Leeds Corn Exchange

Leeds Corn Exchange
Leeds Corn Exchange
General information
Architectural style	Victorian
Location	Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
Completed	1864
Renovated	1990, 2008
Design and construction
Architect	Cuthbert Brodrick

The Leeds Corn Exchange is a Victorian building in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, which was designed by Cuthbert Brodrick and completed in 1864.

Designed by Cuthbert Brodrick, a Hull architect best known for Leeds Town Hall, this Grade I listed structure was completed in 1862 and opened on 28 July 1863. The dome design was based on that of the Bourse de commerce of Paris by François-Joseph Bélanger and François Brunet, completed in 1811. Leeds Corn Exchange is now just one of three corn exchanges in the country which operates in its traditional capacity as a centre for trade, albeit no longer for trading in corn.

After closing, its condition deteriorated. Early proposals for regeneration included turning it into a concert hall similar to the Royal Albert Hall.

In 1985, Speciality Shops plc won the contract to re-develop the Corn Exchange as a shopping centre. The refurbishment designed by Alsop & Lyall restored it and added staircases to allow access to the balcony and basement levels. It opened for trade in 1990. Many other buildings have been restored in the area, now known as the Exchange Quarter.

As well as housing shops such as Ark Clothing, and Eva (jewellery), the Leeds Corn Exchange hosted exhibitions, events such as strut (fashion show) and music events. Most shops sold alternate merchandise and it became a well-known congregation point for alternative people.

In November 2007 it was revealed that the centre (which was being refurbished after being taken over by Zurich Financial Services) was to be converted into a food emporium. The plans brought protests from the independent traders, who were removed from the Corn Exchange, and their customers.