Arndale House, the modern eight-story office block that disgraced architect John Paulson designed, is still there in Charles Street, between Market Street and what used to be flourishing Broadway.

What this building replaced was Swan Arcade, an ornate four-storey building which had been a feature of central Bradford for more than 80 years. It was being built when, on the eve of 1877, the huge processional funeral of industrialist and philanthropist Sir Titus Salt passed by on its way to Saltaire.

The building where the young J B Priestley had worked as a clerk before 1914 was deemed to be superfluous to the requirements of 1960s Bradford and the grand design of Bradford’s chief engineer Stanley Wardley.

As the T&A reported when the demolition plan was made public in the autumn of 1960, Swan Arcade had been constructed at a cost of £150,000 on the site of the White Swan Inn.

“The man with the foresight to build it was Angus Holden, four times Mayor and a Bradford MP. He named his arcade after the White Swan and incorporated graceful swans in stone and ironwork at the main Market Street entrance.”

Swan Arcade’s last day as a shopping arcade was Saturday, March 3, 1962. In the weeks leading up to the dying Swan’s finale most of the 112 tenants occupying the shops and offices moved to other premises, leaving only two on the last day – an outfitters’ with racks still filled with suits and coats, and a sweet shop.

“Former tenants and workmen removing fittngs and fixtures were the only other people at work in what was a dusty and melancholy scene. It is estimated it will take about four months to pull down the city’s only arcade...” the T&A said on March 3.

“The names of the ground floor occupants were originally painted on the windows against a background which shut out the light. So hanging mirrors were placed in such a position that they reflected light from outside into offices and shops.

“The old lift, or chain of cages, never stopped running in business hours but it went so slowly that it was easy to step in or out as it reached floor level and no attendant was needed.”

Arndale Property Trust, which also got rid of Kirkgate Market in 1973 and later erected the concrete Arndale Centre, bought the building in 1955.