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Just before 1760 Thomas Leader, a fine silversmith, left his home in Essex and came to Sheffield.
With Henry Tudor he founded, in 1762, the firm of Tudor, Leader & Co. Silver Platers, whose speciality was beautiful snuff boxes.
In 1777 Thomas Leader leased from the Duke of Norfolk, the house that was to carry his name to present day. Daniel Leader, who was the son of the first Thomas, also lived at Leader House. His son, Robert became a newspaper proprieter in 1830, and produced the "Sheffield Independant, a favourite paper with the Sheffield public for many years.
Eventually Leader House became the property of the Sheffield Council in May 1938.
On 20th March, 1970, the council applied for Listed Building Consent to demolish the building, so that the site could be used for the erection of a modern Register Office.
Natually this was objected to by the Hallamshire Historic Building Society. The Council Town Planning Chairman stated: "I have no qualms about Leader House having to go. It has been part of the Civic development plan for some time!"
A Public Inquiry was held on 15th September 1970 wth the H.H.B.S. and others putting such a good case for retention of the Historic building that on 27th November 1970, the minister gave his decision that Leader House should not be demolished.
A short time afterwards another site was found for the modern register office just a few minutes walk away.
Photographs of the Lyceum Theatre reproduced with kind
permission of J.Edward Vickers MBE
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