Coronation photographs from 1911 show Leeds citizens celebrating King George V

An illuminated tram for the 1911 coronation. A fascinating set of photos showing Brits celebrating coronations dating back more than 100 years have been unearthed ahead of King Charles' crowning ceremony. An illuminated tram, street parties and even a sheep being roasted are among the collection of images rediscovered by librarians in Leeds. The nostalgic gallery captures more than a century of the cityâ€™s coronation memories and shows how they have been celebrated through the years. Louise Birch, senior librarian at Leeds Libraries, said it was "fascinating to see how people had marked the occasion in their own way".

Published 1st May 2023, 00:00 GMT

It is the first such occasion since 1953 - and now intriguing photographs released from archives in Leeds show how the city celebrated coronations in the past, having been rediscovered by the city’s librarians.

One evocative image from 1911 shows the nearly-all female staff at the firm of John Barran & Sons Limited on Chorley Lane, sat by their sewing machines with the factory floor bedecked in bunting and rosettes to celebrate the coronation of King George V.

His coronation was celebrated on June 22 1911, and many of the women are wearing bonnets, some trimmed with flowers.

Sewing staff in a factory for the 1911 coronationA fascinating set of photos showing Brits celebrating coronations dating back more than 100 years have been unearthed ahead of King Charles' crowning ceremony. An illuminated tram, street parties and even a sheep being roasted are among the collection of images rediscovered by librarians in Leeds. The nostalgic gallery captures more than a century of the cityâ€™s coronation memories and shows how they have been celebrated through the years. Louise Birch, senior librarian at Leeds Libraries, said it was "fascinating to see how people had marked the occasion in their own way".

Another photograph shared from the celebrations that year is one of a heavily illuminated tram car, most likely taken at Kirkstall tram works, emblazoned with the words “Long Live Our King and Queen”.

Senior librarian Louise Birch has been curating the collection of images from Leodis, a huge online photographic archive which features more than 68,000 images of Leeds taken over the centuries.

She said: “It’s fascinating to see how different communities in Leeds celebrated what were clearly important and historic moments for the city and the nation and how coronations have brought people together to mark the occasion in their own way.

“Images like these give us a unique insight into the lives of those who have lived and worked in Leeds over the years, capturing and preserving a single moment in time and illustrating the people and events which have shaped the city we know today.”

The images come from the Leodis archive of more than 68,000 images of Leeds taken over the centuries.

Other photographs show the people of Bruntcliffe hosting a sheep roast for the local community, while the Morley Corporation constructed an immense bonfire on Morley Rugby Ground.

And celebrations abounded more than 40 years later at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

Residents on Copperfield Lane off Cross Green Lane took the unusual step of suspending a giant paper crown above their street along with colourful bunting. But it was the people of Kirkdale Drive, Lower Wortley who took the title of Best Dressed Street thanks to their elaborate display of flags and banners.

Councillor Mary Harland, Leeds City Council’s executive member for communities, said: We’re extremely fortunate to have such a vast and comprehensive archive of images which captures the changing face of Leeds and how our city has evolved over the centuries.

“It’s also incredible to reflect on how our communities have united in celebration for coronations over the past hundred years and more as we look forward to the coronation taking place in Leeds next month.”