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The history behind the Leeds Corn Exchange

All about the wonderful Corn Exchange on Call Lane.

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall - 1st September 2022

The Corn Exchange is a local landmark that celebrates the fantastic creativity and community of Leeds with over 150 years of history behind it.

Located on Call Lane, the Grade 1 listed building first opened its doors to corn traders all the way back in 1864.

A staple of Leeds architecture, it was designed by Hull-based architect Cuthbert Broderick, who is best known for designing the Leeds Town Hall amongst other iconic buildings.

Built between 1861 and 1863, the beautiful dome design was based on The Bourse de Commerce in Paris. The structure complete with large glazed panels allowed for plenty of natural light whilst avoiding direct sunlight hitting the corn and changing it's colour.

 
 
 
 
 
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The beautiful beamed ceiling is still something to be marvelled at today and confirms the Corn Exchange's rightful place in the iconic Leeds skyline.

Throughout the late 19th century, business flourished for the Corn Exchange. As more grain was being imported from overseas, the exchange's success set a precedent and encouraged more grain-related business to pop up in the surrounding areas.

By 1903 the space doubled as a leather trader as well as hosting regular animal shows, but the main purpose remained as selling corn.

Inside the Leeds Corn Exchange
Image: Leeds Corn Exchange

Due to a major decline in agriculture, the number of traders dramatically dropped in the 1960s and by the 1980s there were only a few traders left in the offices.

Corn trading sadly ceased in 1994 after 131 years and a lease was transferred to Arcadia to transform the exchange into a modern shopping experience.

After a number of renovations, the exchange is now a hub for independent retailers and eateries and is a Leeds landmark celebrating the fantastic community and creatives in and around the city.

The surrounding area is now filled with wide pavements, relaxing green spaces and cycle lanes as part of the Connecting Leeds Scheme. It's a beautiful corner of Leeds which showcases the building's rich history and it's impact on the city we know and love today.

Read more: Your ultimate guide to Leeds’ Corn Exchange

Feature image: Leeds City Council

News

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! lineup confirmed, with Leeds’ own Ricky Wilson heading to the jungle

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

The lineup of stars heading into the I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! jungle have been revealed – and Ricky Wilson is one of the famous faces heading into camp.

11 celebrities will spend the next weeks living in the Australian jungle, as the hit ITV reality show returns for its 26th series.

Ant and Dec will be hosting an impressive cast of stars as they survive Bushtucker trials, the public vote, and the dunny.

This year’s star-studded lineup includes none other than Kaiser Chief frontman and Leeds legend Ricky Wilson.

Joining him around the campfire this year will be Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney, Gavin & Stacey star Joanna Page, and reality star Chloe Burrows, plus Ade Adepitan, who will make history as the show’s first wheelchair user.

Here’s who will be swapping their everyday lives for jungle camp.

Wayne Rooney – Footballer

The former Manchester United and Everton star, who retired from playing in 2021, said he has finally found the time to take part in his favourite reality show. His wife Coleen appeared in the jungle in 2024 and Wayne said he’s ‘just looking forward to experiencing it in my own way’.

He also added that jumping out of a helicopter is a big fear, and he doesn’t like snakes, but he will ‘try everything’ if an eating Bushtucker trial comes up.

Ricky Wilson – Kaiser Chiefs singer

The Leeds-born frontman and former The Voice coach said friends, including former contestant Tony Blackburn, encouraged him to sign up, and added that he’s looking forward to camp life and a break from touring.

Joanna Page – Actor

Best known as Stacey Shipman in Gavin & Stacey, Joanna hopes the experience will give her three weeks away from motherhood and a chance to rediscover herself. She admits spiders are a major fear and has spent the last few weeks watching them on TV to try and ready herself.

Chloe Burrows – Reality TV star

The Love Island 2021 finalist and podcast host is a huge fan of the programme. She is looking forward to making friends, facing creepy crawlies and enjoying a digital detox, adding that she’ll enjoy ‘no dating, no bikinis – just massive rats, spiders, and snakes’.

Ade Adepitan – Paralympian and presenter

The former wheelchair basketball Paralympian will make history as the show’s first wheelchair user (producers are adapting the camp to ensure accessibility). Ade said that going on I’m A Celebrity… is ‘the sort of thing you dream about as a kid’.

Sharky – Content creator

The Beta Squad YouTube star, whose group has 12.1 million subscribers, is excited about taking on the trials and spending time away from his phone. He should be good value when it comes to any eating challenges, saying: “Whenever I do eating challenges on YouTube, I am always throwing up or gagging. There’s a whole compilation of me throwing up on YouTube.”

AJ Odudu – TV presenter

The Big Brother presenter is swapping hosting duties for the contestant experience, describing the jungle as her scariest television challenge yet. She added: “It also feels quite weird the tables have turned on me.”

Jack Skipper – Comedian

The stand-up comedian, formerly a carpet fitter, is excited to meet his fellow campmates and tackle the eating trials. He said: “I am never going to have another opportunity to eat testicles, so let’s do it. I’ve also jumped out of a plane before and that was a great experience.”

Leomie Anderson – Model

The Victoria’s Secret model wants to challenge perceptions and show young women they can take risks and embrace new experiences. Leomie said: “I definitely want them to know they can get stuck in, they can get dirty, try new things, take risks and truly be themselves.”


Claire Sweeney – Actor

The former Coronation Street and Brookside star is a longtime fan (she’s dreamed of being a campmate ever since the show started) and is looking forward to meeting people outside her theatre world. As for the eating trials, she revealed: “My dad was a butcher and he used to bring all sorts of things home. I am used to trying things.”

Mariella Frostrup – Broadcaster

The journalist and Loose Women star hopes to prove age should never stop anyone embracing new challenges. She’s most worried about how much she’ll miss her family.

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! returns Monday 16 November at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.

Read more: Leeds Railway Station entrance FINALLY reopens after four-year delay

Featured image: ITV

News

Leeds City Council to unveil new action plan aimed at ending homelessness

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

An ambitious new action plan for how to end homelessness is set to be presented by Leeds City Council this month.

Leaders of Leeds Council are expected to sign off on a partnership-led roadmap on Wednesday 18 November which outlines how the city will support the government's new homelessness strategy. 

The strategy sets out a national ambition to make homelessness rare and non-recurring through a shift from crisis intervention to prevention and requires local authorities to set annual targets and local delivery plans.

In response to the strategy, Leeds has developed two new action plans which sit alongside the council’s existing Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2023-2028.  

The action plans provide a refresh, building on what has worked while responding to the changing housing market and patterns of need.

The approach to homelessness will move beyond responding once it occurs, towards earlier identification with integrated intervention and sustained support.

The new action plans are being introduced alongside the national Rough Sleeping Programme, for which Leeds has received £1.6million of funding.

Councillor Mary Harland, Leeds City Council's deputy leader and executive member for communities and community safety, and Councillor Asghar Khan, executive member for housing and hubs, said: “Since publishing our five-year Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy in 2023, we have placed universal and targeted prevention at the heart of our approach, alongside work to maximise access to suitable accommodation.

"This has included identifying people at risk earlier, providing accessible housing advice and financial assistance, helping people to sustain their tenancies, and working with private landlords and housing providers to increase rehousing opportunities.

“This activity has provided strong results, but we know that there is more to be done as demand increases and the context that we are working in changes.

“The existing strategy has been reviewed against the national plan and remains strongly aligned in ambition and principles. Our new action plans will build on that foundation, responding to changing pressures and strengthening delivery where needed.

“Through earlier intervention, collaboration, stronger partnership working and targeted support, we will work hard through our partnerships to reduce the need for crisis responses and improve outcomes for residents at risk of homelessness.”

You can read the full report here.

Read more: Leeds Railway Station entrance FINALLY reopens after four-year delay

Featured Image – Gary Knight (via Flickr)

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