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George Hotel, Huddersfield

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Coordinates: 53°38′55″N 1°47′00″W / 53.6486°N 1.7834°W / 53.6486; -1.7834
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George Hotel, Huddersfield

The George Hotel in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England, is a Grade II* listed building, designed by William Wallen, with an Italianate façade. It was built in 1848-50.[1][2][3][4][5]

The hotel is famous as the birthplace of rugby league football in 1895. Memorabilia recalling the meeting can be found throughout the hotel as well as in the Heritage Centre.[2][6]

History

Huddersfield railway station opened in 1847 to the north of the town's established town centre. At that time much of the town was owned by the Ramsden Estate. The then head of the family owning this estate, Sir John William Ramsden, 5th Baronet, was keen to develop Huddersfield town centre, and especially the area near the station. The rather grand St George's Square in front of the station was part of this, as was the construction of the George Hotel on that square.[7][8]

The George Hotel was built in 1848-50 next to the station, the two buildings forming two sides of St George’s Square. The square was linked to the town's long established Market Place by a newly created John William Street (named after its creator), requiring the demolition of the previous George Hotel, which occupied the north side of the Market Place.[4] The building was listed at Grade II* in September 1977.[9]

The hotel closed in January 2013.[10] In 2022, it was reported that the vacant hotel would be redeveloped at a cost of £20 million as a Radisson Red Hotel, opening in 2024.[11] In 2023, approval was given for the demolition of certain portions of the hotel as part of the redevelopment.[12]

The hotel and Rugby League

Further information: History of rugby league

It was in the George Hotel, Huddersfield on 29 August 1895 that 21 Lancashire and Yorkshire clubs held a meeting and by a majority of 20 to 1 voted to secede from the Rugby Football Union to set up their own Northern Rugby Football Union. In 1922 this became the Rugby Football League. Stockport was also accepted into the league via telephone to the hotel.[13]

The British Amateur Rugby League Association (BARLA) was also founded at the George Hotel in 1973.

The Rugby League Heritage Centre was located in the basement of the George from 2005 until the closure of the hotel in 2013. It was the UK's only rugby league heritage museum. It was the brainchild of sports presenter Mike Stephenson. Within the centre were displays of memorabilia, including rare jerseys, medals, caps, programmes and photographs. There was also footage played on several plasma screens. The British Rugby League Hall of Fame was also located in the Heritage Centre.

On 24 June 2020, Rugby League Cares announced a partnership with Kirklees Council to establish a National Rugby League Museum in the George Hotel.[14]

Filming at the George Hotel, Huddersfield

in the 1960s and 1970’s the artist L S Lowry would dine in the restaurant and was known to have drawn on the napkins and given them to the dining room waiting staff.

In 2019, the George Hotel was 'set alight' by film crew for COBRA, a six part television series which aired on Sky One in 2020.[15]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Property Information: George Hotel, Huddersfield". Direct Hotels. Archived from the original on 6 April 2008. Retrieved 7 July 2008.
  2. ^ a b "George Hotel". Expedia. Archived from the original on 24 May 2010. Retrieved 7 July 2008.
  3. ^ "West Yorkshire in 360°! - Founders' Room, Huddersfield". British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 7 July 2008.
  4. ^ a b Jessop, Lucy (21 March 2023). "Victorian Development by the Ramsden Estate in the Huddersfield High Street Heritage Action Zone". Historic England. Archived from the original on 21 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  5. ^ "The George Hotel including stone-flagged area and surrounding walls and railings to the south and west". Historic England. Archived from the original on 22 November 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  6. ^ "The George Hotel". The George Hotel. Archived from the original on 25 July 2008. Retrieved 7 July 2008.
  7. ^ Bairstow, Martin (1993). The Huddersfield & Sheffield Junction Railway. Martin Bairstow. ISBN 1-871944-08-2.
  8. ^ Stephenson, Clifford (1972). The Ramsdens and their Estate in Huddersfield: The Town that Bought Itself (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  9. ^ Historic England. "The George Hotel (1277386)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  10. ^ "Huddersfield's historic George Hotel closes". BBC News. 3 January 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  11. ^ "George Hotel Huddersfield: Historic Yorkshire hotel set to be turned into Radisson Red in £20m development". Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  12. ^ Marlow, Abigail (8 June 2023). "Huge development as Huddersfield's George Hotel to be torn down". Yorkshire Live. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  13. ^ "Rugby League Founders' Room". British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 7 July 2008.
  14. ^ "George Hotel to house the National Rugby League Museum". Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  15. ^ Robinson, Andrew (2 April 2019). "Hive of activity as former George Hotel is 'set alight' by film crew". YorkshireLive. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
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53°38′55″N 1°47′00″W / 53.6486°N 1.7834°W / 53.6486; -1.7834

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