Old tales of Saturday girls and 'seasonal spectacles' remembered in artwork to honour one of Dewsbury's best-loved buildings

The town’s Arcade was built in 1899 but closed to the public in 2014, and is now part of a project to create the country’s first community-run shopping centre.

A series of creative pieces were commissioned as part of a council-run arts programme, with two pieces of art now framing the entrance to this listed building.

Dubbed Let’s Talk Shop, the art features people’s memories and anecdotes, and has been made by artist Aidan D’Abet and Kelly O’Reilly of Daylight Robbery.

Among the stories shared were of Saturday jobs working in Miss Staines Haberdasher, and the owner who wore Victorian dress even in the 1950s, alongside tales of a ‘‘seasonal spectacle’’ as Father Christmas climbed a ladder outside J&B department store.

Mr D’Abet said: “When we started the public engagement it soon became very clear to us just how many fond memories people have of The Arcade. It was therefore important that the people who shopped and worked here take centre stage in our work.

“Eating at Ann’s Pantry, buying pick & mix at The Candyman, listening to music at Autys or Christmas shopping at J&B – everyone has a special memory of The Arcade in Dewsbury. ”

The project is one of the first under the Creative Town Arts programme from Kirklees Council. Coun Eric Firth said this was an important step towards ambitions to revitalise the town centre. He said: “I am pleased to see the Arcade works moving forward and how the use of public art can bring this important building back to life.”

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