Development company CEG group acquired the fascinating heritage asset Temple Works in January 2018. Since this time it has met a series of significant challenges in the process of fully understanding the building’s past development, present condition and potential for the future.

You can read a detailed study of the last 12 months in the life of Temple Works in my recent blog post here.

The story of how Temple Works was conceived is a magical one, and its importance to Leeds and the architectural and social history of England is compelling. However, the challenges in protecting and restoring Tempe Works in order to fulfil its potential are enormously complex. The people of Leeds are stakeholders in this restoration process and it is important that they are fully informed on the work carried out so far, the challenges being faced and the demands involved in protecting the building’s basic fabric and maintaining its prestige.

With this in mind, CEG have organised two drop-in events for March 20^th 2019. These are open to the public and are intended to offer full transparency on work carried out in the last 12 months and on the significant ongoing issues. The event also provides an open platform for honest discourse on how Temple Works could be adapted so that it and its wider setting can benefit Holbeck and the Leeds community in general, and how it should fit into the wider South Bank regeneration project.

Key personnel from CEG will be present at the two drop-in events to answer questions and explain the work undertaken so far, along with representatives from supporting organisations intimately involved in the project, including structural engineers, architects and heritage experts.

The first open invitation event is at ‘The Holbeck’ Working Mens’ Club, Jenkinson Lawn, Leeds LS11 9QX from 10.30am to 12 noon.

The second open invitation event is at the Northern Monk Refectory, The Old Flax Store, Marshall Street, Leeds, LS11 9YJ from 3.30 to 7.30pm.

Each venue is hugely significant to modern day Holbeck and an indicator of how bright the future is for the Holbeck and South Bank area. ‘The Holbeck’ is the oldest ‘working mens’ club’ in the UK, originating in 1877, and has recently been taken over by pioneering arts group Slung Low. The Northern Monk is one of the UK’s leading craft breweries and their refectory and original brewhouse are located in an old flax warehouse built by the Marshall family in 1838, which is also a listed building.

Preserving and restoring Temple Works is an exciting journey, but one fraught with complexity. The people of Leeds can and should play a part in the absorbing resurrection of one of the city’s greatest assets. And that opportunity starts here.