HUDDERSFIELD has a ‘once-in-a-generation’ opportunity to rescue a Grade II listed building and create a long-desired art gallery.
That’s the view of Huddersfield businessman Mark Brooke, curator of North Light Gallery, who has proposed a new use for the Kirklees College building.
He says Huddersfield Art Gallery, based in the town’s library, “has been totally inadequate for a town like Huddersfield with such an impressive collection, much of which is rarely shown.”
And his solution would be to turn the former Huddersfield Royal Infirmary and now a Kirklees College building into an impressive gallery sitting on a pivotal position on the ring road.
The building was built in 1831 by Joseph Kaye and designed by John Oates. It has a fine Greek Doric Temple front, detailed in fine ashlar stone. A southern wing was added around 1860.
The building will be sold off with the rest of the college campus.
Mr Brooke said: “We now have an opportunity to restore one section of the ring road to something which we can be proud of, linking the iconic railway station to Greenhead Park, the restoration of which is one of the best achievements by the council since the 1960s.
“With the nucleus of the existing period buildings, a new contemporary wing could be built to house works like the Francis Bacon painting and a special section devoted to the excellent 20th century works in the collection.
“A suitable firm of architects could be brought in to design an exciting new building.
“There could be additional cultural uses for such a building and the public could be asked for their input to form a vision for something which represents some of the elements of the past and future of Huddersfield.”
Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman welcomed his views, saying: “I think it’s a very interesting idea and it’s fantastic that someone with his experience has come up with this plan. I think it should be taken seriously.
“And it’s about time Huddersfield had a commission of distinguished people, including entrepreneurs Graham Leslie, Ken Davy, etc, who could look at the town’s future and what it might look like in 30 years time.”
Chris Marsden, chairman of Huddersfield Civic Society, said: “It’s a lovely idea, but we will have to wait and see what the new owners want to do.
“The college site is owned by Kirklees College and whatever sympathy I have for a cultural centre, it seems too much to ask for the council to intervene when the new college site will be to some degree dependent on the sale of the old site.
“This is not a Kirklees Council-owned site and the college has a responsibility to fund itself.
“The Grade II listed building is not threatened by the sale. It is not at risk.”
