Part 1: Leeds Town Hall
I’ve recently managed to photograph two amazing clock towers and with a third one in the pipeline I thought I’d share them in a trilogy format of photo-blogs. The first in this series is Cuthbert Brodrick’s Town Hall which is truly one of the finest jewels of Victorian architecture at the heart of Leeds in my opinion. So when I noticed a ‘one-off’ tour was part of the Leeds Light Night festival recently it was our first port of call, but sadly this un-bookable event was already booked up when we arrived, but!!! to my delight a phone number was left for a catch-up tour for a few weeks later, so a quick call and our places were booked, and I’d finally get to see the hidden, secret side to this wonderful building.
On a glorious sunny Saturday morning with ❤Wifey on my arm and the trusty camera on the other, the Town Hall Clock Tower was our first port of call, the assent to the tower was by stairs (203 of them) and not for the faint hearted. Throughout the 90 minute tour our guide was Dr Kate Vigurs, an experienced and engaging historian who was very knowledgeable about the whole workings of the Town Hall clock; she also gives some quite insightful stories about the whole building, especially its courtroom and the characters of old that once stood in the dock.
It seem after that mornings tour of the historic clock tower, it’s now to become a permanent Saturday fixture in 2013, so with or without a camera I’d highly recommend this tour…but if you don’t take one, you’ll wish you had when you get out onto the parapets around the clock tower and witness the amazing vistas of Leeds that await you.
I hope you enjoy the gallery…I’ve also added some really interesting ‘Did you know’ facts about the Town Hall within each ones description… just click on any image to launch the Image Carousel 🙂
…..The next two in the Clock Tower Trilogy are both ‘No Public Allowed’ photo-tours.
Geek Carl 
Nice photos! I am going to Leeds and Elland Road for the first time(s) in April. Need to find some side activities in Leeds, seems like there are some gems.
Thanks:) The Corn Exchange & Market are real gems, the Town Hall tours might be on that Saturday as well.. Have fun
Some great photos there. Looking forward to the others. Probably a daft question but what is that huge pipe thingy coming down from the wall in the big picture?
Thanks Carol….not even the historian who showed us round knew the answer to that one 🙂
Really like these pics
Thanks, It was quite enjoyable taking them
What a fascinating series of photos! Each one needs to be enlarged to be fully appreciated. THANKS for visiting my “pun-ny” photoblog and leaving a “like.”
–John R.: http://TheDailyGraff.com
Thanks John, they were quite fun to take.
…BTW You take some cracking shots
Thanks!
Your photos are fantastic! Who would have thought that a clock tower would give you those opportunities.
Thanks 🙂 …There almost like secret parts of buildings no one gets to see.
Great photos Carl
Thanks Javier 🙂
great pictures as always…keep them coming 🙂
The next one is shaping up nicely
Oh my god you are so lucky! I’ve always loved getting lost in a clock tower hehe. Beautiful photos!
Thanks Daphnee, they are quite special places to visit
oh my you outdid yourself on this photo shoot i love it
TYSM 🙂
Carl, the coloration in the first photo and several others are fantastic. You can see that you thought about the back lighting in choosing where to set up the shots. This is a very interesting photo topic. Jean-Bernard.
Thank you for the ace comments Jean-Bernard, I really appreciate it
Beautiful images, I especially love the bw ones!
Thanks, I love a bit of B/W
Nice post!