Victorian Society praises 'jaw-dropping' city

Director James Hughes said Bradford's City Hall was the highlight of his visit

National heritage group The Victorian Society held its annual meeting in Bradford this weekend, describing it as “an absolutely wonderful Victorian city”.

The charity, which campaigns to protect Victorian and Edwardian buildings and structures, said it chose the city to “highlight the great richness and quality” of Bradford’s 19th and early 20th Century buildings.

Director James Hughes described the city's architecture as “jaw-droppingly incredible”.

He said: “I know the city has this great rivalry with Leeds, but Bradford has some remarkable buildings.”

The Victorian Society visited Bradford Cathedral as part of its annual meeting

Mr Hughes said the highlight of his visit had been Bradford City Hall, which was built in 1873 and designed by local firm Lockwood and Mawson.

The group was invited for a tour of City Hall and dinner in Norman Shaw’s banqueting hall, which was added to the building in 1909.

Lord Mayor of Bradford Beverley Mullaney said she was “delighted to welcome the Victorian Society to our great city”.

Lord Mayor of Bradford Beverley Mullaney hosted the society at Bradford City Hall

The society is a membership organisation and charity that campaigns to protect Victorian and Edwardian architecture, and advises councils on planning applications for listed buildings.

Every year its annual general meeting (AGM) is held in a different city and this year the location was chosen by the society’s West Yorkshire regional group, which celebrated it’s 50th anniversary in April.

Mr Hughes said: “Bradford is an absolutely wonderful Victorian city. A lot of members have either not been or just passed through, but it is jaw-droppingly incredible.”

As well as having a role in the planning process for listed buildings, the Victorian Society has three full-time caseworkers dealing with secular and ecclesiastical buildings and publishes academic books and journals.

Society members visited Undercliffe Cemetery

After the AGM on Friday - to vote in trustees and choose a new chair - the society visited a number of Bradford landmarks, including the Wool Exchange, St George’s Hall, Little Germany and the Grade II*-listed Undercliffe Cemetery.

Mr Hughes said: “It’s basically a big festival of the 19th Century architecture and history.

“We’re going to Manningham to see the Reformed Synagogue and Cartwright Hall and then we finish the day in Saltaire, which is obviously a UNESCO world heritage site so I can’t wait to see it.”

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