Temple Works was built in the Egyptian Revival style to impress prominent Leeds politician and businessman John Marshall, who owned four mills in Holbeck at the time. Temple Works remains the only Grade I listed building in Holbeck.Temple Works was built in the Egyptian Revival style to impress prominent Leeds politician and businessman John Marshall, who owned four mills in Holbeck at the time. Temple Works remains the only Grade I listed building in Holbeck.
Temple Works was built in the Egyptian Revival style to impress prominent Leeds politician and businessman John Marshall, who owned four mills in Holbeck at the time. Temple Works remains the only Grade I listed building in Holbeck.

Temple Works Leeds: A look inside the historic building in the city centre inspired by ancient Egyptian temples

Temple Works has often been the subject of architectural conversation in Leeds.
Abi Whistance
By Abi Whistance
Published 20th Feb 2023, 16:30 GMT
Updated 21st Feb 2023, 09:41 GMT

One of the first single-storey factories in the UK, Temple Works was built in 1838 based on the Egyptian Revival designs of engineer James Coombe.

When it was built, it was said that Temple Works was the biggest single room in the world; its 240 horsepower double-beam engine taking up the majority of the space inside. Now, after years of sitting empty, Temple Works is being revived once more after being granted £1 million in funding from the government’s Culture Recovery Fund in 2022.

Find out more about Temple Works’ unusual history by taking a tour of the building below.

Temple Works is made up of an office building and a factory. The office building is made of stone and has 18 full-height windows separated by 18 pillars, with an overhanging cornice in the Egyptian style based on the temples at Antaeopolis and Edfu.

1. Based on the temples at Antaeopolis and Edfu

Temple Works is made up of an office building and a factory. The office building is made of stone and has 18 full-height windows separated by 18 pillars, with an overhanging cornice in the Egyptian style based on the temples at Antaeopolis and Edfu. Photo: Tony Johnson

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The factory building derived from the Typhonium at Dendera. The Typhonium is located about 2.5 kilometres south-east of Dendera in Egypt, and is one of the best-preserved temple complexes of ancient Egypt.

2. Modelled off the best-preserved temple complex in ancient Egypt

The factory building derived from the Typhonium at Dendera. The Typhonium is located about 2.5 kilometres south-east of Dendera in Egypt, and is one of the best-preserved temple complexes of ancient Egypt. Photo: Tony Johnson

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An unusual feature of the Temple Works building is that sheep used to graze on the grass-covered roof. Sheep are not able to use stairs so the first hydraulic lift was invented in order to help move the sheep onto the roof.

3. Sheep used to graze on its roof

An unusual feature of the Temple Works building is that sheep used to graze on the grass-covered roof. Sheep are not able to use stairs so the first hydraulic lift was invented in order to help move the sheep onto the roof. Photo: James Hardisty

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In the 1970s the building was used as the Kays Mail Order Warehouse, and some of the workers were photographed by famous photographer Peter Mitchell outside the building at the end of their night shift.

4. Later used as a warehouse

In the 1970s the building was used as the Kays Mail Order Warehouse, and some of the workers were photographed by famous photographer Peter Mitchell outside the building at the end of their night shift. Photo: James Hardisty

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In 2009 Temple Works was opened as an arts centre, with an initial exhibition and tour as part of Leeds Light Night.

5. Also used as an arts centre in 2009

In 2009 Temple Works was opened as an arts centre, with an initial exhibition and tour as part of Leeds Light Night. Photo: James Hardisty

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There used to be a chimney in the style of an ancient Egyptian obelisk, but after it developed a crack it was demolished and replaced by a brick structure in 1852.

6. Former ancient Egyptian-inspired chimney

There used to be a chimney in the style of an ancient Egyptian obelisk, but after it developed a crack it was demolished and replaced by a brick structure in 1852. Photo: James Hardisty

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