FOR many Bradfordians, Kirkgate Shopping Centre has been a backdrop to the story of their lives.

It has been the scene of first dates, marriage proposals, family outings, and for many people it was where they started their working lives.

This year is the 40th anniversary of the centre's official opening. It was built where the old Kirkgate Market stood and traded for a century - but Bradford’s retail heritage on that site dates back even further.

“In 1705 it was occupied by Manor Hall, a private residence, and later there was a market place there,” says Bradford historian Andrew Bolt. “What the Kirkgate Centre has is a rich heritage of being on a market spot from Day One. It was the retail hub of Bradford right from the start, when the city first began to develop. The old market cross stands in the centre’s Westgate entrance.

"The original entrance to Manor Hall is in Peel Park, by the lake."

The shopping centre site was also home to a cemetery. "Where the escalators are was a little road leading to Kirkgate Wesleyan Chapel," says Andrew. "The chapel was where the lifts are now, and the cemetery was where WH Smith was. A headstone at Bowling Cemetery is dedicated to the deceased, moved there in about 1890."

Kirkgate Market was built in 1872, designed by Lockwood and Mawson who created City Hall.

“The market was a magnificent building, people were upset when it was demolished in 1973, but Bradford was a developing city; it was a new era with a new dynamic," says Andrew. "Until then, each area had its own shops, people didn’t go into town unless it was a special occasion, but retail centres changed all that. And new building methods changed the face of the city centre.”

The first UK purchase of the Arndale Property Trust, run by Arnold Hagenbach and Sam Chippendale, the pioneers behind American-style malls, was Bradford’s Swan Arcade in 1954. Due to store leases, work on demolishing and developing the site didn’t get underway for several years, with the first phase starting in 1972. Phase two was completed in 1976.

When the centre opened, following a £4million investment - likened by the Press to a “a space-age airport concourse” - it joined a growing number of Arndale venues, the first having opened in Tyneside in 1961. When Prudential bought Bradford’s centre in 1989 it underwent a refurbishment which introduced octagonal-shaped gazebo shops. In 2000 a further refurbishment included newly-positioned escalators and a glass lift.

In 2006 it was bought by Crownway Investments. Last year HIG bought Kirkgate Shopping and the centre is asset managed by Bride Hall, soon to unveil a five-year plan.

Today it includes more than 70 retail units and Bradford Council’s Kirkgate Market. Centre manager Catherine Riley says in its 40th year, the centre is moving forward with initiatives and partnerships to be revealed over coming months. “We’re having conversations with new retailers to discuss contracts for our larger units,” she adds.

“Kirkgate has the ability to go forward,” says Andrew. “Bradford has always had a ‘top and bottom’ bit of town. Kirkgate has an emotional pull for people; with memories including the hippopotamus slide - a feature of Arndale centres across the country - and Santa’s Grotto.”

To celebrate the anniversary, Bradfordians have been sharing memories of the shopping centre on social media. Sam Britton recalls “hanging out with the wooden hippo near the escalators”, while Steve White has fond memories of Hagenbachs cafe: “ It was mine and my ex-wife’s Saturday morning essential visit in the late 1980s for chips and gravy, served by the wonderful Maria.”

Michaela Boyd is one of several people who recall Chelsea Girl, where many a teenage girl spent hours browsing in the 1970s. “I spent so much time in there with my mum. Happy days now gone but never forgotten,” she says.

Sue Taylor adds: “Chelsea girl - spent my wages in there. Happy days!”

And there are fond recollections of Lucy Lockets, on the upper floor the shopping centre, which was the “go to” place for ear piercing. Stephanie Dance Worrall says: “I got my ears pierced at Lucy Lockets then went in the photo booth round the corner to have my picture taken with my new earrings!”

Ste Softley adds: “I got my ear pierced at Lucy Lockets too. I anticipated them putting me to sleep and having to stay somewhere overnight. It was over and done with in a second.” Kathryn Conway McNally says: “I had my ears pierced there and fainted when she did the first one. Almost didn’t get the other done but was told ‘they’re already paid for’.”

Jane Howorth recalls working at Miss Selfridge: “I was there in 1976 for seven years. I went on to Boots when we had both floors, I was on the No7 counter. Wonderful memories, even did a Lord Mayor’s fashion show while there.”

Helen Lincoln also worked in Miss Selfridge, in summer 1990 while a student. “My favourite memory is Mum treating me to a bun upstairs in Silvio’s when we’d been shopping. It was always Silvio’s!”

Matthew Crowther remembers “sausage and chips at Littlewoods restaurant, and meals in the market cafes - all day breakfasts and roast dinner”, while Susan Mckie was a regular at Baxendale’s cafe: “If we were flush Nana would take us for a cup of tea and a toasted teacake.”

Alec Marlow enjoyed browsing through vinyl in record shops: “EGS records, Our Price. Many memories,” while Julie Peel sang with the Carlton Bolling school choir “at the bottom of the escalators one Christmas in the early 80s”.

Sean Mcnulty recalls a celebrity appearance at the shopping centre: “I saw Roy Castle playing his trumpet there. It was great seeing the man from TV’s Record Breakers.”

And for Graeme Dutton, the memories are romantic: “First time I met the girl who is now my wife when she worked at Eatons, I stopped to buy her roses at the flower gallery.”

* Post your memories on facebook.com/KirkgateShopping or Twitter on @KirkgateCentre, hashtag #KirkgateMemories