THE CHANGING face of Yeadon over more than 100 years can be seen in these images from different parts of the town.

Striking photographs from the 1920s and 1950s show the local gasworks - which is now long gone. While early images of Henshaw Lane also feature, along with a local shop and a dyeworks. All the photographs are from the archives of Aireborough Historical Society.

The aerial view of the gas works was taken in 1927.

The historical society website says; "Yeadon and Guiseley Gas Company was formed in 1845 with a capital of £6,000 which was raised by public subscription as a share investment, the first Chairman was Richard Barwick of Low Hall.

"In 1851 the gas works provided a supply to 386 customers in the area. Initially the supply was to factories, offices and large private homes."

On the left we can see New Road Side and its junction with Henshaw Lane.

Two more photographs show the gasworks in 1956. In one picture a large gasometer can be seen in the foreground , towered over by the retort house which was built in 1934.

In the 19th and 20th centuries most towns had their own gasworks. Coal was baked in the retort house to produce gas which was stored in gasometers.

The Yeadon retort house bore the latin motto “Ex Terra Lucem” - Light from the earth.

In the top photograph of the gasworks the old Church of England School on Henshaw Lane can be seen.The chimneys on the right are part of Naylor Jennings Dyeworks on Green Lane.

The gasworks was shut down in the 1960s and later demolished to make way for housing.

A wonderful image from 1913 shows Althams shop, which was situated at the junction of Marshall Street and the High Street. Owner Abraham Altham stands proudly in front of his business - while, almost impossible to see, on the very left edge, an old woman can be seen peering out of a doorway.

The AHS website says: "Althams is listed as being a grocers and there is a notice in the window advertising jams and preserves, but the store appears to be dominated by a huge variety of goods.

"Cabin trunks are stacked to the left of the doorway, above the door are baskets, paintbrushes and wash leathers, rolls of linoleum are propped outside and inside the doorway. The shop window is full of crockery and ornaments. Around 1920 it was Kell's drapers, then Wilson's circa 1960. It was demolished with the adjoining Lecture Hall in 1973 and a new row of shops built on the site."

Many people will remember Banksfield Dyeworks, which was built as a mill in 1869 by Thomas Bolton. The dyeworks closed in 1999 and the site was used for a housing estate.

The remaining three photographs appear to date back more than a century and all show Henshaw Lane. In one image members of the public appear to be standing to attention for the photographer.

In the middle image the Church of England school can be clearly seen.

The AHS website says: "Richard Barwick of Low Hall had given land for the building of St John’s church (1844), this was followed by the school in 1847.The date is carved on a stone at the entrance.

"The ground floor had separate classrooms, the upper floor was one large room. Attached to the building was a care-takers house, any water needed for the school had to come from the house. Outside to the back of the building were 3 earth closets, the road was used as a playground. The school was closed in 1907, at that time there were 120 pupils. It was once the scene of a dramatic accident when a horse pulling a wagon load of barrels down Henshaw Lane ran out of control. It collided with the corner of the school, the driver was thrown through a window and killed."