Huddersfield Town Hall

Huddersfield Town Hall is a municipal facility in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom. It is a Grade II listed building.[1]

Huddersfield Town Hall
Huddersfield Town Hall at the northern (Ramsden Street) end
LocationHuddersfield
Coordinates53.6439°N 1.7826°W / 53.6439; -1.7826
Built1881
ArchitectJohn Henry Abbey
Architectural style(s)Classical style
Listed Building – Grade II
Designated29 September 1978
Reference no.1231723
Shown in West Yorkshire

History

The building was commissioned to replace the offices of the Huddersfield Improvement Commissioners who had initially been based in offices in South Parade, since demolished, from 1848 and then in the Philosophical Hall on Ramsden Street [lower-alpha 1] from 1859.[3][4] The new building, which was designed by John Henry Abbey in the Classical style, was completed in two stages; the stone was from Crosland Moor and the carving was sculpted by Thomas Stocks of Berry Brow.[5]

The northern part of the building, which included the municipal offices, was officially opened by Alderman Joseph Woodhead, the mayor, on 26 June 1878.[6] The northern part was designed with a large porch porch, flanked by two columns with parapet above.[1] The southern part, which included the concert hall and the magistrates' court, was opened by Alderman Thomas Denham, the then-mayor, in October 1881.[7] The southern part of the building was given large Corinthian order columns at the first floor level on the exterior of the building.[1]

Sir Charles Hallé conducted the Huddersfield Choral Society at the official opening in October 1881.[1] The concert organ, which was built by Henry Willis & Sons and originally installed in the Albert Hall in Newport, Wales, was bought on the advice of Sir Walter Parratt who played the new organ at the opening concert recital.[8]

The town hall was the meeting place of Huddersfield Municipal Borough which secured county borough status in 1889.[9] In April 1889 the first annual "Mrs Sunderland Music Festival" took place at Huddersfield Town Hall with the retired soprano Susan Sunderland presenting the prizes to the winners. The music festival has expanded since then and in the 21st century it occupies nine days.[10]

After the county borough was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972 in 1974, it became the headquarters of the Kirklees Council.[11]

Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh visited the town hall and waived to the crowd from the balcony on 26 July 1949.[12][13]

Following the most recent restoration of the organ in 1997, the leading organist Gordon Stewart attended and played Dance Suite for organ, which had been specially written by the composer Noel Rawsthorne for the re-opening of the concert hall.[14]

See also

Notes
  1. The Philosophical Hall became the Theatre Royal and was rebuilt, after being burnt down in February 1880; it was finally demolished because of its "dilapidated condition" in 1961.[2]

References
  1. Historic England. "Huddersfield Town Hall including wall and railings to area (1231723)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  2. "Theatres in Huddersfield". Arthur Lloyd. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  3. "Before the Town Hall: A Short Guide to Huddersfield's Early Civic Buildings". Huddersfield Local History Society. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  4. "Huddersfield formed its very own council 150 years ago this week". Examiner Live. 3 September 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  5. "Huddersfield Town Hall". Examiner Live. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  6. "History of Huddersfield Town Hall" (PDF). Kirklees Council. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  7. New Buildings and Restorations. The Architect and Building News. 14 June 1873. p. 320. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  8. "Huddersfield Town Hall". Gordon Stewart. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  9. "Family History: Map of 1889 Huddersfield town centre republished". Examiner Live. 13 April 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  10. "The Festival Aims And History | Mrs Sunderland Festival". www.mrssunderlandfestival.com. Retrieved 2020-11-20.
  11. "Cabinet - Council Chamber, Huddersfield Town Hall". Kirklees Council. 27 June 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  12. "A right royal visit: When Princess Elizabeth visited Huddersfield in 1949 from the Examiner nostalgia archive". Examiner Live. 31 August 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  13. "First visit by Queen to Huddersfield came while still a Princess". Examiner Live. 20 April 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  14. "Dance Suite". Hyperion Records. 1997. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
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