‘Big Turn Ups in ‘Trouser Town’, Liverpool Echo, 17 July 2018
Journalist Barrie Mills was bowled over by Elmet Farmhouse during his visit to Hebden Bridge and Calderdale:
‘Home base was Elmet Farmhouse in the tiny village of Pecket Well high up above the bustling market town of Hebden Bridge. From its stone mullion windows or from a seat in the garden, you look out across Hebden Bridge and neighbouring Heptonstall, enjoying the same view immortalised by photographer Fay Godwin on the cover of the book she produced in 1979 with the late Poet Laureate Ted Hughes, entitled Remains of Elmet.’
Also published in Camarthen Journal, Derby Telegraph, Leicester Mercury, Llaneli Star, South Wales Echo, Newcastle Evening Chronicle, Teeside Evening Gazette and Stoke Sentinel (16-18 July 2018)
Mosaic-like tiles on vaulted ceiling of Leeds Art Gallery cafe
Dante watches over the diners
Henry Moore sculpture outside Leeds Art Gallery
Leeds has a wealth of Victorian buildings
Hepper & Sons Auctioneers
Doorway of Hepper & Sons Auctioneers
East Parade Chambers
Doorway of East Parade Chambers
Corner of St Paul's Street in Leeds
Figure of Atlas over the doorway
North America - one of the four continents adorning the building
Africa
Asia
Europe
Park Square, one of the finest squares in Leeds
House in Park Square
Detail of terracotta tiles round door
Former bank on Boar Lane, Leeds
Corn Exchange, one of the most magnificent buildings in the city
Entrance columns of the Corn Exchange
Amazing roof of the Corn Exchange
The building now houses shops and cafes
The roof resembles the hull of an upturned boat
Leeds City Market - the best Victorian market hall in the country
Leeds City Market
Market clock
Ornamental cast ironwork
A huge array of stalls
Terracotta faience adorns many buildings in Leeds - made locally at Burmantofts
Leeds' arcades are one of the delights of the city
Entrance to the County Arcade
County Arcade - one of jewels in Leeds' crown
The interior has wonderful multi-coloured architectural faience
Mosaic panels symbolising Agriculture and Peace below glazed cupola
Glazed vaulted roof
The whole interior sparkles
Victoria Arcade, a modern arcade adjoining Arcade
The ceiling has stained glass panels by Brian Clarke
Entrance to Thornton's Arcade
Interior of Thornton's Arcade
Clock with mechanical figures in Thornton's Arcade
Magnificent clock outside Queen's Arcade
Temple Works in Leeds
A flax mill modelled on Temple of Horus in Egypt!
Built between 1836-40
Designed by the Bonomi Brothers...
... for the Leeds industrialist John Marshall
It has spectacular carved stone columns
And amazing details
No wonder this building is Grade I Listed
It's well worth taking a walk out to Holbeck to see it
More carved details...
...on Temple Works
Leeds Library on Commercial Street
An independent subscription library dating from 1768
Plasterwork details...
and staircase at Leeds Library
Typical Victorian buildings in Leeds clad with terracotta faience made at Burmantofts Pottery
Former headquarters of the brewers Tetley
Striking red-brick building in Leeds
Interesting curved shape...
and colourful decorative brickwork
St Paul's House in Park Square
An astonishing Victorian warehouse...
... in the Moorish-Venetian style
St Paul's House designed by Thomas Ambler in 1878
Extraordinary decorative detailing...
... patterns round every window
St Paul's House in Park Square
One of the architectural gems of Leeds
Originally built in 1878 as a cloth-cutting works and warehouse for Sir John Barran
It looks more like a Venetian palace
Hispano-Moresque decorative details
Tiles on St Paul's House
It's hard to believe this was an industrial building
St Paul's House, just off the Headrow in Leeds....
Not far from Leeds Town Hall and Leeds Art Gallery - definitely worth a detour
Newly refurbished Leeds Art Gallery
Stunning Victorian interiors restored to their former glory
Leeds Art Gallery reopened in October 2017 following a major refurbishment
Rooflights in first floor galleries
Leeds Art Gallery has never looked so good
The 20th century collection in Leeds Art Gallery is one of the best in the c ountry
Leeds Town Hall
Leeds Town Hall
Terracotta architectural faience, a Leeds speciality, seen on many buildings in the city
Mosaic Panel on Leeds College of Art
Leeds Civic Hall
Clock on Leeds Civic Hall
Leeds Civic Hall
Golden owls, the emblem of the City of Leeds, on Leeds Civic Hall
Leeds Civic Hall
University of Leeds
Brotherton Library in University of Leeds
Brotherton Library
Brotherton Library
Brotherton Library
Brotherton Library
Brotherton Library
Central chandelier in Brotherton Library
Leeds Grand Theatre and Grand Arcade
Leeds Grand Theatre
Grand Arcade next to Leeds Grand Theatre
Exterior detailing on Grand Arcade building
Grand Arcade next to Leeds Grand Theatre
Grand Arcade
Leeds is a splendid Victorian city with a treasure trove of colourful flamboyant buildings dating from the late 19th and early 20th century. Architectural highlights include the Leeds Corn Exchange with its domed wooden roof resembling the hull of a boat, designed by Cuthbert Brodrick in 1864.
The stunning County Arcade designed by theatre architect Frank Matcham, built between 1898-1904, is one of several well-preserved Victorian shopping arcades in Leeds. The glazed faience decoration that adorns the interior of this arcade was made by the local firm of Burmantofts.
The terracotta cladding on the facade of nearby Leeds City Market on Kirkgate is also very spectacular. Designed by Joseph and John Leeming in 1904, the market hall’s cast-iron structure is painted in polychrome. The market itself is one of the most vibrant in the UK.
On the other side of the city is Leeds Civic Hall with its dazzling golden owls, a late Art Deco building designed by Vincent Harris dating from 1931-3.
Dominating the Headrow is the imposing Leeds Town Hall, another highly ornate Victorian building designed by Cuthbert Brodrick, built between 1853-8.
Next door is Leeds Art Gallery, whose newly-restored top-lit galleries provide a stunning setting for its excellent collection of 20th century paintings and sculpture. The Art Gallery’s fabulous Victorian tiled café is not to be missed.
On the other side of the Headrow in the elegant setting of Park Square is St Paul’s House. A Victorian warehouse and cloth cutting works designed in the Moorish-Venetian style by Thomas Ambler in 1878, this extraordinary building is another of the architectural gems of Leeds.
Just 30 miles from Elmet Farmhouse, Leeds is easily reached by train from Hebden Bridge and makes an excellent day out.
For more information about Leeds, follow these links: