West Yorkshire
Explore hidden histories, historic photos, and things you never knew about West Yorkshire from the collections and archives of Historic England.
Discover your local listed buildings and places
Introducing some of West Yorkshire's most historic sites, included in the National Heritage List for England. Some of these captions have been summarised by AI. Click through for the official List entry. Skip this section and go to place by numbers
Armley House (Gott's Park)
Leeds
Armley House (Gott's Park), developed in the late 18th century, was influenced by Thomas White and partially redesigned by Humphry Repton for Benjamin Gott.
Ilkley Lido (Including Cafe and Changing Rooms)
Ilkley
Lido. 1934-5 by Mr A Skinner, Ilkley Urban District Borough Surveyor. Concrete, brick, sandstone dressings, plywood, timber, and felt tiles.
Ledston Hall and Park
Ledsham
Ledston Hall and Park has a rich history starting from the 11th century. It features gardens designed by Charles Bridgeman and alterations by Lady Elizabeth Hastings in the 18th century.
Former Richard Dunn Sports Centre
Bradford
A local sports and leisure centre, built 1974-1978, by Trevor Skempton of the Bradford City Architects department with consulting engineers White, Young and partners.
E.c. Stoner Building, Computer Science Building, Mathemat…
Leeds
University Campus buildings, comprising E C Stoner Building (physics), Mathematics, Earth Sciences, Computer Studies, Senior Common Room, Garstang Building, Manton Building, Communications...
Harewood House
Harewood
Country House. 1759-71, the central part of the house by John Carr, the two lateral extensions and wings by Robert Adam (Swarbrick, p. 194).
Dalton Parlours Roman villa and Iron Age settlement
Collingham
Dalton Parlours Roman villa was a high-status estate with agricultural and military ties, featuring extensive buildings and structures.
Light Anti-Aircraft gun emplacement for the former Thorp …
Walton
Second World War Light Anti-Aircraft gun emplacement, circa 1941.
Adel Roman fort and settlement
Alwoodley
Buried archaeological remains of a Roman fort established in the late 1st century, along with an associated vicus (civilian settlement) that continued into at least the 4th century.
Micklefield House
Rawdon
Large detached villa, now council offices, 1847, by John Tertius Fairbank, with a large extension of 1872 and further later additions and alterations.
Piece Hall, Westgate, Halifax
Halifax
Cloth market. 1775-1779, attributed to Thomas Bradley. Built of local, finely grained sandstone with stone slate roofs.
The Halifax Building
Halifax
Office, formerly head office. 1968-1974. Designed by the Building Design Partnership (BDP) for the Halifax Building Society.
Dewsbury Cemetery
Dewsbury
A public cemetery opened in 1860, laid out to a design by William Barratt with buildings by Jeremiah Marriott and Son, and extended in the late-C19.
Howley Hall; a 16th century country house and gardens
Morley
Howley Hall, a 16th-century Elizabethan country house, exemplifies late Tudor and early Jacobean architecture, reflecting historical artistic and architectural development unique to England.
Thornes Park
Wakefield
Thornes Park is a public park consisting of three historically distinct areas of landscaping, the earliest dating from the later C18.
Former World War I National Filling Factory, Barnbow
Barwick in Elmet and Scholes
Former First World War National Filling Factory surviving as standing, buried and earthwork remains.
Castle Hill: slight univallate hillfort, small multivalla…
Kirklees
Castle Hill at Almondbury features well-preserved Bronze Age to medieval sites, including a unique hillfort and motte-and-bailey castle, offering insights into prehistoric and Norman eras.
Harewood House
Harewood
Harewood House was designed by John Carr, with gardens and parkland developed by notable figures including Lancelot Brown and Humphry Repton. It remains privately owned.
Lund Park
Keighley
Lund Park, opened in 1891, is a 6.1ha public park in Keighley, featuring sports facilities and gardens. It was gifted by James Lund and includes historical architectural elements.
Bretton Hall
West Bretton
Bretton Hall, dating back to the 18th century, features historic pleasure grounds, parkland, and structures designed by notable figures like Richard Woods and Jeffry Wyatt.
29, Rochdale Road
Todmorden
Co-operative shop, early C20, originally constructed as a house probably in early-mid C19, stone, 3-storeys plus lower ground floor and attic, 2-storey shopfront.
'Story of Wool' sculptural mural, International Developme…
Ilkley
Sculptural mural. 1968 by William Mitchell for the International Wool Secretariat. Bronze-faced glass reinforced plastic (GRP).
Railway viaduct MDL1/40, Churwell Viaduct
Morley
Viaduct carrying the Leeds, Dewsbury & Manchester Railway, mid-1840s, by Thomas Grainger.
Railway tunnel portals MVL3/88 and MVL3/89, west end of H…
Huddersfield
A pair of tunnel portals; the north portal built in 1845-1849 for the Huddersfield & Manchester Railway line to the design of the engineer Alfred Stanistreet Jee, with the south portal added...
Dalton Mills, all attached buildings and yard surface
Keighley
A mill complex of 1866-77 for the manufacture of worsted cloth, now in multiple use.
Lawnswood Cemetery
Leeds
A cemetery designed by the Leeds architect, George Corson, assisted by the landscape gardener, William Gay of Bradford, opened in 1875.
Former Co-Operative Society Building (Pioneer House)
Dewsbury
Former Co-operative Society building, built in 1878-1880 by Holtom & Connon, and extended in 1896 and 1914 by Holtom & Fox. Italian Renaissance style.
Adel Reformatory
Leeds
Reform school, approved school, community home (now disused), 1857 with later C19 and C20 additions, by William Watson Hewitson of Kitson & Hewitson, for Leeds Society for the Reformation of...
Templar Hotel, including 6 Templar Street
Leeds
Public house, early C19, extended in the mid-late C19 and subsequently altered and remodelled in 1928 to designs by Garside and Pennington of Pontefract for Melbourne Brewery (Leeds) Ltd,...
Nostell Priory
Huntwick with Foulby and Nostell
Nostell Priory, dating from the 12th century, features late 18th-century additions by Robert Adam. The site is recognized for its rich architectural and cultural history.
Scholemoor Cemetery
Bradford
A public cemetery designed by the Borough Surveyor, Charles Gott, opened in 1860 and extended in the early-C20 with a crematorium designed by the Borough Architect, F E P Edwards.
Bank House
Leeds
Former Bank of England regional headquarters building, 1969-71, by Building Design Partnership.
Temple Newsam
Leeds
Parkland with late-C17 elements and an early-C18 approach with a bridge and ponds by William Etty, remodelled during the 1760s to a partially executed scheme by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown.
Saltaire
Baildon
The official listing for all World Heritage sites is held by UNESCO and can be found on their website.
Former Drighlington Junior School
Drighlington
Former board school, 1874-75, by Lockwood & Mawson, coursed sandstone with ashlar dressings, slate roofs, single-storey, classical detailing.
18-26 King Edward Street and 49-51 Vicar Lane, Leeds
Leeds
Block of shops, offices and former restaurant, 1898-1904, altered in the C20. By Frank Matcham for the Leeds Estates Company as part of the County Arcade development. Free Baroque style.
Explore more
Search for more listed places in West YorkshireWest Yorkshire through time
This timeline shows the first period of use for buildings and places on the National Heritage List for England, just one of the details recorded for every list entry. Click around to see how West Yorkshire changes over time. Skip this section and go to aerial photos
Prehistoric Before AD 43
Prehistory covers a million years of human occupation before the Roman invasion, from hunter-gatherers of several human species, including Neanderthals, to more recent herders and farmers. It was a time of developing technologies and belief systems, involving contact with and migration from Europe, all reflected in the variety of artefact and monument types characteristic of particular prehistoric periods.
Roman AD 43 to AD 410
Britain was invaded by four legions of the Roman army in AD 43, who relatively rapidly conquered England from landing points in Kent. Parts of Wales and Scotland soon followed.
Roman culture brought urbanism, monumental buildings, wide-ranging religious beliefs, writing, and strong social hierarchy. The Roman administrative system was withdrawn in AD 410.
Early medieval AD 410 to AD 1066
This period, often associated in England with Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, saw a reduction in urban living from the Roman period and increased migration from northern Europe.
Traces of this period can be found in cemeteries, particularly in artefacts and in some of the very early churches, as this period also saw the growth of Christianity in Britain.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Catholic Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanently altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Prehistoric Before AD 43
Prehistory covers a million years of human occupation before the Roman invasion, from hunter-gatherers of several human species, including Neanderthals, to more recent herders and farmers. It was a time of developing technologies and belief systems, involving contact with and migration from Europe, all reflected in the variety of artefact and monument types characteristic of particular prehistoric periods.
Roman AD 43 to AD 410
Britain was invaded by four legions of the Roman army in AD 43, who relatively rapidly conquered England from landing points in Kent. Parts of Wales and Scotland soon followed.
Roman culture brought urbanism, monumental buildings, wide-ranging religious beliefs, writing, and strong social hierarchy. The Roman administrative system was withdrawn in AD 410.
Early medieval AD 410 to AD 1066
This period, often associated in England with Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, saw a reduction in urban living from the Roman period and increased migration from northern Europe.
Traces of this period can be found in cemeteries, particularly in artefacts and in some of the very early churches, as this period also saw the growth of Christianity in Britain.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Catholic Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanently altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Aerial photos of West Yorkshire
Aerial photography helps reveal secrets of England's changing landscapes that are impossible to see from the ground. Skip this section and go to archive images
Bailiff Bridge
Victoria Mills J.F. Firth and Son, Bailiff Bridge, 1933
Bailiff Bridge
Branxholme Mill, Bailiff Bridge, 1950
Linthwaite
Titanic Mills, Linthwaite, 1926
Linthwaite
Titanic Mills, Linthwaite, 1946
Otley
The Ashfield Iron Foundry, Otley, 1926
Otley
The Falcon Printing Machine Works and Atlas Iron Works, Otley, 1928
Weetwood
Weetwood Hall, Weetwood, 1948
Weetwood
Weetwood Hall and the University of Leeds Athletic Grounds, Weetwood, 1948
Emley
Emley Woodhouse, Emley, 1948
Emley
Emley Woodhouse, Emley, 1948
West Yorkshire in the Historic England Archive
The Historic England Archive cares for over 15 million images, dating from the 1850s to the present day. Discover stunning images of West Yorkshire's past. Skip this section and go to stories about heritage
Charles George Harper Collection
Calderdale
Date created: 1892 - 1933
Two men looking at the Stoodley Pike Monument
Eileen ‘Dusty’ Deste Collection
Mytholmroyd, Calderdale
Date created: 1966 - 1974
Looking west along Burnley Road from Maud's Clog Sole Works (not visible) with Bank Buildings in the distance and the sign for Mytholmroyd across the...
Eric de Mare
Holbeck, Leeds, Leeds
Date created: 1945 - 1980
Copy of a wood engraving of Temple Mill taken from a Victorian book on manufacturers showing the grass roof on Marshall's one storey flax mill.
John Gay Collection: Modern Architects
Halifax, Calderdale
Date created: 1971 - 1976
A view looking across to the modern terrace of shops at numbers 23 to 43 Market Street in Halifax showing the Tesco and Halfords shop fronts
John Gay Collection: Rural Life
Halifax, Calderdale
Date created: 1962 - 1976
View showing a group of children sledging down a snow covered road in Halifax
John Gay Collection: Counties
Sowerby Bridge, Halifax, Calderdale
Date created: 1962 - 1976
A view across the River Calder towards Hollins Mill, with the weir sluice mechanism in the foreground.
John Laing Collection
Calderdale
Date created: 08 Mar 1971
View of the Halifax Building Society Headquarters during construction
London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company
Calderdale
Date created: 06 Apr 1936
A view looking south-east along Burnley Road from close to the junction with Blind Lane, with a number of blurred figures walking along the pavement
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Slaithwaite, Slaithwaite And Marsden, Kirklees
Date created: 1900 - 1904
GENERAL VIEW
John Gay Collection: Counties
King Cross, Halifax, Calderdale
Date created: 1962 - 1966
A view down Stoney Lane from Gainest in King Cross, Halifax.
Stories about heritage in your local area
Historic England publishes news, blogs, research, videos, and podcasts celebrating England's rich heritage. Discover the stories we have about West Yorkshire. Skip this section and go to education
Historic England in Bradford 2025: Celebrating Heritage, Empowering Youth
Mentions West Yorkshire
As Bradford celebrates, Historic England is working to ensure the benefits of heritage are felt by everyone, and to create a lasting legacy.
Temperance Buildings: The Way Out of Darkest England
Mentions 4, Trevelyan Square, 1-13, Boar Lane
The temperance movement and its remarkable physical legacy visible on our streets today.
A Brief Introduction to Arts and Crafts Architecture
Mentions Former Maternity Ward (Block 2), Princess Royal Community Hospital, Huddersfield
Emerging in reaction to the 19th century Industrial Revolution, the Arts and Crafts movement embraced local materials and traditional craftsmanship.
Beyond Stonehenge: Where To Find Lesser-Known Prehistoric Sites in England
Mentions Carved rock known as the Badger Stone, Cup and Ring marked rock known as the Hanging Stone Rock
Explore England's ancient sites beyond Stonehenge, such as the Rudston Monolith and Uley Long Barrow, to discover the history of prehistoric...
A History of Bradford in 10 Places
Mentions Saltaire, Lister Park, Bradford Town Hall
Discover the history of Bradford's buildings including Cartwright Hall, Lister Mills, UNESCO site Saltaire, Bradford Cathedral and Brontë Parsonage...
The Life and Work of John Smeaton, the ‘Father of Civil Engineering’
Mentions Church of St Mary
Discover the remarkable feats of engineering by British civil engineer John Smeaton.
The Story of Wakefield in 8 Places
Mentions Cathedral Church of All Saints, Sandal Castle, Sandal Castle: motte and bailey castle and shell keep castle
Discover the history of Wakefield in West Yorkshire through these historic places.
7 Serene Cemeteries to Visit in England
Mentions Undercliffe Cemetery, Illingworth Mausoleum
These graveyards can offer space for quiet reflection or a peaceful walk.
Narrative Structures: England’s Literary History in 11 Places
Mentions Haworth Parsonage (Bronte Museum)
Discover the historic sites in England where famous writers found their inspiration.
An Introduction to Artist Henry Moore
Mentions City Art Gallery and Henry Moore Centre, Henry Moore Centre For the Study of Sculpture
From Yorkshire miner’s son to world-famous artist who revolutionised sculpture in the 20th century.
Why Exercising in Historic Green Spaces is Good for Your Mental (and Physical) Health
Mentions Roundhay Park
Explore the benefits of historic public parks and green spaces across England.
The History of Ukrainians in England
Mentions Ukrainian Autocephalic Orthodox Church, The Ukrainian Catholic Church of Holy Trinity and Our Lady of Pochaiv (formerly St John's Methodist Church), Edgerton Hill,
Ukrainians have influenced several sites across England. Here is a small selection.
What Is the Oldest Pub or Inn in England?
Mentions Bingley Arms, Church of All Hallows
Many pubs and inns claim to be the oldest pub in England. Here are the facts.
Mentions West Yorkshire
Halifax has a long and proud tradition of boxing clubs and academies in West Yorkshire. It's a town steeped in working-class sporting history.
Boxing in Halifax: A Working-Class History Remembered
Halifax has a long and proud tradition of boxing clubs and academies in West Yorkshire. It's a town steeped in working-class sporting history.
Mentions West Yorkshire
In 1779, the West Riding of Yorkshire ruled the cloth trade. The Grade I listed Piece Hall is a monument to this time.
Restoring the Piece Hall in Halifax
In 1779, the West Riding of Yorkshire ruled the cloth trade. The Grade I listed Piece Hall is a monument to this time. Claire Slattery undertook a complex project to restore the beauty of the Georgian building and return it to a place of pivotal importance in Halifax.
Historic England in Bradford 2025: Celebrating Heritage, Empowering Youth
Mentions West Yorkshire
As Bradford celebrates, Historic England is working to ensure the benefits of heritage are felt by everyone, and to create a lasting legacy.
17 Remarkable Historic Places Listed in 2024
Mentions Former Maternity Ward (Block 2), Princess Royal Community Hospital, Huddersfield, Electricity Junction Box on Fitzwilliam Street, West Yorkshire
Celebrating 17 historic gems that were examined, protected and added to the National Heritage List for England in 2024.
Victorian Development by the Ramsden Estate in the Huddersfield High Street Heritage Action Zone
Mentions The George Hotel, 3-7 Station Street, West Yorkshire
Investigating the George Hotel and Ramsden Estate Office in Huddersfield to inform their conservation and reuse.
£2 Million Awarded to Bradford City Council for Heritage Regeneration Project
Mentions Bradford Town Hall
Bradford City Council has been awarded £2 million from Historic England to fund a transformative Heritage Action Zone in the city’s historic core.
World's First Nature Reserve Given Protection by Historic England
Mentions Waterton Park, Walton, Wakefield, Walton Hall, Boundary wall of Waterton Park, Walton, Wakefield
A parkland in West Yorkshire has been registered at Grade II, giving it greater protection and recognition.
Phoenix Rising: Historic England Awards £625,000 to Repair Derelict Wakefield Mill
Mentions Stone Warehouse to North of Calder and Hebble Navigation Warehouse
Historic England has given £625,000 to help breathe new life into a derelict former textile mill in Wakefield.
Extent of Heritage and Cultural Property Crime in England Revealed
Mentions West Yorkshire
New research funded by Historic England identifies the range of active and emerging threats to the historic environment.
Picturing High Streets: Over 200 Images Taken by the Public Enter Historic England Archive
Mentions Corn Exchange
Documenting a year in the life of the English high street, images taken by the public as part of 'Picturing High Streets' can be viewed online.
Research Reports Roundup August 2023
Mentions West Yorkshire
A roundup of recent research reports added to our database in June 2023 to August 2023, displayed by heritage themes.
Historic England Calls for Action on Green Jobs Planning
Mentions West Yorkshire
Historic England has published local data on the estimated need for retrofitting skills to deliver Net Zero
Heritage at Risk in Yorkshire Revealed
Mentions West Yorkshire
13 sites have been saved and 7 sites added to the Heritage at Risk Register 2023 in the East of England.
Historic England Reveals its Heritage at Risk Register 2023
Mentions West Yorkshire
Historic England has today revealed its Heritage at Risk Register 2023. This is a snapshot of the health of England’s historic buildings and places.
West Yorkshire's social history through photos
Over 10,000 images from the Historic England Archive have been specially selected and re-captioned for teachers, students, and anyone who wants to learn more about their local area. Skip this section and go to grant-aided places
Zion Chapel, Wade Street, Halifax, West Yorkshire
Period: Georgian (1714 - 1836)
This former Congregational chapel was built in 1819. Its imposing ashlar facade incorporates four Doric columns. The site is now a transport yard.
Zion Chapel, Wade Street, Halifax, West Yorkshire
Yarn Warehouse, Wellington Mills, Elland, West Yorkshire
Period: 1930s (1930 - 1938)
The picture shows the warehouse at Wellington Mills in the 1930s.
Yarn Warehouse, Wellington Mills, Elland, West Yorkshire
Workers' housing, Robinwood Mill, Todmorden, West Yorkshire
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
These regular streets of terraced houses were constructed in 1864 for the workers at Robinwood Mill.
Workers' housing, Robinwood Mill, Todmorden, West Yorkshire
Workers housing, 1-22 Ada Street, Saltaire, West Yorkshire
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
Terrace of workers' houses built in 1857 by Lockwood and Mawson for Titus Salt. They are part of Titus Salt's model community - Saltaire.
Workers housing, 1-22 Ada Street, Saltaire, West Yorkshire
Wool sorting, Cumberland Works, Manningham, West Yorkshire
Period: 1980s (1980 - 1989)
Combing is one of the preparatory procedures in wool processing.
Wool sorting, Cumberland Works, Manningham, West Yorkshire
Woodsome Hall, Kirkburton, West Yorkshire
Period: Tudor (1485 - 1602)
Extremely fine hall house, with additions, now a golf club house.
Woodsome Hall, Kirkburton, West Yorkshire
Winding Yarn, Wellington Mills, Elland, West Yorkshire
Period: 1930s (1930 - 1938)
These women are winding yarn onto bobbins for use on machines in the next stage of the spinning process.
Winding Yarn, Wellington Mills, Elland, West Yorkshire
Whetley Mills, Manningham, Bradford, West Yorkshire
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
This illustration is taken from The Century's Progress, published in 1893.
Whetley Mills, Manningham, Bradford, West Yorkshire
Visit grant-aided places near you
These places and buildings have been helped by Historic England's financial grants. Find local heritage in your neighbourhood that you never knew existed! Please note that opening times may vary. Skip this section and go to related locations
First White Cloth Hall, 98-100 Kirkgate, Leeds
First White Cloth Hall is a repurposed Grade II*-listed textiles trading hall, featuring a glazed atrium set over two floors.
Kirklees Priory Gatehouse, Brighouse, Calderdale, West Yorkshire
The Gatehouse to Kirklees Priory, dating from the early 16th century, is a timber-framed structure partially encased in stone.
Lister Mills, Patent Street, Bradford, West Yorkshire
This mill is the largest and most imposing of Bradford's mills and a major landmark.
Mytholmroyd Station, Mytholmroyd, Calderdale, West Yorkshire
The mid-19th-century booking hall and stair tower at the railway station is Grade II listed.
Pontefract Castle, Castle Chain, Pontefract, Wakefield
Once hailed as the 'Key to the North', this historically important fortress has seen many changes over the centuries and has some captivating stories...
Waterloo Mill Engine House, Howden Road, Silsden, Keighley, Bradford, West Yorkshire
The worsted mill's construction commenced between 1867 and 1877 for Charles Hastings and Co, a company of worsted spinners.
Discover more
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