Sponsored by
Historic Leeds building may have to be rebuilt
The restoration of one of the oldest buildings in Leeds is under threat.
Last month the YEP reported that developers want to bring the first White Cloth Hall back to life.
Only 15 per cent of the original structure, which dates back to the early 18th century, exists hidden behind crumbling shops at 98, 99 and 100 Kirkgate.
Scaffolding and netting have been put up to protect the public from falling masonry and metal fencing has closed off the footpath.
But surveyors have discovered the next door building – number 101 – has serious structural damage including a crumbling lintel.
It must be demolished and work is due to start on Wednesday. This causes a problem as the adjoining buildings are Grade II* listed.
Unsafe sections will have to be removed, brick-by-brick, labelled and then re-built.
For Gordon Noble, owner of Hills Furnishing Stores Limited at 103 Kirkgate, the work cannot start soon enough.
He said: "It's very unstable, that's why they've put up all this scaffolding because they're worried about something falling off and hitting somebody.
"We don't really know what will happen to our shop, which we rent, until the demolition has begun. It's a sad state of affairs in this street at the moment."
The block is owned by property firm City Fusion and Harewood-based investment company Vektor Investments who will pay for the demolition work.
Mr Noble added: "We have been told over and over again that it would be mended and the scaffolding moved, but nothing happened.
"It's absolutely killing our business because no-one can walk past our shop window."
A Leeds City Council spokesman said: "The first White Cloth Hall is one of the most important historic buildings in the city, but a recent inspection showed the building next to it is on the verge of falling down.
"Because it helps support the hall there is a significant risk that both could collapse, posing an urgent risk to public safety.
"Parts of both buildings will be demolished. Where possible, an archaeologist will be on hand to record anything the demolition will reveal, and all the materials salvaged, carefully labelled and stored so they can rebuild the hall.
"We are also working with the building's owners to bring forward the redevelopment that includes the hall's restoration."
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Leeds
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -1 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
