Leeds in Pictures
Photographs of Dysons Jewellers, Briggate
Donation to the Thoresby Society by Kevin Grady, but given to him about a decade ago by Reg Hill a former employee of Mowlem Construction
These 23 colour photographs of Dysons Jewellers show its condition in 1979 when it was undergoing structural repair by Mowlem Construction. Evidently Mowlem was also going to renovate its interior fittings.
John Dyson founded the firm of clockmakers and jewellers in 1865. He converted two houses (nos 26 and 27) in Lower Briggate. The houses (or cottages) were believed to have dated from 1650. He refronted them with the remarkable façade still familiar to us today.
The shop received extensive structural repair as well as refurbishment at a cost of £250,000, reopening on 18 May 1980. It closed on 10 February 1990.
The Dysons shop was taken over by the Marriott Hotel and used as a restaurant.