Yeadon Town Hall

In the early 19th century the local board of health held its meetings in the old school in what is now Town Hall Square.[2] Meanwhile the local Mechanics Institute used the lecture hall on the High Street for its meetings.[2] After both the old school and the lecture hall became inadequate for meetings, the local board and the Mechanics Institute decides to join together in an initiative to commission a proper town hall.[2] The site selected had previously be owned by a cloth merchant, William Starkey.[3]

Following a competition with more than 200 entries, and with a budget of £5,000, William Hill was chosen to design the building in the French Gothic style.[4] The foundation stone for the new building was laid on 10 May 1879.[2] It was built by the local builder, Richard Hogg, with two storeys and a two-stage clock tower at the centre of the main frontage.[1] Inside, the design featured offices on the ground floor and an assembly hall on the first floor.[1] It was officially opened by the banker and politician, William Beckett-Denison, on 26 June 1880.[2]

The town hall was the headquarters of Yeadon Urban District Council[5] but ceased to be the local seat of government when the enlarged Aireborough Urban District Council was formed, with its headquarters at Micklefield House in Rawdon, in 1937.[6] After Aireborough Urban District Council was abolished in 1972, responsibility for the management of the building was transferred to Leeds City Council in 1974.[7]

In 1980 the television producer, Barney Colehan, led a week of festivities to celebrate the centenary of the original opening of the building.[2]

The building was used as a registrar's office in the Yorkshire Television programme The Beiderbecke Tapes in 1985.[8] The main assembly hall, which seats up to 560 people, was renovated in 1999.[9]

On 1 April 2019, the management of the venue was taken over by local theatre producer, Jamie Hudson, who created a "Community Interest Company" in order to restore, refurbish and manage the building. Large portions of the building were refurbished and the theatre bar on the first floor was extensively restored.[10] The town hall continues to host touring music and theatre shows[11] although the highlight of the year is usually the Christmas Spectacular.[12]