Exploring the Private Workings of Huddersfield's Defunct Queensgate Market
Queensgate Market's Transformative Redevelopment Showcased in Heritage Open Days
The historic Queensgate Market in Huddersfield, a Grade II listed building that has stood since 1970, is undergoing a significant transformation as part of the town’s Our Cultural Heart regeneration scheme. This redevelopment will see the market transformed into a vibrant food hall and library hub, seamlessly blending history with modern community use.
The redevelopment includes retaining and celebrating the market’s iconic architectural features, such as its distinctive hyperbolic paraboloid roof structure and ceramic panels by artist Fritz Steller. A new extension will house a modern library hub, incorporating the West Yorkshire Archive Service, which will relocate over 20,000 boxes of historic records dating back to the 12th century into a purpose-built, environmentally controlled archive facility within the library extension. Additionally, a public square adjacent to the site will complement the food hall and library.
As part of the Heritage Open Days event, scheduled for Thursday 18 September 2025, from 4pm to 6pm, visitors have a rare opportunity to explore the former Queensgate Market while it is being transformed. The event is free and includes behind-the-scenes informal tours led by BAM Construction, offering insights into the building’s unique architecture and redevelopment plans. There will also be heritage displays showcasing the market’s history, interaction with the project team responsible for the transformation, and access via Princess Street near Huddersfield Town Hall.
Cllr Graham Turner, cabinet member for finance and regeneration, expressed his enthusiasm for the Heritage Open Days event, calling it a 'fantastic opportunity'. He believes that Queensgate Market holds a special place in Huddersfield’s identity and is proud to be supporting the event. The tour will be locals' last chance to see Queensgate Market before its redevelopment, making it a significant event for the community.
The Heritage Open Days event is sponsored by the local authorities' Our Cultural Heart regeneration scheme, which aims to revitalise Huddersfield's cultural heart and create a thriving, sustainable community. Queensgate Market will join almost a hundred events taking place across Kirklees during the ten days of the festival, celebrating architecture as the festival's national theme, alongside other Huddersfield icons.
David Griffiths, coordinator for Heritage Open Days, has expressed his enthusiasm for the event, stating that it provides a unique glimpse into the transformation of Queensgate Market. The redevelopment reflects a careful balance between preserving architectural history and creating a new cultural and community hub in Huddersfield.
References: [1] Queensgate Market Redevelopment. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/services/libraries-and-culture/heritage-and-archaeology/queensgate-market-redevelopment.aspx [2] Queensgate Market. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.british-listed-buildings.co.uk/huddersfield/queensgate-market [3] West Yorkshire Archive Service. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.westyorks-archive.org.uk/ [4] Heritage Open Days. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/ [5] Our Cultural Heart. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/services/regeneration/our-cultural-heart.aspx
In the context of Queensgate Market's regeneration, the redevelopment will also incorporate a lifestyle upgrade, transforming the market into a home-and-garden oasis with a vibrant food hall. This change, part of Huddersfield's Our Cultural Heart scheme, aspires to create a sustainable community by balancing the preservation of architectural history with the development of a modern cultural hub.
