The Corn Exchange

 

The Corn Exchange in Leeds, West Yorkshire is one of Britain's finest Victorian buildings and a great architectural heritage of the city of Leeds. The Corn Exchange is a Grade I listed building.

Cuthbert Brodrick, a young architect from Hull who won international fame for his design of Leeds Town Hall was responsible for this building.

The first stone of the Corn Exchange was laid on 7 May 1861 and the building was completed in 1864. As its name suggests, it was used as a corn exchange.

As time went by following the closure of the Corn Exchange the Exchange's condition deteriorated to such a degree that the building itself and the surrounding land became one of Leeds' most run down areas. Early proposals for the regeneration for this site had included turning the Corn Exchange into a concert hall similar to the Royal Albert Hall.

1980s conversion into a shopping centre

In 1985, Speciality Shops plc won the contract to re-develop the building as a shopping centre. The refurbishment process designed by Alsop & Lyall was completely restored to its current state, with new staircases to allow shoppers access to the balcony and basement levels. It opened for trade in 1990. Many other old buildings have been restored in this area, now known as The Exchange Quarter.

As well as housing shops such as Ark Clothing and Eva (jewellery), the Leeds Corn Exchange also hosted exhibitions, events such as strut (fashion show) and music events. Most of the shops sold alternate merchandise such as band items like badges, clothes, and studded belts, and the Exchange became a well-known congregation point for alternative people.

2008 The Evolution of a Classic

Open for business after a phenomenal multi million pound make over, Leeds' Corn Exchange is now home to the best of independent fashion, food offerings and retail talents.