Description

LEEDS

SE23NE BECKETT PARK, Beckett Park
714-1/6/516 James Graham Hall, Leeds
Metropolitan University

GV II

Also known as: Carnegie College BECKETT PARK Beckett Park.
The main building of the former City of Leeds Training
College, now Leeds Metropolitan University. 1911. By GW
Atkinson. Red brick, gritstone ashlar dressings, slate and
lead roof. A double courtyard plan with central main hall; 3
storeys, 5 unequal bays with 5,11,7,11,5 first-floor windows.
In a 'Wrennaissance' Revival style.
The outer and central bays project and their central 3-window
sections break forward slightly with pilasters and pediments.
Central panelled double doors, fine bronze hinges, handles,
with overlight in porch with Leeds coat of arms under a
pedimented hood supported on Ionic columns; 4 Corinthian
columns support triangular pediment above.
Flanking bays: the ground floor stepped out, round-headed
windows with circular pivoted lights, carved stone swags,
keystones, parapet coping and urns, 4th and 8th windows on 1st
and 2nd floors in stone panels; outer bays have 3-part
windows, in stone architraves to ground and 2nd floors.
Small-pane sashes or casements throughout, segmental arches to
1st and flat heads to 2nd floor. Deep stone cornice, moulded
blocking course over central and outer bays. Original
rainwater drain pipes with moulded heads including date.
Other facades similar with projecting corner bays; the
parapets built up as blind walls to added 3rd storey.
Courtyards: the west infilled with library stacks; the east
unaltered with finely detailed facades including glazed
corridor on ground floor with round-arched windows but
rectangular casements in round-arched recesses with central
pedimented 6-panel door to hall facade, parapet with urns
above; round and segmental arches to 1st floor, round windows
in architraves to 2nd floor.
INTERIOR: an inner wooden entrance screen with fluted
pilasters and margin lights, doors replaced; stone flagged
floors, staircase hall with stone divided stairs, ashlar
screen walls with oval piercing in architraves with scrolls
and ram's head keystones; Tuscan columns to 1st floor. The
central wing is the James Graham lecture hall: panelled walls,
pilasters, arched plaster ceiling, rear gallery with
balustrades, half-glazed double doors.
The design was winner of a competition limited to Leeds

architects, assessed by Sir Aston Webb, based on guidance
prepared by F Broadbent and James Graham. The architect worked
with Reginald Blomfeld on The Headrow scheme in Leeds from
1924. Additions to this complex were by G Alan Burnett and
Partners. The college was used as a hospital during the First
World War.
(The Builder, 15 January 1910: 61-64).

Listing NGR: SE2686636873

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26547822

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
• 
  Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East: Norwich and North-east v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)
• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Department for Communities Listed Historic Buildings of Northern Ireland: Information Guide for the 2nd Survey of Historic Buildings