HCS worried about the deteriorating state of historic Huddersfield clock tower

A Huddersfield Civic Society member has raised concerns about the state of Huddersfield’s historic clock tower.

The Grade II listed tower and entrance was once on the town’s massive Cloth Hall and is now preserved in Ravensknowle Park at Dalton but is said to be in a deteriorating condition.

Ann Denham, who is also a member of the Friends of Tolson & Ravensknowle, said: “It’s a disgrace that this building has been allowed to get into this state. It is visible to everyone coming on the main road leading into Huddersfield and to the hundreds of people who walk in or through the park every day. The neglect is shameful. 

“The erecting of the Clock Tower in Ravensknowle Park was to remind those of us who live and work in Huddersfield of the scale of the textile industry and its importance in the growth of our hugely successful industrial and cultural town.’’

The Clock Tower  has been surrounded by fencing for several weeks and, more recently, by scaffolding.

Ann said the fencing has been broken down several times with an old settee now dumped beneath the tower.

She added: “At the Ravensknowle Gala the state of the fencing was reported to the council and someone came out to repair it but it was vandalised again later that day. Since then, scaffolding has appeared but no actual work seems to be happening. I’m told the roof is now leaking.’’

Councillors first raised concerns about the clock tower in 2024 with one describing it then as “a hovel and a no-go area.” 

Ann recently wrote a book called ‘The History of Tolson Memorial Museum, how Ravensknowle Hall became the Museum of Huddersfield’ which is for sale on the Huddersfield Civic Society website and was described as ‘excellent’ by the British Association of Friends of Museums.

A Kirklees Council spokesperson said:“Ravensknowle Tower remains closed as a precautionary measure while essential safety work is carried out.

“Following the identification of some spalling (pieces of the outer surface breaking off), a specialist assessment has been carried out and the necessary repairs have been identified. We are currently progressing the next steps and hope to be able to reopen the tower soon.’’

The clock tower was originally on the Cloth Hall built in Huddersfield in 1766 by Sir John Ramsden to provide stalls to sell textiles that were made in and around Huddersfield.

The entrance faced down Cloth Hall Street and it was so successful that a second storey was built in 1780.  At its busiest, around 2,000 clothiers brought their wares to this market.

The  huge success of textiles and related industries and the subsequent improved means of transport with the railways and canals meant that by 1876 the Cloth Hall was no longer the primary way of selling textiles.

Over the years, despite the efforts that were made to rejuvenate the centre – a Post Office Branch was opened in 1924 – its days were numbered. In 1929 Huddersfield Council decided the Cloth Hall should be pulled down as there was no longer a use for it.

But they did save the entrance and the Clock Tower was moved to Ravensknowle Park where it has been ever since.

Halifax had a similar building, the Piece Hall, which it retained and has now become an iconic place to visit in the north of England, host independent shops and dozens of concerts every year.