Leeds Town Hall, Leeds

In the 19th century, John D. Heaton, Doctor and social activist, traveled to Europe. He was impressed with the civic architecture on the continent. "Whose town halls are the permanent glory of the inhabitants and the standing wonder and delight." He thought Leeds was "squalid and unbeautiful." It needed a "noble municipal palace."

The competitive nearby town of Bradford, proclaiming itself the "wool capital of the world", had just erected their grand Saint George's Hall. In 1852 the Leeds Town Council held a design competition for a town hall. The winner was Cuthbert Brodrick, a young architect who would go on to design several landmark buildings for the city.

The Town Hall is ensconced at the top of a flight of stairs on a hill made to raise the hall above all else. The main facade faces south. It has a severely recessed portico with ten Corinthian columns, and the 225 foot clock tower. The main entrance is an archway within the portico with three elaborate wrought iron doors.

The other sides also have columns but with two tiers of round-topped windows in between columns and pilasters. The great Victoria Hall has a 90 plus foot ceiling. It has marbled and gilded columns and cut glass chandeliers. One writer described it as "the inside of a wedding cake." In the vestibule is a statue of Queen Victoria.

The Hall was officially opened by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in September, 1858.