Leeds History

Leeds became the post-Industrial Revolution centre of the Yorkshire cloth trade and is arguably the birthplace of ready made clothing and the chain store. In 1883 Joseph Hepworth, established the first chain of tailoring stores and just one year later Michael Marks, of Marks & Spencer, opened his first stall at Leeds’ Kirkstall Markets.

Although Leeds had a reputation for spinning and weaving since the monks of Kirkstall Abbey established the trades in the 12th century, it wasn’t until the mechanical processes of the industrial revolution were introduced that Leeds became greater than its near neighbour Wakefield.