It could be the sorry story behind many a 21st century showpiece development but this drama is firmly set during the reign of Queen Victoria.

It is the saga that surrounded the construction of one of Leeds's best-loved landmarks – the 150-year-old Town Hall, which, had some worthies got their way, would never have been built at all.

By the middle of the 19th century Leeds was rapidly expanding and calls were coming for new administrative headquarters to be built, although there were those who failed to see the need.

Some, like Coun Titley, argued it would be "unwise and inexpedient" to proceed while others felt a simple, utilitarian structure would be acceptable.

Civic pride

But there were those who wanted a grand municipal palace as a statement of civic pride.

It was the view of Dr John Heaton, secretary of the Leeds Improvement Society, that "if a noble municipal palace that might fairly vie with some of the best town halls of the continent were to be erected in the middle of their hitherto squalid and unbeautiful town, it would become a practical admonition to the populace of the value of beauty and art, and in due course of time men would learn to live up to it."

Clearly such a palace would not come cheap. Quite what the ragged-trousered slum dwellers thought of spending large sums of public money on the building is not clear, but the doctor's eloquence struck a chord with some people and it was agreed the scheme should go ahead with the council granting the princely sum of £39,000 for the work.

An inexperienced 29-year-old architect called Cuthbert Brodrick won a competition to design the town hall. He would go on to design the city's Corn Exchange, Mechanic's Institute – soon to be opened as the new City Museum – and the imposing Grand Hotel in Scarborough.

Even after the project was approved, the design of the building remained a subject of controversy. Some councillors argued such an important building should have a tower while others, keeping a city fatherly eye on the pennies, felt it would be a waste of money.

Perhaps predictably, that Victorian sense of civic pride won the day and a tower with a clock and four-ton bell was ultimately given the go ahead in 1856.

Three years earlier builder Samuel Atack had won the contract to build the hall and the projected cost had risen to a little under £42,000.

Atack had problems very early on. He struggled to find enough skilled workers and was also short of capital. There were times when work came to a halt and early in 1857 Atack, having overspent his budget and had disputes with Brodrick, went bankrupt. Other contractors were brought in to finish the work.

The town hall ultimately cost about three times its original budget but the city at last had the municipal palace envisioned by men like Heaton. Standing 225ft it was the city's tallest building and remained so for over 100 years until Royal Exchange House – now the Park Plaza Hotel –- was built in 1966.

Factories and mills were shut for the day on September 7 1858 and thousands of people turned out to see Queen Victoria officially open the town hall. Dignitaries and invited guests were treated to the first playing of the building's magnificent organ which, at 50ft high and weighing about 70 tons, was one of the largest in Europe.

With its courts, council offices, mayor's parlour, concert hall and bridewell, the town hall quickly became a key part of city life and was visited – either willingly or unwillingly – by all strata of Victorian society.

While criminals and other ne'er-do-wells languished in the cells in the bowels of the building, the great and good enjoyed concerts in the Victoria Hall above.

Today the courts, bridewell and mayor's parlour have all moved out but Brodrick's grade one architectural masterpiece remains a versatile and major venue, hosting a variety of events from concerts to conferences, business seminars to boxing bouts.

Wonderful

Helping to ensure the smooth running of the place is something of a labour of love for Steve Hunter, town hall manager.

He said: "It's a wonderful building. One day it can be hosting a top international orchestra, another it's the Kaiser Chiefs.

"It's quite a complex place with lots of areas the public don't normally get to see. Above the Albert Room it's like something out of Dickens's Oliver Twist and you can imagine Fagin living there.

"Contractors doing work often say they'll have the job done in a week but the old place fights back with a surprise or two so it's never that straightforward."

It reserved one of those surprises for Steven himself when contractors carrying out work discovered long-forgotten court documents dated 1931 containing details of a couple charged with larceny of a gramophone. The two accused were called Ernest and Nellie Hunter – Steve's grandparents.

Steve, who knew nothing about the incident, said: "For me to end up working here when these documents were found was quite unreal."

Music – from brass bands to the world-famous Leeds Piano Competition – is a feature of the building and Steve hopes that will continue to be the case for many years to come.

He said: "Some people say Leeds needs a purpose-built concert hall but our town hall is a wonderful venue. We have something very special and we shouldn't forget that."

l Leeds Civic Trust director Kevin Grady and Leeds civic architect John Thorp will deliver a talk on the town hall's history and architecture in the town hall at 7pm on September 11.