The Grand Arcade, Leeds :: Shared Description

One of a series of similar arcades developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to replaces the cramped yards of the post-medieval city.

The Grand Arcade was built in 1897 and features extensive use of terracotta dressings and decoration, including colour-glazed elements. Originally two full arcades ran between Briggate and Vicar Lane, but part of the Northern arcade was converted into the Tower Cinema in around 1920, and the eastern end of this was also later enclosed, leaving the current situation of one long arcade between Briggate and Vicar Lane and a cross arcade leading onto Merrion Street.

The main facades are characterised by the large semicircular openings over the arcade entrances, the bays above which are infilled with coloured glazed decorative features and inscriptions. The two facades are distinguished by having different treatments of these panels, colonnades facing Briggate and Oculi facing Vicar Lane. The Briggate facade also carries the date 1897 in glazed work in the central gable. Facing Briggate, the main material is brickwork with paler terracotta dressing, whereas facing Vicar Lane the whole facade is pink terracotta with darker dressings.

The interior of the arcades is relatively plain with simple pointed arch trusses supporting the glass roof, and shopfronts with relatively plain decoration. A feature of the arcade is the mechanical clock at the Vicar Lane end by local clock manufacturer Potts.

The arcade is Listed Grade II.
by Alan Murray-Rust
More nearby... Related descriptions Selection is automatic and approximate, it might not always select closely matching descriptions

22 images use this description:

SE3033 : The Grand Arcade, interior by Alan Murray-Rust
SE3033 : The Grand Arcade, interior by Alan Murray-Rust
SE3033 : The Grand Arcade, Vicar Lane by Alan Murray-Rust
SE3033 : The Grand Arcade, Briggate by Alan Murray-Rust
SE3033 : Roxy Ball Room, Merrion Street by Stephen Craven
SE3033 : The Grand Arcade, Vicar Lane by Alan Murray-Rust
SE3033 : The Grand Arcade, Vicar Lane by Alan Murray-Rust
SE3033 : The Grand Arcade, interior by Alan Murray-Rust
SE3033 : Former Tower Cinema, Merrion Street by Alan Murray-Rust
SE3033 : Merrion Street entrance to the Grand Arcade - detail by Stephen Craven
SE3033 : The Grand Arcade, interior by Alan Murray-Rust
SE3033 : The Grand Arcade, Vicar Lane by Alan Murray-Rust
SE3033 : The Grand Arcade, Briggate by Alan Murray-Rust
SE3033 : The Grand Arcade, Merrion Street by Alan Murray-Rust
SE3033 : The Grand Arcade, Briggate by Alan Murray-Rust
SE3033 : The Grand Arcade, Briggate by Alan Murray-Rust
SE3033 : Merrion Street entrance to the Grand Arcade by Stephen Craven
SE3033 : The Grand Arcade, Merrion Street by Alan Murray-Rust
SE3033 : The Grand Arcade, Vicar Lane by Alan Murray-Rust
SE3033 : The Grand Arcade, Briggate by Alan Murray-Rust
SE3033 : The Grand Arcade, Briggate by Alan Murray-Rust
SE3033 : Always a good programme by Alan Murray-Rust


These Shared Descriptions are common to multiple images. For example, you can create a generic description for an object shown in a photo, and reuse the description on all photos of the object. All descriptions are public and shared between contributors, i.e. you can reuse a description created by others, just as they can use yours.
Created: Wed, 18 Apr 2018, Updated: Sun, 22 Apr 2018

The 'Shared Description' text on this page is Copyright 2018 Alan Murray-Rust, however it is specifically licensed so that contributors can reuse it on their own images without restriction.

You are not logged in login | register