A major milestone has been marked at Dewsbury Arcade with the original company returning to help restore the glazed roof of the historic gem.
The restoration of the roof is one of the most exciting aspects of the renovation and is among the arcade’s most recognisable features, letting in natural light and creating a warm, bright atmosphere.
Renovation work has been carried out by Standard Patent Glazing, a Dewsbury-based company that installed the original glazed roof of the Grade II listed building back when the arcade first opened in 1899.
Councillor Graham Turner, Cabinet Member for Finance and Regeneration, said:
“The Dewsbury Arcade is an iconic part of the town’s heritage, and its roof is one of its most striking features. We’re thrilled to have worked with the very same local firm that originally installed the roof over a century ago. It’s a powerful nod to the Dewsbury Board of Guardians, who first commissioned the arcade and we’re proud to be a part of restoring it to its former glory.
“This regeneration is about more than preserving history – it’s about shaping the future. The arcade will play a vital role in the Dewsbury Blueprint, supporting independent businesses, attracting visitors, and helping to boost the town’s economy.”
In addition to the glazed roof, the arcade building has over 131 windows, all of which must be conserved in line with the Listed building planning rules.
To ensure that we continue to preserve the heritage of this stunning building, where any full replacement windows are required, these will be replaced “like for like” to ensure the original look and feel of the arcade is retained.
The next phase of work will see rendering of the walls beneath the glazed roof. The lift shaft wall that will provide access to the other floors once completed is being rebuilt and stone plinths for the shop fronts will be arriving for installation.
Built in 1899, Grade II listed building has stood empty since 2016, until it was purchased the arcade with a plan to invest in the building and reopen it as part of the Dewsbury Blueprint when it transfers to the Arcade Group for leasing and management.
This work is funded by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Getting Building Fund, the government’s Towns Fund and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The main works are being carried out by William Birch and Sons, a Yorkshire-based construction company specialising in restoring heritage buildings.