Colonel Thomas Harding started out in business as a gill-pin maker in Great Wilson Street in Leeds in 1836 forming a distinctive landmark on the Leeds skyline.
Tower Works: Past
The design of the Harding’s factory was heavily influenced by his love for Italian architecture and art. Harding’s classification for pin sizes, the Harding Gauge, went on to become the international standard.
The most notable features of Tower Works are the three towers that give it its name and served as chimneys for the gill-pin factory. The largest and most ornate tower is based on the iconic Giotto campanile (bell tower) in Florence. The smaller ornate tower is based on the Lamberti Tower in Verona. A third plain tower, built as part of Harding’s final phase of expansion in 1919, is thought to represent a Tuscan tower house. All three are listed structures, the two ornate towers being Grade II * and the plain tower Grade II.
The design for the Giotto Tower included ventilation systems that were way ahead of their time in terms of minimising pollution from the steel works. The chimney incorporated a filter to retrieve the excess steel dust from the production process. In 1895 T. W. Harding & Son amalgamated with two other companies to become Harding, Rhodes & Co. After sustaining damage in World War II when neighbouring buildings were bombed during the air raids on Leeds city railway station, the factory was never repaired and ceased to trade in 1981 after almost 120 years of operating on the site.
The instrument division of Hardings was sold to Foundrometers Ltd in 1980/81. Foundrometers Instrumentation Ltd incorporated were originally located in in Sweet Street ,then moved to Butterly Street, later settling at South Accomodation Road.
Tower Works: Present
Acquired by Yorkshire Forward in May 2005, a programme of strategic demolition has taken place leaving the listed structures including the Engine House, the three Italianate Towers and the ornate entrance to the site from Globe Road.
In 2007 Yorkshire Forward were granted outline planning permission for the site which incorporates 111,678 office space. Redevelopment is also expected to include 150 residential units and 7,810 sq ft retail or leisure space.
Tower Works: Future
The first phase of development is already underway completing strategic demolition of the un-listed areas and making way for an impressive public space, incorporating water features that could be under-planted with lush green reeds and bull-rushes.
The public space will include hard landscaping with high quality York Stone paving and could even see improved public access to site’s historic Giotto Tower celebrating site’s unique heritage.
