Leeds Corn Exchange, Leeds

The Corn Exchange was designed by Cuthbert Brodrick, the architect from Hull, who also designed the Leeds Town hall, the Leeds City museum, the Headingley Congregational Church and many other buildings in Leeds. His inspiration for the circular, round-topped exchange was the Bourse de commerce of Paris by Francois-Joseph Belanger.

The exchange was completed in 1864. The building ceased to be an exchange in time. In the 1980s it was acquired by Specialty Shops plc. It was renovated and restored and converted to retail businesses.

The Exchange building houses about 30 independent retailers and food outlet shops. It is built on an oval plan with millstone grit and it has a grey slate dome with molded bands. There is a frieze, a dentilled cornice and a parapet with a clock. There are three arcade porches with Tuscan columns and two floors of arched windows.