Leeds 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.

As a Corn Exchange

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 of the Corn Exchange 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. As well as housing shops such as Ark Clothing and Eva (jewellery), the Leeds Corn Exchange also hosts exhibitions, events such as strut (fashion show) and music events. One of the most memorable shops inside Leeds Corn Exchange would be Culture Vulture, which holds The Mighty Boosh merchandise as well as Grin, which contains alternate clothing. Most of the shops sell alternate merchandise such as band items like badges, clothes, and studded belts.

The Corn Exchange now sits in one of Leeds' most fashionable areas known as The Exchange Quarter. Many other old buildings have been restored in this area and, as such, it is now considered a very cosmopolitan part of the city. It is also a well-known congregation point for alternative people, where they can easily meet up and hang out without being ridiculed by chavs.

Current plans for conversion into a food emporium

In November 2007 it was revealed that the centre (which had been under refurbishment for the past year following being taken over by Zurich Financial Services) is to be converted into a food emporium. [http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/Stallholders-evicted-from-Leeds-Corn.3504485.jp] This had caused controversy and criticism due to the planned removal of the existing independent traders from the centre. Over 16,000 people are now recognised to be in disagreement with the change [http://savecornexchange.blogspot.com/2007/12/save-corn-exchange-protestors-outside.html] . Petitions have been set up in all of the shops within the Corn Exchange.

ee Also

*Architecture in Leeds

External links

* [http://savecornexchange.blogspot.com/ Save the Corn Exchange Blogspot - Information about the campaign to Save the Corn Ex.]
* [http://www.exchangequarter.com/ Virtual Tour and guide to the Exchange Quarter Leeds]
* [http://www.leeds-uk.com/corn_exchange/ Leeds Corn Exchange Shopping Guide]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevecadman/60575499/ Pictures of the Corn Exchange by Steve Cadman]
*IoE|465668|- Corn Exchange - Grade I
* [http://www.wymetro.com/AboutMetro/BusStationsAndStops/LeedsCornExchangeBusPointstatistics.htm Leeds Corn Exchange's bus stops]