Tower Works to play major city role once again

Tower Works in Holbeck Urban Village is one of the most iconic waterside developments in Leeds city centre, most notable for its three listed Italianate chimneys which have been a familiar landmark on the skyline for over 100 years. The building is being redeveloped with a new extension to provide office and studio space for creative, digital and media businesses set around a public square that lies adjacent to the canal and incorporates both the Verona and Giotto chimneys modelled on Renaissance towers in Italy.

The factory was founded by TR Harding to make steel pins for carding and combing in the textile industry, and the original buildings, by Thomas Shaw, were erected in 1864-6.

The towers that give the building its name were built to extract dust from the factory. The largest and most ornate tower, which dates back to 1899, is based on Giotto’s Campanile in Florence. In 1895 T. W. Harding & Son amalgamated with two other companies to become Harding, Rhodes & Co.

The factory closed in 1981 after 117 years of operating on the site.

Pictured is Paul Taylor, of Creative Space Management, which is overseeing the project.