Shipley's iconic clock tower denied listed status
In April 2024, the 20th Century Society applied to Historic England to have the distinctive 1960s structure listed,
SHIPLEY’S landmark clock tower will not be given listed status after Historic England said it “lacked design quality.”
In April 2024, the 20th Century Society applied to Historic England to have the distinctive 1960s structure listed, arguing that it had “landmark qualities and a strong civic presence.”
They said the tower was “a fabulous, Festival of Britain-style totem of mid-century modern design.”
If the listing was approved, the tower would have the same protection as many of the District’s Victorian buildings.
Now, two years later, the national body has released a report recommending that the tower is not listed.
It says the market building, which the clock tower is a part of, has been much altered since it opened in the 1960s, and that the structure was not unique enough to warrant a listing.
Last year the tower was thrust into the spotlight when it became the backdrop to one of the most striking City of Culture events – Bloom.
The performance, held over two days, saw aerial acrobats suspended in front of the tower and an opera singer belting out a version of Wings by Birdie from near the top of the structure.
Referring to the market building, the report by Historic England said: “There has been a considerable degree of alteration to the exterior. While traces remain of original timber-framed shopfronts and tiles, many units have replacement shopfronts, particularly the larger shops on Kirkgate.
“The public house has modern door and window frames, and some upper-floor windows now have uPVC frames. Original applied lettering spelling Shipley Market has been removed from the Westgate screen, and although the stepped shop canopies on the Kirkgate elevation survive, they have been altered in appearance by the removal/covering of the original timber facing.
“The market hall building lacks a strong level of architectural and design quality, or technological innovation, and has been altered in a way that negatively impacts the original building.”
Referring to the clock tower, the document says: “It is undoubtedly a local landmark, signposting the post-war market complex and in the wider context, Shipley town centre. As such, it does reflect the civic aspiration and pride in the newly rebuilt market area at the time of its construction.
“The applicant also rightly identifies the clock tower as a rare post-war example in the north of England. However the benchmark for listing post-war buildings is high and while these attributes are noted they are not sufficient in their own right to recommend listing.”
“The applicant refers to Festival of Britain-style architecture and there is a playfulness in details, such as the alternating doorways with little shaped balconies on the brickwork stages, which also alternate textures, with tiled hexagonal cut-outs to the concrete stage bands. However, it was completed a decade later.
“Overall, it is considered that the Shipley clock tower does not compare favourably with other listed examples in terms of design quality, nor in terms of its level of alteration. While there is a degree of interest in its retention of the original timber and glazed entrance kiosk to the lower-level market hall and the bell-striking Jacquemart to the clock stage, cumulative alteration has negatively impacted the structure’s overall appearance.
“The prominent sixth stage, clad in eye-catching white ceramic tiles, is seriously impacted by the loss on all four faces of the large, circular clock dials, while the spiral staircase silhouetted against the sky in the open fifth stage has been replaced by a more mundane angled ladder with safety hoops.
“In summary, while the local importance of Shipley clock tower is acknowledged, it lacks the design quality, attention to detail and/or use of high-quality materials, of comparable listed examples, and has undergone negative alterations, which have further impacted its interest.”
The 20th Century Society applied for the listing to protect the tower from any future redevelopment of the area.
A recent Council masterplan for Shipley had suggested it could become a viewing platform.
A 20th Century Society spokesperson said: “Anyone who saw acrobats dramatically abseiling down it during last year’s 2025 Bradford City of Culture will know how much of a local icon it is.”
All the post-war clock towers that are nationally listed are currently in the South of England or the Midlands, with none in the North of England – adding Shipley to that list would have helped redress a glaring regional imbalance, and celebrated a much-loved civic landmark. For Historic England and DCMS to reject it feels more like levelling down than levelling up, but we’re confident that one day it will be recognised.
“Despite the disappointing listing decision, we hope the Town Council’s ambitions to restore the tower and add a public viewing platform come to fruition.”