They focus on Leeds Polytechnic which was formed in 1970 from a merger between Leeds College of Technology and Leeds College of Commerce, part of Leeds College of Art as well as Yorkshire College of Education and Home Economics. It was part of the Leeds Local Education Authority until it became an independent Higher Education Corporation in April 1989. The Polytechnic then became Leeds Metropolitan University, with the right to award its own degrees, in the early 1990s. READ MORE: 33 closed Leeds pubs which will stir fond memories for drinkers LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro on facebook
![Enjoy these photo memories of Leeds Polytechnic. Were you a student back in the day?](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjZlNzkwMTM1LWU0NTAtNGE2Ny04OGNhLWFlY2ZkMTMxYmZjZDphZjViMzg5Yy1lZTc4LTRmMzYtODBjYi1hYTZlY2M0ZjBiZmQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
1. Leeds Polytechnic memories
Enjoy these photo memories of Leeds Polytechnic. Were you a student back in the day? Photo: YPN
![The new Leeds Polytechnic building near the Merrion Centre in May 1970.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjJjY2RmYjQ3LTdmYzctNGE2ZS05OGQ1LWYxNzBjMjNlMDY2OToxNzgwODY0ZC04ZDZlLTRiMWEtYTE0MS1jY2Q4YzE4NDc5MzU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
2. Leeds Polytechnic memories
The new Leeds Polytechnic building near the Merrion Centre in May 1970. Photo: YPN
![Giant numbers which appeared on the side of the main Polytechnic building in April 1986 were mystifying some passers-by. "Are they the work of an ambitious graffiti artist or perhaps part of a new mathematics course for the students?" asked one YEP reader. Another suggested that lecturers may have run out of blackboard space in the classrooms following Government cutbacks.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjQ1NGVkMjJjLWU5YWItNGM2Yy05ZmUyLTBjZjA1ZTU4YjM3OToyYjIxNjc5MC04NTY0LTRmNWQtYjM5Ni0xOWYzMmEyYmEzZmY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
3. Leeds Polytechnic memories
Giant numbers which appeared on the side of the main Polytechnic building in April 1986 were mystifying some passers-by. "Are they the work of an ambitious graffiti artist or perhaps part of a new mathematics course for the students?" asked one YEP reader. Another suggested that lecturers may have run out of blackboard space in the classrooms following Government cutbacks. Photo: YPN
![Students protested when Government Minster Norman St John-Stevas came for lunch at the Polytechnic in March 1973.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjU1MGZkYTE1LTk0Y2QtNGI0Ny05NDVmLTYyNWM4ZmViMjcyMzpmZTAxMWEyMC1jNjVhLTRmNjAtOWM5NS1jYzdjMDNmYjI4YWY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
4. Leeds Polytechnic memories
Students protested when Government Minster Norman St John-Stevas came for lunch at the Polytechnic in March 1973. Photo: YPN
![Leeds Polytechnic was facing an accommodation crisis in 1977.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjg0YTU2Yjc5LWQ5MjQtNDdiNy1iY2ZmLWNmZDhkNDQzMDIxZToxODgzZWE2Mi03ZmQ4LTQwM2QtYjIxYy1kMmNkYzJjOTY4NzQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
5. Leeds Polytechnic memories
Leeds Polytechnic was facing an accommodation crisis in 1977. Photo: YPN
![The new faculty building at the Polytechnic pictured in March 1979.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmJkODc2MDBkLWQyMTctNGY3Mi1hMGU2LTczY2JiOTJjZmQ1Mzo4NzU4ZTJiMi0yZWZhLTQwMmYtYjM2Yy0wNzI3OWVjZWQ3YjY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
6. Leeds Polytechnic memories
The new faculty building at the Polytechnic pictured in March 1979. Photo: YPN