Leeds Town Hall given £249,810 grant for restoration
The venue will close for 2 years in November for major refurbishment
Last updated 29th Sep 2021
The Historic Leeds Town Hall restoration project has been given an important funding boost by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
A grant of £249,810 has been given to the scheme, which will restore the main decorative features of the magnificent performance space.
The restoration project will see specialist artists strip back layers of dirt and dust as well as fully restoring the decorative scheme on the Leeds Town Hall organ.
Leeds Council News announced the exciting news this morning:
Victoria Hall dates back to 1858, when the spectacular building was first opened by Queen Victoria and today it hosts a huge programme of concerts and events.
The years have begun to take their toll on some of the hall’s earlier decorative features, which have fallen into significant disrepair. Without expert work being carried out, some of those features are at risk of being lost, including sections of wall, columns, and ornamental features.
The project will see a team of specialist decorative artists strip back layers of dirt, dust, and urban pollution to reveal an earlier artistic vision for the hall.
Work will also focus on fully restoring the decorative scheme on the Leeds Town Hall organ which includes intricate hand-painted stencil designs on all the instruments façade pipes which have been hidden for decades.
Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, culture and education, said:
“It’s fantastic to hear that the project to restore Victoria Hall to its former glory has received such a significant funding boost and we’re grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for recognising how important it is that this work takes place.
“Leeds Town Hall is one of Leeds’s most recognisable buildings and an absolutely integral part of the city’s story and identity so it’s hugely important that we protect and preserve this beautiful example of Victorian architecture for future generations."