Corn Exchange

LEEDS

SE3033SW CALL LANE 714-1/78/75 (South East side) 19/10/51 Corn Exchange

GV I

Corn exchange, now shopping precinct. 1861-63. By Cuthbert Brodrick, converted 1989-90. Rough rock, millstone grit, diamond rustication, grey slate dome, multi-flue stacks ranged around building to rear of parapet, iron cresting to oval dome with glazing on north side. Oval on plan, 2 storeys over basement. Closely-spaced round-arched windows in double recesses to both storeys, plate-glass sashes. 3 entrances: 2 large single-storey semicircular arcaded porches with attached Tuscan columns supporting cornice, these facing Duncan Street and New Market Street/Kirkgate; 3 semicircular steps to entrance facing Crown Street. Heavy moulded sill and string courses, bucranium frieze, dentilled cornice, parapet with clock, coat of arms decorated with swags and scrolls, inscription: CORN EXCHANGE and ERECTED A.D. 1862. INTERIOR: partly glazed dome with semi-elliptical and semicircular iron ribs. 2 storeys of moulded brick arches to 59 office units, the upper ones accessible from a balcony with cast-iron railings supported on large brackets. Retains most of the original furnishings: merchants' desks, sample trays, name boards. C20 conversion included removal of part of ground floor for access to basement with new stairs and matching cast-iron railings. Basement floor Elland flags. Cuthbert Brodrick (1822-1905) trained with HF Lockwood and began his practice in Hull. He won the open competition for the design of Leeds Town Hall, Victoria Square (qv) in 1853 and also designed the Mechanics' Institute, now Art School, in 1865. (The Builder: 1860-: 515; The Builder: 1861-: 648, 651; The Builder: 1896-: 512; Building News, Vol 10, 31 July 1863: 597).

Listing NGR: SE3039333387