Leeds (Part 2: City Centre - North)

The tour of the northern part of Leeds city centre starts with the Civic Hall in Millennium Square. The Civic Hall's architect was E Vincent Harris, and the building was opened in 1933. A key feature is the incorporation of two clocks on massive gilded frames. The picture below is of the west side clock, and shows the turtles around the dial.

This view of the other clock (on the east side of the building) shows how big the supporting bracket is, and shows a nice owl!

St George's church (opened 1838) is at the very west of the city centre, sandwiched between the inner ring road and Leeds General Infirmary.

The clock, installed by Dent in 1851, is in very good condition.

Staying with churches, St John's has a somewhat less cared for clock with most of the numerals severely worn away. St John the Evangelist, to give it its full name, was consecrated in 1634, and is Leeds' oldest surviving church.

Opposite the church on New Briggate is another of Leeds' shopping arcades, this time the Grand Arcade of 1897. At its eastern end (although up to 1938 located at the southern entrance on Harrison Street) is this animated clock by Potts of Leeds with medieval knights.

"Time and tide wait for no man", although in this case no man can wait for the time to change as the clock has stopped, despite its good external appearance. I do like the sun and moon figures on the hands.

And so to the Town Hall by Cuthbert Brodrick, built 1852-58, another part of Leeds' Victorian splendour (the building being opened by Queen Victoria herself on 7th September 1858).

The clock is mounted in the tower which looms 69 metres above the city.



The final clock in this part of the city centre is the more modern design to be found on the Leeds Building Society building (of 1930) a short distance along The Headrow from the Town Hall.