Leeds Temple Works – famous for its Egyptian architecture – has been awarded a £1m funding boost from the government’s Culture Recovery Fund and Historic England
Temple Works will undergo major repairs as part of a wider regeneration of the building and the surrounding area.
Money from the government’s Culture Recovery Fund is intended to open-up the heritage sector, with the funding supporting wider repair work on the Temple Works site, creating a new home for the British Library in the North.
One of the first, large-scale single-storey factories, the vast brick-vaulted, top-lit, spinning mill was constructed in 1838-40 to the designs of the engineer James Coombe.
Money from the Heritage Stimulus Fund will contribute to work to prop up the interior of the mill, on the Heritage at Risk Register since 2008, until permanent repairs can be undertaken.
£400,000 from Historic England’s Yorkshire region will fund rescue work on the neighbouring Counting House building.
The funding from Historic England will support crucial repairs to the roof and walls, making the building watertight before the next phase of refurbishment.
The Temple Works regeneration is part of Historic England’s ambition to improve environmental sustainability and unlock the potential of historic buildings.
Temple Works is a key part of Leeds’s industrial past
Duncan Wilson, Historic England chief executive, commented: “We are thrilled to provide funding from the Culture Recovery Fund and Historic England towards the repair of Temple Works, an instantly recognisable building which was an important part of Leeds’s industrial past and is set to play a key role in its future.
“It’s exciting to see the possibilities for Temple Works taking shape, highlighting the amazing potential of historic mills in Yorkshire to drive economic and social benefits for the region.”
‘Creating a cultural gem for the city of Leeds’
David Hodgson, head of Strategic Development at CEG, added: “The grants are fantastic news and will help to kick start the much-needed stabilisation works.
“We are grateful to Historic England and our other partners for recognising the importance of Temple Works as we seek to protect it and create a cultural gem for the city of Leeds.”
The Counting House repairs and refurbishment are projected to be complete in time for Leeds 2023, the city’s Year of Culture.
