The dramatic blaze that tore through a Yeadon mill

Old Dog Mill was the town's first steam-powered mill and was built in around 1792.

These images, from Aireborough Historical Society, are snapshots into some of the building's history, including the fateful fire on December 5.

According to AHS the mill was owned by Sir John Brown and his son Bright Brown at the time of the blaze, and part of the building was used by the Yeadon Dyeing Company.

The society's website says: "A small fire in the rag grinding area had been extinguished on the 4th of December and the mill was closed for the night.

"At 4am the next morning another fire was discovered, possibly something had been left smouldering the day before.

"With great speed a manual fire appliance was pulled down from Crompton Mill with Guiseley Fire Brigade arriving shortly after.

"At 5.15am Shipley Fire Brigade were on the scene with a contingent from Leeds at 5.30am.

"It proved to be Yeadon’s worst conflagration, it was unstoppable, the ferocity of the blaze consumed everything leaving only wreckage and 150 people with no work. Miraculously there were no fatalities."

The disaster had a hard financial impact on the workforce. But they were helped by Jonathan Peate - owner of Nunroyd Mill - who gave every worker money to get them through Christmas.

Perhaps Peate's generosity was prompted in part by his own humble beginnings.

Born in 1837 he was relatively poor in early life but became a wealthy man and one of the town's great public benefactors.

Old Dog Mill was built by Joseph Cawthra on a site which was originally known as the Old Mill.

Writing on the AHS website Christine Lovedale said: "He fell foul of the local community when he diverted water from Yeadon Beck which flows down the High Street (it still exists but is now underground) towards the Old Dog, no doubt an increased flow gave more power to his steam engine.

"This action so angered the townspeople the Town Meeting sued him for restoration which was granted, perhaps this was a factor in his bankruptcy which occurred in 1795 when he would have been around 34 years of age.

"Having become so unpopular with his neighbours he emigrated in 1802, first spending time in America then settling in Toronto, Canada.

"Between 1806 - 1809 his family gradually joined him, he entered into various profitable business ventures then became a politician.

"He had been granted a portion of land by the Canadian Government on which he built a replica of Yeadon Manor.

"By the time Joseph died in 1842 his large family were also making their fortunes , place names in the Mississauga area still carry the name Cawthra eg Cawthra Road, his home and surrounding land is now a public park."

The Cawthra family had played a prominent role in the the business, social and cultural life of Toronto, and Joseph's descendants continue to play significant roles today.

One of the Old Dog Mill ponds can be seen in photographs which were taken in 1987 and 2012.

The ponds had long been overgrown and neglected when local man Albert Shutt stepped in to bring them back to life in the 1980s - helped by volunteers, cubs and scouts.

Aireborough Historical Society says: "Paths were relaid, walls built, new shrubs and flowers planted.

"In 1994 The Friends of Engine Fields was formed to carry on the work begun by Mr Shutt, Leeds Council provided plants and materials for the volunteers to use, giving Yeadon a pleasant place to stroll around.

"An eyesore had been transformed into an amenity preserving a piece of local history."

The regeneration encouraged birds and other wildlife to establish themselves in the area.

Today the area is a nature park, and the important conservation work is still continued by The Friends of Engine Fields

Old Dog Mill was the scene of a famous lockout in 1909 that lead to riots and jail sentences for some of those taking part in the public disorder.