York St, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS9 8AJ
4. Oddfellows 94 Kirkgate, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS2 7DJ
5. WM Brotherton and Sons 31 Kirkgate, Leeds LS2 7DB
6. Lil’s Cafe 9-11 Call Lane, Leeds LS1 7DH
7. John Smith’s Brewery Call Lane, Leeds LS1 7BR
8. The Corn Exchange Call Lane, Leeds LS1 7BR
9. Dysons Jewellery 24-26 Briggate, Leeds LS1 6EP
10. The Griffin Boar Lane, Leeds LS1 5DF
11. The Prince of Wales Mill Hill, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS1 5DQ
12. Charles Walker & Co LTD Prospect House, 32 Sovereign Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS1 4BJ
13. Bundobust 6 Mill Hill, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS1 5DQ
14. The Electric Press 41 Cookridge Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS2 3AW
15. Leeds College of Art Vernon Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS2 8PH
Oddfellows Oddfellows is a small tattoo parlour located in the bottom end of sleep close by to the Leeds Market. The shop is hidden away and often unseen. The sign itself is stained-glass and beautifully crafted by hand.
Sydney Green Clothing Manufacturers A beautiful sign hand painted, faded and hidden away at the far end of Leeds directly behind Munro House. The Sign is believed to be up to 70 years old and has seen some wear and tear.
Hyde Park Picture House In the last place you would expect a beautiful quaint picture house in Leeds, Hyde Park is home to a piece of History. The building is completely untouched by time and has an array of beautiful structure alongside type and signage. The building is still used to this day for film screenings showing mostly artistic movies. The typeface used is Gill Sans.
Mrs Atha’s Mrs Atha’s is a bespoke cafe in the heart of Leeds city centre, the cafe it self attracts a variety of people from different backgrounds it is considered a trendy cafe for design enthusiasts. The sign itself is hand painted and is a variation of 3 typefaces.
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The Corn Exchange Corn Exchange - Balcony, This signs is made with glass and gold leaf. If you venture inside the building you will find many beautiful hand painted ad crafted signs.
John Smith’s Brewery This sign of John Smiths is a lasting remembrance of the history of the city, Many brewery’s were found in Leeds Such as the former Tetley Brewery now the Tetley art gallery. The sign is located above a fire exit in the Leeds Corn exchange the type is painted and placed behind glass it is unsure if this was the original place of the sign.
Lil’s Cafe Lils Cafe’s sign is above the vintage clothes shop blue rinse, not only is there just the sign for this cafe if you look around you will see a large mural showing the heritage of Leeds market.
WM Brotherton & Sons WM Brotherton and Sons, Directly above Dominoes in Leeds City Centre is a modest wood carved sign with intricate flourish often unseen by most goers of Leeds it is definitely one to see.
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Charles Walker & Co LTD Charles Walker & Co Limited is situated close by to the Leeds Train Station approximately 10 minute walk. Although this building is not used for the purpose it was in 1887 it is now used as offices ‘Prospect House’ the typography it is directly above the main sign. The type is made with stone and tiles almost like a mosaic.
The Prince Of Wales The Prince of Wales Pub, located near the former ‘Cockpit’ and also close by the Arches in Leeds City Centre. The pub’s very gritty advertisement is painted onto chalk board and often changes daily.. Watch this space.
The Griffin Pub The Griffin Pub, similar to Balcony sign at the corn exchange, The Griffin Pub sign is made using similar techniques such as gold leafing which is placed into a glass cabinet with some 3D type.
Dysons Jewellery Directly above AM Kitchen and Bar (Indian) is the historic remains of Time Ball/John Dyson & Sons building, the building is grade II listed and been around for 150 years! The upkeep of the building is incredible considering the development of Leeds over time Originally the building was owned by Jeweller which explains the decadent fronting of the shop.
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Leeds College of Art Leeds College of Art Mosaic, what more can be said than what is shown, the mosaic itself was done by art students at college.
The Electric Press The electric press tower is situated close to the millennium centre in the heart of Leeds, the building was built around the 1890’s and was used for Chorley and Pickersgill printing works. The typography is fairly new compared to the building and believed to of found its home when the building became the house to restaurants and bars.
Bundobust Bundobust is a small run Indian street food restaurant which also sells delicious craft beers. The sign is brightly coloured and well represented of Indian type culture, the sign has been hand painted. Bundobust officially opened in summer 2014 so is fairly new to Leeds City Centre.
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