Great Hall of the University of Leeds
Encyclopedia
The Great Hall is a grade II listed Gothic Revival
building located at the University of Leeds
in West Yorkshire
, England
. The building is primarily used for formal occasions such as graduation ceremonies and university students' examinations. Its undercroft
was previously utilised to house the university library collections before the Brotherton Library
opened in 1936. The Great Hall is one illustration of the many diverse styles of buildings on the campus of the University of Leeds
; it is an example of red brick architecture associated with the term red brick university.
(alongside the University of Liverpool
and the University of Manchester
). This estate was later demolished in 1884 for it to become the site of the Clothworkers buildings of the Baines Memorial Wing and the Great Hall building itself. The buildings were designed by the late architect
Alfred Waterhouse R.A
(famed for his works on the Natural History Museum
in London
) in red pressed brick and had dressings of Bolton Wood stone in a Gothic
Collegiate style.
This collegiate style used by Alfred Waterhouse helped to coin the term red brick university, a phrase first used by Edgar Allison Peers
(under the pseudonym "Bruce Truscot"), a Spanish Professor at the University of Liverpool
in his 1943 book Redbrick University when describing the Victoria Building, University of Liverpool
. Since then, the six civic universities founded around 1900 independently use the term red brick university, these consist of the University of Birmingham
, the University of Bristol
, the University of Liverpool
, the University of Leeds
, the University of Manchester
and the University of Sheffield
.
The Gothic
style Great Hall incorporated the university's main library and cost around £22,000 to build which was raised partly by public appeal. It was originally used as the main University Library until the opening of the Brotherton Library in 1936 and other areas which opened in the same period such as the Parkinson Building
. As well as being the location for the ceremonial occasions, it was also used for meetings, exams and public lectures.
The Great Hall was opened in October 1894 by the Duke and Duchess of York. The panorama seen from the door of the Great Hall takes in nearly 150 years of university-related building. From the redbrick architecture of the early Clothworkers buildings to the Portland stone of the Michael Sadler arts building to the steel and glass of the Marjorie and Arnold Ziff Building. Leeds therefore takes its place as one of the largest and most diverse universities in the UK.
The Great Hall is still used to this day for meetings, examinations and graduation ceremonies and is one of a small cluster of buildings on the University of Leeds
campus exhibiting redbrick architecture traits associated with a select number of civic universities in the United Kingdom
.
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
building located at the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
in West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The building is primarily used for formal occasions such as graduation ceremonies and university students' examinations. Its undercroft
Undercroft
An undercroft is traditionally a cellar or storage room, often brick-lined and vaulted, and used for storage in buildings since medieval times. In modern usage, an undercroft is generally a ground area which is relatively open to the sides, but covered by the building above.- History :While some...
was previously utilised to house the university library collections before the Brotherton Library
Brotherton Library
The Brotherton Library is a 1936 Grade II listed Beaux-Arts building with some art deco fittings, located on the main campus of the University of Leeds...
opened in 1936. The Great Hall is one illustration of the many diverse styles of buildings on the campus of the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
; it is an example of red brick architecture associated with the term red brick university.
History
The Great Hall is built on a site of the former Beech Grove Hall Estate, which was purchased in 1879 by the then Yorkshire College before the college joined the now defunct Victoria UniversityVictoria University (UK)
Victoria University was an English federal university established by Royal Charter, 20 April 1880 at Manchester: a university for the North of England open to affiliation by colleges such as Owens College which immediately did so. University College Liverpool joined the University in 1884, followed...
(alongside the University of Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
and the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
). This estate was later demolished in 1884 for it to become the site of the Clothworkers buildings of the Baines Memorial Wing and the Great Hall building itself. The buildings were designed by the late architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
Alfred Waterhouse R.A
Alfred Waterhouse
Alfred Waterhouse was a British architect, particularly associated with the Victorian Gothic Revival architecture. He is perhaps best known for his design for the Natural History Museum in London, and Manchester Town Hall, although he also built a wide variety of other buildings throughout the...
(famed for his works on the Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is one of three large museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, England . Its main frontage is on Cromwell Road...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
) in red pressed brick and had dressings of Bolton Wood stone in a Gothic
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
Collegiate style.
This collegiate style used by Alfred Waterhouse helped to coin the term red brick university, a phrase first used by Edgar Allison Peers
Edgar Allison Peers
Edgar Allison Peers , also known by his pseudonym Bruce Truscot, was an English Hispanist and educationist. He was Professor in Hispanic Studies at the University of Liverpool and is notable for founding the Modern Humanities Research Association and the Bulletin of Hispanic Studies .As "Bruce...
(under the pseudonym "Bruce Truscot"), a Spanish Professor at the University of Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
in his 1943 book Redbrick University when describing the Victoria Building, University of Liverpool
Victoria Building, University of Liverpool
The Victoria Building, University of Liverpool, is on the corner of Brownlow Hill and Ashton Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, England . It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building. It was designed by Alfred Waterhouse and completed in 1892...
. Since then, the six civic universities founded around 1900 independently use the term red brick university, these consist of the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
, the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
, the University of Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
, the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
, the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
and the University of Sheffield
University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield is a research university based in the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It is one of the original 'red brick' universities and is a member of the Russell Group of leading research intensive universities...
.
The Gothic
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
style Great Hall incorporated the university's main library and cost around £22,000 to build which was raised partly by public appeal. It was originally used as the main University Library until the opening of the Brotherton Library in 1936 and other areas which opened in the same period such as the Parkinson Building
Parkinson Building
The Parkinson Building is a grade II listed art deco building and campanile located at the University of Leeds in the West Yorkshire region of England...
. As well as being the location for the ceremonial occasions, it was also used for meetings, exams and public lectures.
The Great Hall was opened in October 1894 by the Duke and Duchess of York. The panorama seen from the door of the Great Hall takes in nearly 150 years of university-related building. From the redbrick architecture of the early Clothworkers buildings to the Portland stone of the Michael Sadler arts building to the steel and glass of the Marjorie and Arnold Ziff Building. Leeds therefore takes its place as one of the largest and most diverse universities in the UK.
The Great Hall is still used to this day for meetings, examinations and graduation ceremonies and is one of a small cluster of buildings on the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
campus exhibiting redbrick architecture traits associated with a select number of civic universities in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.