A major milestone in the amazing history of the First White Cloth Hall, the birthplace of the modern city of Leeds, has been reached with the completion of the building works to reconstruct this historically significant building. The regeneration project led by Rushbond PLC, in partnership with Historic England, The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Leeds City Council, has brought together private and public sector investment and expertise, and is now set for a new lease of life as the next chapter in the building’s story unfolds.
The history of the First White Cloth Hall is aligned with the modern history of Leeds. Rapidly built in 1711 to provide the first covered hall for cloth trading in what was then the town of Leeds, it spearheaded both the commercial growth of Kirkgate, the city’s oldest commercial street, and a huge drive in the growth of the textile industry. The building’s transformation is pivotal to the wider renaissance of the Kirkgate district of Leeds and is now poised ready to offer an inspirational and distinctive space for a wider range of potential occupiers.
One of the city’s most significant heritage assets, the building has now been removed from the Heritage at Risk Register on which it was listed for more than 20 years, requiring a huge effort to understand, recreate, rebuild and ultimately transform the building. Working closely with the partners and Leeds Civic Trust, the scheme has been designed by Buttress Architects, an award-winning design studio and specialist conservation team, with the building works being delivered by HH Smith & Sons.
The project has involved intricate work in restoring the building’s heritage gems. The 500-year-old timber trusses which support the roof have been restored and reinstalled, and a unique pattern of brick bonding (the pattern created by bricks when used to construct a wall) has been replicated in the new brickwork on the building’s west wing.
The building consists of three ranges around a courtyard which opens onto the street. The ground floor has arches on each side, originally open, and the upper floor has three large rooms, originally used for trading cloth. The condition of the building was so poor that the west and south wings have been rebuilt, incorporating as much of the original material as possible. The courtyard has been glazed over to form a covered space.
Jonathan Maud, Managing Director of Rushbond PLC, comments: “First White Cloth Hall is a significant jewel in Leeds’ crown and a crucial part of the city’s history. Its place in the city’s trading and commercial history is one that demands to be told and what better way than to do that through the transformation of the building itself. Following an immense collaborative effort by all involved, it’s a momentous occasion to be able to reveal the building as we look forward to hearing from companies and organisations that are equally inspired by the new opportunity the building now offers”.
Giles Proctor, Heritage at Risk Surveyor at Historic England, said: “We’re delighted to have provided both financial support and expert heritage conservation advice as part of this partnership project, working with Rushbond and fellow partners to secure the future of one of Leeds’s most important historical assets. Not only has the restoration breathed new life into the building, but the at times painstaking hard work by all involved has allowed us to retain many of the building’s most precious heritage features, including the centuries-old timber trusses and original brickwork.”
Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s executive member for economy, culture and education, said: “Kirkgate is such a vitally important street of Leeds; an area steeped in history where the city’s bustling commercial and retailing sector began its life. Although no longer needed for its original purpose, careful restoration along with the addition of a high-quality atrium means that the First White Cloth Hall will once again play a central role in the revitalisation of this vibrant and distinctive Leeds district.”
David Renwick, Director, North of England, at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “We are excited to support Leeds City Council in the preservation of First White Cloth Hall, with money raised by National Lottery players. This project will contribute to the successful regeneration of the historic Kirkgate area by safeguarding this important local landmark and provide opportunities for people to explore the past and create stories for the future. We know that heritage in the North can play a huge role in bringing people together and creating a sense of pride in people’s hometowns and cities, and in turn boosting the local economy; the First White Cloth Hall is a fantastic example of this.”
