Leeds Town Hall

Picture of Leeds town hall.

This photograph is the front view of Leeds Town Hall, possibly the most recognised image of Leeds. Built 1853 and 1858 in Park Lane (now The Headrow) in Leeds city centre to a design by architect Cuthbert Brodrick. Built as a measure of Leeds growing confidence as an indusrial centre during the industrial revolution it also was a symbol of civic pride, being opened by Queen Victoria. At the opening ceremony Queen Victoria knighted the mayor of Leeds Peter Fairbairn.

It is now listed as grade I (building or other structure officially designated as being of special architectural, historical or cultural significance).

Leeds Town Hall at 225 feet (68.6 m) was the tallest building in Leeds from 1858 until 1966 when the building that is now the Park Plaza Hotel, which stands 8 metres (26 ft) taller at 77 metres (250 ft).

It was built to serve many functions including -
To house various council offices.
To act as the new courtroom facility for the city.
To serve as a police station or 'Central Charge Office'.
To provide a hall for concerts and civic events.

Today the building's principal performance space, the richly decorated Victoria Hall, is the main venue for orchestral concerts in central Leeds. Its Concert Organ, one of the largest in Europe, is used for lunchtime organ recitals, many given by City Organist Dr Simon Lindley.

Along with the Great Hall of the University of Leeds, the Town Hall is the setting of the Leeds International Pianoforte Competition.

A civic function operating today in this magnificent building is for wedding ceremonies in Leeds, like the one of Ana and Artemij featured here on my Leeds in Yorkshire photography blog.