St George's Hall, Bradford
Encyclopedia
St George's Concert Hall is a grade II* listed Victorian building
located in the centre of Bradford
, West Yorkshire
, England
. Originally designed with a seating capacity of 3,500, the Hall seats 1500 people.
St George's Hall is the oldest Concert Hall still in use in the United Kingdom and the third oldest in the whole of Europe. German Jewish wool Merchants who had moved to Bradford because of it's textile industry financed the building of St George's Hall. Jacob Moser
being instrumental in it's construction.
The building's design, by Henry Francis Lockwood
and William Mawson, was chosen from more than twenty-two designs submitted during an 1849 competition. Built of ashlar
sandstone masonry in neoclassical
style, the building was opened on 29 August 1853. The interior underwent extensive remodelling after World War II
and again after fires in the 1980s.
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
located in the centre of Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
, West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Originally designed with a seating capacity of 3,500, the Hall seats 1500 people.
St George's Hall is the oldest Concert Hall still in use in the United Kingdom and the third oldest in the whole of Europe. German Jewish wool Merchants who had moved to Bradford because of it's textile industry financed the building of St George's Hall. Jacob Moser
Jacob Moser
Jacob Moser was a businessman, philanthropist and, later, councillor, who made his home in Bradford and became a leading participant in the civic life of the city.- Life :...
being instrumental in it's construction.
The building's design, by Henry Francis Lockwood
Henry Francis Lockwood
Henry Francis Lockwood was an influential architect, born at Doncaster on 18 September 1811. His father and grandfather were mayors of Doncaster. He married Emma Day whose great uncle, Charles Day , made a fortune through the Day and Martin company...
and William Mawson, was chosen from more than twenty-two designs submitted during an 1849 competition. Built of ashlar
Ashlar
Ashlar is prepared stone work of any type of stone. Masonry using such stones laid in parallel courses is known as ashlar masonry, whereas masonry using irregularly shaped stones is known as rubble masonry. Ashlar blocks are rectangular cuboid blocks that are masonry sculpted to have square edges...
sandstone masonry in neoclassical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
style, the building was opened on 29 August 1853. The interior underwent extensive remodelling after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and again after fires in the 1980s.