Description
For the past 150 years, Bradford City Hall has proudly stood in the heart of the city centre. But did you know it’s home to Victorian police cells, or that Winston Churchill once gave a rousing wartime speech to a huge crowd outside?
Built in a grand, Gothic style and opened in 1873, this Grade I listed building is the crowning achievement of the prolific local architects Lockwood & Mawson and a symbol of Bradford’s wealth. Originally called the Town Hall (its name was officially changed in 1965), it was hailed as a “magnificent architectural triumph” and showed the rest of the world how important Bradford was at a time when it became ‘Worstedopolis’, the textile capital of the world.
The story of this famous landmark is told in a new book, Bradford City Hall: 150 years of Civic Pride, by writer and lecturer Dr Simon Ross Valentine. Join him for this special talk, part of our new series of events exploring the city’s heritage, celebrating its 150th anniversary.
About the Speaker
Simon Ross Valentine
Simon Ross Valentine is a freelance writer, lecturer and published author. He has lived in Bradford since 1988, teaching at Bradford Grammar School and lecturing part-time at the local university. Highly qualified, he possesses a doctorate on 18th century history.
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