subject: Leeds In 20th Century [print this page] In 1901 the population of Leeds reached 178,000. In 1903 a statue of the Black Prince was erected in City Square. So were statues of 8 nymphs. Leeds University was founded in 1904. Also that year St Annes RC Cathedral was built. Leeds city market was built in 1904. The first cinema in Leeds was built in 1905.
In the 1920s the first council houses were built in Leeds. More were built in the 1930s. In 1925 St James Hospital was founded. In 1933 Leeds Civic Hall was built.
During World War II 77 people in Leeds were killed by bombs and 197 buildings were destroyed.
In the early 20th century the main industries in Leeds were engineering (such as making tram rails)and tailoring, with companies like sumries, Hepworth's and Montague Burtons. But during the century the importance of manufacturing industry declined. Instead service industries grew rapidly. In 1951 55% of the workforce were employed in manufacturing. By 1973 it had fallen to less than 35%. Many people in Leeds worked in banking, insurance, pubs and hotels.
Leeds city council was itself a major employer. In 1946 it employed 19,000 people. Thirty years later the figure had risen to 35,000.
In 1974 the boundaries of Leeds were extended to include 10 other boroughs and urban districts. In 1993 Quarry House, the headquarters of NHS Management was opened. Leeds polytechnic was founded in 1970. It became Leeds Metropolitan University in 1992.
In the late 20th century tourism became a major employer in Leeds. Leeds Playhouse opened in 1970. (It moved to a new building in 1989). The Royal Armouries Museum opened in 1995. The Thackray Medical Museum followed in 1997.
The Monet Garden in Roundhay Park was opened in 1999. Merrion Shopping Centre was built in 1964. A new shopping arcade was built in the early 1970s. It was called The Bond Street Centre. Later it was refurbished and renamed Leeds Shopping Plaza. St Johns Shopping Centre was built in 1983. White Rose Shopping Centre opened in 1997. In the early 1970s Leeds city centre was pedestrianised. Radio Leeds began broadcasting in 1968.
