Leeds Town Hall

Leeds Town Hall is an excellent example of Victorian Architecture and the civic pride that ensured their public buildings were as grand and as decorative as they could afford. Similar to how a company's internet or website today is their public image, the architecture of towns and cities displayed not only to it's population but to the rest of the country that their town was something to be proud of.

In 1850 Leeds Council decided that with their town's growing population (Leeds became a city in 1893) and success in the area that they needed and deserved a new town hall, this combined with the desire to compete with the nearby town of Bradford which was also experiencing growth meant Leeds required something grand, something lavish, something that would indicate to the rest of the country just how important the town had become.

Leeds Town Hall A Pillar Of The Community

In 1852 a competition was held to design this new symbol of Leeds civic pride, the winner a Mr Cuthbert Brodrick proposed a classical building featuring columns and a parapet wall however, during construction these plans were constantly updated to ensure Leeds would receive the grandest design they could afford. An organ was added to the interior of the Grand Hall (Victoria Hall) while perhaps more surprising looking at the building today was the addition of the tall clock tower. At first the addition of a tower was frowned upon because of the extra costs involved, it was deemed necessary however as it had already proved a success in the public buildings or larger towns and cities across the county and would add importance to the town hall's appearance. The debating of the tower continued and was not added until after the town hall's official opening.

Stone Flowers And Lamp Shade

The town hall with it's yet to be completed clock tower was officially opened on Tuesday 7th September 1858 by none other than Queen Victoria herself along with Prince Albert the visiting royals attracted massive crowds with some suggestions put the figure at over 400,000 people, larger than the population of Leeds itself. Construction continued after the pomp and ceremony of the opening, the tower was finished and in 1867 four, large sculptured lions were added to the front of the building. The design of Leeds Town Hall was hailed as a success and became the model for many future public buildings across the country.

Don't Be A Wallflower At Leeds Town Hall

Leeds Town Hall is a mixture of classical and baroque styles, the main entrance on the south front is reached by wide, stone steps with large sculptured lions on either side, these steps lead up to 10 large columns, Corinthian in style (Ancient Greek, Roman) that forms a colonnade (row) across a recessed entrance and supports a large pedimented lintel topped by large, ornate urns that runs the entire length of the building, the recessed entrance features three paired doors including decorative grilles below an ornate, arched frieze detailing Progress Art and Commerce, this recessed area also includes detailed, floral friezes and large, globe shaped lamps with decorative brackets. Flanking the recessed entrance on either side are a pair of two storey arched windows separated by squared pilasters (fake or flat columns) above a series of rusticated stones separating basement windows, this pattern also runs the length of the building. Towering above the south entrance is the tall clock tower 225 ft in height, standing a top a large plinth (base) featuring decorative panels, scrolled (curved) corner finials (details) and the Leeds Coat Of Arms. Above the plinth stand 21 Corinthian columns supporting a wide lintel with a cornice below rows of  balustrades and urns, above this the clock faces stand flanked on each side by scrolled, decorative finials and topped by an elongated, lead clad dome with curved sides and in turn is topped by a cupola (small structure on top of a roof) with similar curved sides.

Light And Shade At Leeds Town Hall

The clock tower stands at one end of a pitched roof that tops Victoria Hall inside, it is set back from the edge of the building and is unnoticeable from the ground, below this central roof is a row of large arched windows that from inside help create a beautifully detailed interior. Either side of the clock tower and topping each corner of the central roof are four, tall ventilation shafts, these four shafts feature decorative panels, swags and floral bas reliefs topped by arched pediments and corner urns.

Rows of arched windows line the other sides of the building separated by rounded and squared pilasters the central sections of the East and West fronts are recessed while the central section of the rear or North front extends out. Mythical heads adorn the top of the arched window's keystones (central stone of an arch) along the East front.

Cherubs At Leeds Town Hall

Leeds Town Hall is indeed an interesting, beautiful and well deserves it's Grade l Listed building status.