Stanley Wardley
Encyclopedia
Stanley Gordon Wardley was City Engineer for Bradford
during the major redevelopment of Bradford city centre in the 1950s and 1960s,
in January 1946.
Wardley House, the building that houses the National Media Museum among other things, was named after him.
Many much-loved buildings were demolished to make way for the 'city of the future', and there was eventually considerable opposition. J. B. Priestley
and David Hockney
were among those who protested in vain against the demolition of the Swan Arcade
in 1962.
In 2005 one of the icons of Wardley's redevelopment, Forster House, was demolished as part of the 'Broadway development' (see Forster Square, Bradford
). Other recent changes have seen reversals of 1960s planning in Bradford, eg filling in of pedestrian under-passes and promotion of traffic-calming measures, and attempts to promote residential use of the city centre, as opposed to 1960s zoning.
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...
during the major redevelopment of Bradford city centre in the 1950s and 1960s,
Biography
Wardley was appointed City Engineer and Surveyor for BradfordBradford
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...
in January 1946.
Wardley House, the building that houses the National Media Museum among other things, was named after him.
Redevelopment
Wardley's vision was very much of his age: he planned a new city 'with provision for a continuous self-requlating flow of traffic', and the buildings that were erected were determinedly modern. The local sandstone was rejected as a building material.Many much-loved buildings were demolished to make way for the 'city of the future', and there was eventually considerable opposition. J. B. Priestley
J. B. Priestley
John Boynton Priestley, OM , known as J. B. Priestley, was an English novelist, playwright and broadcaster. He published 26 novels, notably The Good Companions , as well as numerous dramas such as An Inspector Calls...
and David Hockney
David Hockney
David Hockney, CH, RA, is an English painter, draughtsman, printmaker, stage designer and photographer, who is based in Bridlington, Yorkshire and Kensington, London....
were among those who protested in vain against the demolition of the Swan Arcade
Swan Arcade, Bradford
The Swan Arcade was a four-storey building located between Market Street and Broadway, Bradford, UK and stood opposite the Wool Exchange. The Bradford Beck ran beneath.- Architecture and history :...
in 1962.
In 2005 one of the icons of Wardley's redevelopment, Forster House, was demolished as part of the 'Broadway development' (see Forster Square, Bradford
Forster Square, Bradford
Forster Square, Bradford was a square in central Bradford that disappeared in the current Broadway development, but gives its name to Bradford Forster Square railway station and a retail park.- History :...
). Other recent changes have seen reversals of 1960s planning in Bradford, eg filling in of pedestrian under-passes and promotion of traffic-calming measures, and attempts to promote residential use of the city centre, as opposed to 1960s zoning.