Square that is witness to Bradford city centre changes (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Square that is witness to Bradford city centre changes

8:43am Wednesday 4th January 2012 in Remember When? By David Barnett

DAVID BARNETT looks back at the area known since 1997 as Centenary Square, a place that has seen many changes in Bradford city centre

Over Christmas, the public of Bradford were given a taste of the latest incarnation of Centenary Square as the barriers around the new mirror pool came down and access was allowed to the new project.

The official opening will be in March this year, and there is further work to be done before then. But this is the latest stage in the transformation of Centenary Square that has seen this space in the centre of Bradford evolve over the past few decades.

Those who once frequented the old Mechanics’ Institute in the middle of Bradford would no doubt be amazed at the four fountains within the mirror pool shooting plumes of water 15 metres into the air.

The loss of the Mechanics’ Institute to the same wave of “improvements” that included the demolition of Swan Arcade, is still something that lovers of Bradford city centre’s old architecture still grieve. It was replaced by Provincial House, which was perhaps less-loved than the Mechanics but which is also mourned in some quarters.

But for good or ill, the occupation of the site by buildings gave way to an opening up of the space around City Hall, and the creation of the area that would become Centenary Square.

Although Centenary Square has perhaps seen the most change in Bradford city centre, over the years, whatever the future brings, it is doubtful that City Hall will ever not cast its shadow.

* To read the full article, and see more nostalgic pictures, see today's T&A.