The New Exchange at Bradford

J. and W. Beanland, builders

1867

Source: Illustrated London News

“The opening of the new Exchange at Bradford took place on Wednesday last. The site upon which this building has been erected is exceedingly irregular, and presented many difficulties, being in the form of a triangle, with the narrowest point, towards the principal front. Upon this ground to construct a large hall of regular form, and to surround it with shops and offices, which should be well lighted and conveniently approached, was no easy task.” [Continued below]

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This, however, has been successfully accomplished by the architects Lockwood and Mawson, and the interior of the building gives no indication that any such difficulty existed.

The principal entrance, at the east end of the building, is one of its most attractive features. A large space has here been formed, open at the sides, and with a roof groined in stone. This will in summer be an exceedingly convenient place for the subscribers to stand and converse in. Through this the great hall is reached.

The interior of the great hall is very handsome. It is 86 ft. long and 56ft. wide, and, in addition, has a large apse, or semicircular recess, on its north side, which is a pleasing feature in the room, and an admirable place for persons wishing to be more retired. The roof is divided into three compartments - those on each side being 10 ft. in width — and the centre compartment is supported by eighteen large polished shafts of red granite, 2 ft. in diameter, with beautifully carved capitals. From these columns arches spring, which are filled with glass. The roof is entirely open, with the spars and timbers exposed. The principals or main supports are double, and the space between is filled with pierced woodwork. The hammer beams are terminated with allegorical figures bearing shields. There are large windows at each end with tracery, an dormer lights in the roof. The walls of the hall are of cleansed stonework, with deeply-moulded plinth, above which, 3 ft. in height, is a lining of rich encaustic tiles. The floor, also, is covered with tiles, and is certainly one of the most successful, both in design and workmanship, that has yet been executed in this country in the same material. The whole appearance of this room will be wonderfully improved when the colour, which exists now only in the floor and wall-lining above the plinth, is carried into the ceiling of the ambulatory, and throughout the timbers of the roofs. The effect will then be exceedingly rich and harmonious. The building is, however, hardly dry enough for this to be done at present. The great hall is lighted by ten large gaseliers of appropriate design, in hammered iron and copper, illuminated in various colours, and gilded. They are suspended from between the principals or main timbers of the roof. The lights are arranged in small semicircles round the gaseliers in a most satisactory manner.

The second entrance of the building is in Bank-street, and gives access to both the great hall and news or reading room. This room is 68 ft. by 28ft, and furnished throughout in oak. In the original design it extended the whole length of Bank-street, with entrances at each corner; but, the number of shops being increased, the arrangement was altered.

The front of the building in Market-street is divided on the ground floor into eight shops, with a cellar and mezzanine floor to each. The first and second floors are arranged throughout in groups of offices, conveniently planned and entered from three staircases. Accommodation is, however, provided at the tower end on the first floor for the Chamber of Commerce, and their rooms when completed will be large and lofty.

The building is designed in the Gothic style, adapted to modern wants and requirements. It was desirable that no projections or recesses should occur in Market-street, and the Marketstreet front was therefore kept unbroken. At the east end, and forming the entrance, is placed the clock-tower, which rises to the height of 150 ft. The windows to the principal front have coupled shafts, in serpentine marble; and the building is crowned by an open and pierced parapet, terminated at each angle by corbelled turrets. On each angle of the tower are statues of Bishop Blaize, the patron saint of woolcombers; and King Edward, who granted the trading charter to Bradford. Between each of the large windows on the ground floor are circular medallions containing heads of men who have contributed to the commercial enterprise of the country and the prosperity of this town.

The principal contractors are Messrs. J. and W. Beanland, of Bradford. The building has cost about £30,000, and has been erected from the designs of Messrs. Lockwood and Mawson, architects, of Bradford and London.

Related material

Bibliography

“The New Exchange at Bradford.” Illustrated London News. 50 (16 March 1867): 261. Hathi Trust Digital Library version of a copy in the University of Michigan Library. Web. 14 January 2016.

Last modified 14 January 2016