The George Hotel, Huddersfield

The following source list was originally available only on paper in one of the West Yorkshire Archive Service offices. It may have been compiled many years ago and could be out of date. It was designed to act as a signpost to records of interest on a particular historical subject, but may relate only to one West Yorkshire district, or be an incomplete list of sources available. Please feel free to add or update with any additional information.

The present building standing in St George's Square is the third building to have been known as the George Inn or the George Hotel.

The earliest property to have housed the George stood at the Market Place end of the road now known as John William Street and is thought to have been built around 1687.

The second George erected on the same site around 1787 was dismantled in 1851 and re-erected on the corner of Byram Street and St Peter's Street for use as a warehouse. It was removed to make way for a new road which was necessary to form a main thoroughfare for the town, and to provide access to the Railway Station. This building stands today.

With the arrival of the Huddersfield section of the London and North Western Railway it was suggested that a third George Hotel be built close to the station and it was to that end that William Wallen a London architect prepared plans for a new hotel. Wallen was born in London in 1807, the son of John, also an architect. By 1841 William was in practice in Manchester Road, Huddersfield. He must have impressed the Ramsden family to have been commissioned for the George Hotel as it was one of their main buildings in the development of Huddersfield at that time.

Joseph Kaye, mason was born around 1779 and was best remembered as a builder, but did include architecture amongst his activities. He had already been engaged to build the Railway Station so it would seem obvious to have him build the George Hotel too. By 1859 the last storey of the building was being erected. The plumber and glazier to have worked on the George Hotel was Thomas Hayley, the plasterers were Jowitt and North and the joiners were Shaw and Rushforths.

Many alterations and improvements were carried out to the George Hotel. A new look was given to the interior in 1873 by way of the purchase of new wooden furniture and fittings from a cabinet maker and french polisher. A new laundry and kitchen were added in 1876 designed by William Henry Crossland and by 1893 the livery stables situated in Fountain Street were complete. A glazed canopy to the main entrance of the George Hotel was added in 1926.

From early times the hotel was used for auction sales. Probably the most important transaction completed there was the loan of £1,350,000 to Huddersfield Corporation in 1920 when they purchased the Ramsden Estate.

As well as catering for the trade, the hotel was also involved in leisure activities too. In the 1870s the Huddersfield Subscription Concerts were held at the George and on 29th August 1885 hosted the meeting which led to the formation of the Northern Rugby Football Union.

Plans relating to the George Hotel can be found at WYAS: Kirklees under the reference numbers Central 341, 632. Also Huddersfield Corporation Architects plan no 785. Also under reference numbers KC331/4/1/2, DD/RE/108, DD/RE/439, DD/RE/460.