Queen's Hall formerly The Lecture Hall
Main Street, Burley in Wharfedale
The Lecture Hall on Main Street was built in 1868 by William Fison & Co. of Greenholme Mills, to provide a concert hall, library, meeting place and school.
The spire & tower contained a bell manufactured by John Taylor Founders of Loughborough, with a 4-faced turret clock manufactured & installed by John Smith & Sons, Midland Steam Clock Works of Derby. Remarkably these two firms are still in business today.
1892 Lecture Hall WE Forster Cross. Image courtesy of Burley Archive
The two celtic crosses at the front of the building are for William Forster and William Fison. Both paid for by public subscription. William E. Forster's cross (on the left) installed in 1892 and William Fison's in 1902.
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1910 Lecture Hall Main Street, Burley in Wharfedale. Image courtesy of Burley Archive
The ivy clad portion of the building on the right (the Annex) was used by Greenholme Mills School from 1868 to 1897 when the school closed.
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Between 1900 and 1910 another entrance was added to the front of the building.
Queen's Hall / Lecture Hall new front entrance added. Image courtesy of Google
The building remained the property of William Fison & Co., until it was bought by the Burley Urban District Council (BUDC) in 1935 for £3,600.
In 1937, with local government reorganisation & the demise of Burley UDC, it came into the possession of Ilkley Urban District Council (IUDC).
In 1937, with local government reorganisation & the demise of Burley UDC, it came into the possession of Ilkley Urban District Council (IUDC).
The Lecture Hall was renamed the Queen’s Hall, at the time of Elizabeth II Coronation in 1953.
1950s Queens Hall, Main Street, Burley in Wharfedale. Image courtesy of Burley Archive
1967 Queens Hall spire, bell & clock tower became unsafe. The spire was removed & the original bell re-hung within an enclosure. The tower was reduced in height & changed to a square one. A flag pole was added to the top of the bell housing. Ilkley Urban District Council authorised the work at a cost of £1595.00.
1967 Queen's Hall scaffolding & spire removal. Image courtesy of Burley Archive
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1967 Ernest Thackerey. Queen's Hall bell. Image courtesy of Burley Archive
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1967 Frank Weadon. Queen's Hall bell. Image courtesy of Burley Archive
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1967 Mr L Fielding. Queen's Hall bell. Image courtesy of Burley Archive
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1967 Crane, Queen's Hall bell and Grange Park. Image courtesy of Burley Archive
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1967 Queen's Hall bell. Image courtesy of Burley Archive
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1967 Queen's Hall bell. Agnes Waddington and works gang. Image courtesy of Burley Archive
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1967 Queen's Hall tower & bell complete. Image courtesy of Burley Archive
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In 1974 with another reorganisation Ilkley UDC was dissolved and Bradford Metropolitan District Council (BMDC) was created. BMDC took over ownership of the Queen's Hall. From 2006, it houses the office of the Burley Parish Council.
In 2008 on inspection of the tower, the bell housing constructed in 1967, had rotted away to the point that the structure was unsafe. Bradford MDC authorised its removal & replacement.
Images below from 11th May 2008
2008 Queen's Hall bell housing removal. Image courtesy of Burley Archive
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2008 Queen's Hall bell housing removal, Chris Wright crane hire. Image courtesy of Burley Archive
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2008 Queen's Hall bell housing removal via crane. Image courtesy of Burley Archive
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2008 Queen's Hall bell and rotten housing. Image courtesy of Burley Archive
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Images below from 1st June 2008
2008 Queen's Hall bell & new frame support. Image courtesy of Burley Archive
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2008 Queen's Hall replacement bell housing & new flag pole. Image courtesy of Burley Archive
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2008 Queen's Hall bell and new housing. Cramscene Crane Hire. Image courtesy of Burley Archive
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2008 Queen's Hall bell housing side panels. Image courtesy of Burley Archive
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In 2017, the Queens Hall was taken over from Bradford Metropolitan District Council by Burley in Wharfedale Parish Council on a 50 year lease and a significant refurbishment was undertaken by the Parish Council which saw £350,000 invested into the building.
In 2018 a new extension was added to the rear of the building.
Queen's Hall Rear Extension outside view. Image courtesy of Bowman Riley
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Queen's Hall Rear Extension inside view. Image courtesy of Bowman Riley
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2024 Yorkdale Roofing renovates the top of the tower including the inner roof & rebuilds the bell housing as it had again rotted away.
Queen's Hall tower scaffolding 2024. Image courtesy of Yorkdale Roofing
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Queen's Hall bell within old housing. Image courtesy of Yorkdale Roofing
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Queen's Hall new bell housing & new tower inner roof. Image courtesy of Yorkdale Roofing
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Queen's Hall flag pole on top of new bell housing. Image courtesy of Yorkdale Roofing
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Comparison views over the years from the Queen's Hall tower
View south of Salem Chapel, Salem Graveyard and Grange Park - 1967 and 2024
1967 Grange Park from Queen's Hall tower. Image courtesy of Burley Archive
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2024 Queen's Hall view south from tower. Image courtesy of Yorkdale Roofing
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1950s Queen's Hall view east from tower. Image courtesy of Burley Archive
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2024 Queen's Hall view east from tower. Image courtesy of Yorkdale Roofing
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Clock & Bell Information:
The clock is of the 4-faced turret type made in 1868. Gears linked to the clock operate all 4-faces simultaneously.
Queen's Hall clock J Smith and Sons makers plaque. Image courtesy of Yorkdale Roofing
The plaque says: "J Smith and Sons Midland Steam Clock Works, Derby"
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Queen's Hall clock mechanism. Image courtesy of Yorkdale Roofing
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Queen's Hall gear mechanism for clock faces. Image courtesy of Yorkdale Roofing
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Queen's Hall new clock face. Image courtesy of Yorkdale Roofing
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Queen's Hall hammer and bell. Within old bell housing. Image courtesy of Yorkdale Roofing
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The bell has an inscription cast into it: "JOHN TAYLOR FOUNDERS LOUGHBOROUGH 1868"
Approximate dimensions: 30 inches diameter x 24 inches tall The bell is struck from the outside by a hammer mechanism worked off the clock.
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