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City Hall 150
9 September 2023 marks the 150th anniversary of Bradford City Hall and we’re organising a series of events to celebrate.
Events
Tuesday, 5 September 3pm to 5pm – History of City Hall lecture - SOLD OUT
A lecture on the history of City Hall will be given by Dr Valentine in the Council Chamber, Bradford City Hall. This is linked to the new City Hall book being produced by the Council.
Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 September – Open Weekend. Booking not required just turn up. FREE
Bradford City Hall had its Grand Opening on 9 September 1873 and exactly 150 years on, the doors of Bradford City Hall will be thrown open for members of the public to take a look round.
The extra special Open Weekend, which is part of the nationwide Heritage Open Days scheme, will take place on Saturday 9 September (10am-6pm with last entry at 5pm) and Sunday 10 September (11am-3pm with last entry at 2pm).
Visitors to the free Open Weekend will be able to take a tour around the glorious building to learn all about its rich history.
There will also be the chance to see key parts of City Hall which have been used as locations for filming including Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Peaky Blinders and Official Secrets.
Light refreshments will be on sale and people will be able to purchase Bradford district related items from a pop-up shop being run by the Council’s Visit Bradford team.
As 2023 also marks 100 years of Jowett Car Club (the owners club for local former car manufacturer Jowett Cars Ltd), there will be a display of Jowett vehicles outside City Hall in Centenary Square.
Over the weekend there will also be self-guided walking tours of the city centre taking in key areas such as Little Germany and iconic buildings including Bradford Cathedral which will be open for tours and talks on Saturday 9 September and St George’s Hall which will also be open for guided tours by costumed characters on Sunday 10 September.
Access information for Bradford City Hall
FREE tours Bradford Police Museum - Booking Required
As part of the celebrations for the 150th birthday of Bradford City Hall, the Bradford Police Museum will be open for Free tours on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 September from 10am with the last tour leaving at 2.30pm.
The tours Must be booked online. To book a tour go to ‘Book Tickets’ on the museum's website.
Please read the 'before your visit page’ on this web site prior to booking your tickets and coming to visit.
There are only a limited number of tickets available so if you want a tour of the cells and the old courtrooms in City Hall book early.
History of Bradford City Hall
Built mainly in a Medieval Gothic style, this Grade I listed building is the crowning achievement of the local architects Lockwood & Mawson, who also designed Bradford’s St George’s Hall, the Wool Exchange and Titus Salt’s Mill and model village at Saltaire.
Bradford City Hall’s most notable external feature is the splendid campanile clock tower that soars 217 feet above the multi-award winning City Park. The clock tower, which has 13 bells, is Italianate and was inspired by the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence. Another notable feature of the façade are the 35 statues of English and British monarchs which run in chronological order, with Victoria and Elizabeth I on either side of the main entrance. Unusually the statues include Oliver Cromwell who was not a king, but governed as Lord Protector from 1653-1658.
An additional extension, designed by Norman Shaw and local architect FEP Edwards was opened in 1909. It was originally built as a Town Hall and although Bradford became a city in 1897 it wasn’t until 1965 that its name was officially changed to City Hall.
News releases
150 years of Bradford City Hall celebrated with the launch of a new book
Lecture and book celebrating the 150 anniversary of Bradford City Hall
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