Yeadon Town Hall

In the early 19th century the local board of health held its meetings in the old school in what is now Town Hall Square.^[2] Meanwhile the local Mechanics Institute used the lecture hall on the High Street for its meetings.^[2] After both the old school and the lecture hall became inadequate for meetings, the local board and the Mechanics Institute decides to join together in an initiative to commission a proper town hall.^[2] The site selected had previously be owned by a cloth merchant, William Starkey.^[3]

Following a competition with more than 200 entries, and with a budget of £5,000, William Hill was chosen to design the building in the French Gothic style.^[4] The foundation stone for the new building was laid on 10 May 1879.^[2] It was built by the local builder, Richard Hogg, with two storeys and a two-stage clock tower at the centre of the main frontage.^[1] (Potts of Leeds supplied the large hour-striking clock for the tower;^[5] the clock and bell were paid for by Joseph and Ann Peate, of Nunroyd, Guiseley, to serve as a memorial to their twelve-year-old son who had died in December 1879.)^[6] Inside, the design featured offices on the ground floor and an assembly hall on the first floor.^[1] It was officially opened by the banker and politician, William Beckett-Denison, on 26 June 1880.^[2]

The town hall was the headquarters of Yeadon Urban District Council^[7] but ceased to be the local seat of government when the enlarged Aireborough Urban District Council was formed, with its headquarters at Micklefield House in Rawdon, in 1937.^[8] The town hall continued to be used as a public venue and concert performers included the contralto singer, Kathleen Ferrier, who made an appearance on 3 December 1944.^[9]

After Aireborough Urban District Council was abolished in 1972, responsibility for the management of the building was transferred to Leeds City Council in 1974.^[10] In 1980 the television producer, Barney Colehan, led a week of festivities to celebrate the centenary of the original opening of the building.^[2] The building was used as a registrar's office in the Yorkshire Television programme The Beiderbecke Tapes in 1985.^[11] The main assembly hall, which seats up to 500 people, was renovated in 1999.^[12]

On 1 April 2019, the management of the venue was taken over by local theatre producer, Jamie Hudson, who created a "Community Interest Company" in order to restore, refurbish and manage the building. Large portions of the building were refurbished and the theatre bar on the first floor was extensively restored.^[13] Following a public vote, the refurbished clock was given the name 'Peate's Clock' in memory of its original dedication.^[6] The town hall continues to host touring music and theatre shows^[14] although the highlight of the year is usually the Christmas Spectacular.^[15]

In February 2022, it was announced that Yeadon Town Hall would receive the old organ console from Leeds Town Hall, after a 24 hour process to digitally sample the old organ of Leeds Town Hall. It is hoped that the organ will be playing in Yeadon Town Hall by December 2022.^[16]

• Listed buildings in Guiseley and Rawdon