Leeds Town Hall

The following source list was originally available only on paper in one of the West Yorkshire Archive Service offices. It may have been compiled many years ago and could be out of date. It was designed to act as a signpost to records of interest on a particular historical subject, but may relate only to one West Yorkshire district, or be an incomplete list of sources available.

Leeds Town Hall

Plans, Drawings, Specifications and Estimates Leeds Town Hall, specifications and estimates for building, 1852 (ref. WYL1003) Photocopies of Cuthbert Brodrick’s specifications for Leeds Town Hall, about 1853 (ref. LX179) Leeds Town Hall and Court House plans includes basement, ground and 1st floor plans, north, south, east and west elevations, fronts and cross sections, detail drawings of doors, skirting, door knobs, ornaments, arches, staircases, stonework and other architectural features, roof plan, gates at entrance, details of Great Hall and Gallery and council chamber, 19th century (ref. LC/Wks) Cuthbert Brodrick contract drawings, 19th century (ref. LC/TC Bin 42) Leeds Town Hall organ drawings and contracts, 1858 (ref. LC/TC/Organ/1-13) Town Clerk’s files about alterations and proposed alterations to the Bridewell, Leeds Town Hall, 1948-1949, 1954-1957 (ref. LC/TC/Deeds 810213 ,815196) Town Clerk’s file about Leeds Town Hall and Municipal Buildings sued as accommodation by police, 1952-1961 (ref. LC/TC/Deeds/813099) Contract plans for gallery seating with details of electroliers, Leeds Town Hall, 1894 (ref. LC/ENG/A71) Diagram for festival gallery, 1892 (ref. LC/ENG/A79)

Minutes and Correspondence Copy minutes from the Town Hall committee, 1850s (ref. LC/TCBin 42) Correspondence with Cuthbert Brodrick, 19th century (ref. LC/TCBin 42) Extracts from the Journal of James Donaldson, Clerk of Works, includes references to Leeds Town Hall, 1850s (ref. LC/TC Bin 42) Microfilm copies of diaries of Thomas R and Col. T Walter Harding, which may include entries about the building of Leeds Town Hall, 1850s (ref. LX205)

Opening of the Town Hall Official Programme for the opening of the Town Hall, 1858 (ref. LC/TC/A) List of invited guests, 1858 (ref. LC/TC/I) Leaflet about code of behaviour on the Queen’s visit, 7 Sep 1858 (ref. LC/TC/J) Correspondence about the Queen’s visit, 1850s (ref. LC/TC/Town Newspapers/A-Z) Newspaper articles about Queen’s visit, 1858 (ref. LC/TC/Newspapers/A-G)

Images Postcards of Leeds Town Hall, 20th century (ref. WYL735) Postcard views of Leeds including the Town Hall, early 20th century (ref. WYL1730) Photograph of reception of High Court Judges with Lord Mayor at Leeds Town Hall, 12 Jan 1972 (ref. WYL5009/72) Photograph of reception attended by Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress at Leeds Town Hall, 12 Apr 1972 (ref. WYL5009/112) Negatives and photographs of exterior of Leeds Town Hall, clock tower, interior, Victoria Hall and council chamber, late 20th century (ref. WYL2059/1/97) Black and white photographs of George Mann & Co., stall at the National Welfare Exhibition in Leeds Town Hall, 1917 (ref. WYL1782/2/3)

Other Town Hall records Leeds Town Hall, Bridewell record of prisoners, 1826-1829 (ref. LC/TC/acc.3378) Leeds Town Hall, booking diaries, 1979-1982, 1991-1996 and inventory of contents of Town Hall, 1905 (ref. WYAS1876)

Maps and Plans Plan of an estate between Park Lane and Woodhouse Lane belonging to J Calverley, Esq. showing site for Town Hall, mid 19th century (ref. WYL160/M213) Seating plan in Town Hall, 19th century (ref. WYL160/M3) Ordnance Survey Maps 25”, 1854 (ref. 218), 1893, 1908, 1921, 1933 (ref 218.2), 10ft, 1891 (ref. 218.2.216)

Printed Material A collection of concert programmes, mostly Leeds Town Hall, 1953-1979 (ref. WYL5062)

Related Material Court records (as trials were heard in Leeds Town Hall) Leeds Triennial Musical Festival records including minutes, correspondence, programmes, scrapbooks, record of music and seating plans, 1886-1953 (ref. WYL201) Leeds Triennial Musical Festival programmes, 1928-1970 (ref. WYL1959) Papers of Sir William Sterndale Bennett about Leeds Musical Festival held at opening of Leeds Town Hall, 1858 (ref. WYL1473)

Secondary Sources Historic Architecture of Leeds by Derek Linstrum, pages 54-57 West Yorkshire Architects and Architecture by Derek Linstrum, pages 339-343 Towers and Colonnades, The Architecture of Cuthbert Brodrick by Derek Linstrum, pages 17-41