14 / 11 / 18

Flaming bad luck for ace printer

When Alf Cooke’s printworks near Crown Point Bridge burned down he built again on Hunslet Road and continued to run a flourishing business. Fire destroyed this too but Cooke pressed on: he commissioned a third building, this time from renowned architect Thomas Ambler. This successful and courageous entrepreneur also cared for local people suffering hardship and served as Lord Mayor of Leeds in 1890. Printing of a wide range of products continued on the site until 2006 and shortly afterwards the impressive premises were adapted to become the main site of Leeds City College.