Tower Works

Tower works is a former pin factory consisting of three listed towers. It is located in Holbeck, West Yorkshire. The Italianate towers of the factory are a distinctive landmark on the Leeds skyline.

The Tower Works factory opened on Globe Road in Holbeck in 1864, it is situated next to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

The factory was built by Colonel Thomas Harding. The design of the factory was heavily influenced by Harding's love of Italian architecture and art.

One chimney is by Shaw and is styled after the Torre Del Communa, Verona and the other chimney is by Wm Bakewell and styled on Giotto's campanile in Florence

The most notable features of Tower Works are the three towers that give it its name and served as chimneys for the factory. The largest and most ornate tower is by William Bakewell and is based on Giotto's Campanile in Florence. The smaller ornate tower is by Shaw and is styled after the Torre Del Communa, 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 towers 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 remove the excess steel dust.

In 1895 T. W. Harding & Son amalgamated with two other companies to become Harding, Rhodes & Co.

The factory sustained damage in World War II when neighbouring buildings were bombed during the air raids on Leeds City railway station, the factory was never repaired.

The Factory was closed in 1981 after 117 years of operating on the site.

Present

Today the site stands empty and many of the buildings are in a terrible state of disrepair.

Tower Works lies at the heart of the Holbeck Urban Village renovation area, it was acquired by Yorkshire Forward in 2005.It and is set to become another development combining modern city offices and businesses with the heritage of the industrial revolution in Leeds.