IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Blackett Street, PUDSEY, LS28 5NQ

The workhouse for Calverley-cum-Farsley was built in 1756 on Calverley's Back Lane, now Blackett Street, at the expense of Sir Walter Blackett (formerly Sir Walter Calverley - he changed his surname as a condition of an inheritance from his uncle). The relatively generous treatment of the inmates made it an expensive place to run - bills in 1772 included ones from suppliers of cloth, milk, butter, malt, groceries, veal, beef and mutton, items which would not have been available to those on out-relief. In 1778, the Overseers resorted to offering 8d, a week to some inmates to leave the workhouse. In 1807, the 20 inmates comprised six children, 9 women (2 bastard-bearers, 1 wife and the rest widows), 2 were old men and 3 were just referred to by their surname and noted as 'old'. The building no longer exists but a plaque from the original building has been preserved at the site. It reads "Sir Walter Blackett at his own Expense built this Workhouse in the year 1756"

The former Mechanics Institute dates from 1874 and is now a community centre managed by Leeds City Council. See Image for a view from the other side.

The bas-relief stone carving on the former Mechanics Institute gives a date of 1874. See Image for context.

The secondary function has been added since 2008, compare Image The modernist structure (according to Leodis, opened on 25th September 1973 by the West Riding County Council) sits uneasily among the traditional stone buildings of this conservation area.