White Cloth Hall, Leeds

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Acebikerchick

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From the BBC Leeds Website

Demolition for historic First White Cloth Hall in Leeds

Part of a historical Leeds property is being pulled down after problems were found in an adjoining building.
The Grade II-listed First White Cloth Hall in Kirkgate, which was built in 1711, is derelict and there are plans to rebuild it.
The city council said the neighbouring building was at risk of collapse and could pose a risk.
Materials gathered from the demolition will be stored and used to rebuild the cloth hall at a later date.

The cloth hall features on English Heritage's "at risk" list of historical monuments needing urgent repairs.

It is to be rebuilt as part of a £1m makeover of Kirkgate, the oldest street in Leeds, funded by Heritage Lottery Fund cash.

Just 15 per cent of the first White Cloth Hall to serve the growing Leeds textile industry remains at its location in Kirkgate, next to the city's Victorian market. Built in 1711, the remains are hidden behind a facade of semi-derelict shops.
The original White Cloth Hall disappeared as new structures were added during the Georgian and Victorian eras of the late 1700s and the 1800s.

The remains were discovered more than 20 years ago behind the frontages of 98 to 100 Kirkgate. In 2005 they were given listed building status.

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And now the demolition begins

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Heres another pic found of the Cloth hall built in 1711. Derelict and deteriorating. An exceptionally rare example of an early C18 arcaded cloth hall. Total rebuild likely to be necessary, as structure is very decayed. Part of generally dilapidated block along Kirkgate, which is being proposed for the Heritage Lottery Fund Townscape Heritage Initiative programme. This is behind the row of shops...

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As it was...

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Not my photo so apologies, but this was what Kirkgate has been like for years until they pulled down the shops to make way for the old Cloth hall as in my photos above..

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Glad some work is happening at last, but a shame it had to come at the expense of White Cloth Hall, looks like it could have made a great independant shopping mall or something....surely they could have just stuck some terracotta tiles on the outside ;)
 
How amazing that it's been hidden behind the later shops like that. Nice to see it revealed during demolition...hope they do rebuild it, as it looks like a great piece of history there.
Cheers, Ace. :)
 

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