BRADFORD is preparing to celebrate the 150th anniversary of its City Hall – with the area around the iconic building set to undergo some major changes.
This weekend the public will be invited to tour the inside of hall – the first section of which was opened on September 9 1873.
It will give people the rare chance to see areas of the hall that have welcomed kings and queens, see parts of the Victorian building that have been used for TV and film and also glimpse town treasures collected over the years, including elaborate cigar lighters and a pair of asparagus tongs gifted to the city.
And on Monday morning business leaders from across the region were invited to the building to learn about its past and hear about the plans for the future of the city centre.
The hall – home to Bradford Council, was built in three parts – with the first section completed in 1873.
Inspired by the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, the building is famous for its 35 statues of British monarchy that stand on the building’s exterior – with Queen Victoria being the most recent.
In the 150 years since it opened it has been a constant in a rapidly changing city centre.
The area around it has been transformed into an urban park – complete with a large mirror pool.
And work is currently underway to bring even more changes.
A Grade A office space – One City Park, is being built just yards from City Hall, with construction work expected to be completed later this month.
The road next to City Hall – Hall Ings, will be pedestrianised before the end of 2024 to create a new “ribbon park.”
And the former Odeon building will re-open as Bradford Live – a music venue, in 2024.
At Monday’s event business leaders were shown City Hall’s grand interior, and also given a tour of the various regeneration sites in the city centre.
David Shepherd, Director of Place on the Council, said the anniversary of City Hall was a chance to look at Bradford’s past, but also reflect on its future.
He said: “The built environment outside this building is rapidly changing.
“This building reminds us of the importance of safeguarding our heritage, something we are going to do more than ever in the City of Culture year.
“If you lose your identity you can become invisible. We have an amazing opportunity with City of Culture to remind people what Bradford stands for.”
Referring to the projects that are nearing completion, including the new Darley Street Market and One City Park office development, he said: “It is nice to see CGI images turning into reality.
“The pace of change in Bradford is faster than in other cities. One City Park will be completed in the next two weeks – and it will be one of the best office buildings in the UK.”
Council Leader Susan Hinchcliffe told the Telegraph & Argus: “I look at this place and think about all the great leaders we’ve had before and their ambition.
“Many of the buildings nearby were fashioned in the same time and we’ve worked hard to preserve them.
“We have to make sure we match that ambition with our future plans, and that we create a new golden age for the Bradford District through new investment.
“In the next 18 months you’ll see a lot of change in the city centre. We’ll have Bradford Live, a 4,000 seat music venue, One City Park, who we’ve got a major tenant signed up for, Darley Street Market which will have new stalls and a new performance space, and the National Science and Media Museum will have reopened after a refurbishment.”
And after the City of Culture year she said the focus will be on the development of the City Village – a development of 1,000 homes on the site of the soon to be demolished Kirkgate Shopping Centre and Oastler Market.
Cllr Hinchliffe hopes the City of Culture year and upcoming regeneration schemes help bring Bradford more recognition on the national stage.
Cllr Hinchcliffe said: “A lot of people don’t realise how significant Bradford is. It is bigger than Liverpool and Newcastle, but many people don’t always get the scale of Bradford.”
For more information about this weekend's open days visit bradford.gov.uk/arts-and-culture/whats-on-in-bradford-district
Wednesday’s edition of the Telegraph & Argus a commemorative supplement dedicated to the anniversary of City Hall.
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