Bradford College, Old Building

Bradford College, Old Building, was completed in 1882 and designed by T C Hope of Hope and Jardine. The building features a nearly symmetrical facade made of fine ashlar, showcasing Italian Renaissance and Baroque details. It has two tall storeys situated on a hillside site. The left side of the facade is highlighted by giant Corinthian pilasters, while the right side is marked by engaged columns of the same style, both resting on pedestals that project from the plinth. A modillion bracket cornice aligns with the columns and is integrated into the parapet. The first floor has round arched paired light windows with colonnettes; the windows on the left side differ slightly and include a carved tympanum. The entrance bay is accentuated by a break featuring doubled giant orders, with an entablature topped by a segmental pediment. Above this, a tower rises, which includes a square colonetted window with a base-broached design and urns at the corners, leading to a polygonal lantern supported by columns, crowned with a stone dome and cupola. On the east side, there is a three-bay return that follows a similar design and also breaks forward. The tower is a notable feature of the Bradford skyline.