Institute of Technology

History

The former Bradford Technical College building, now often referred to as Bradford College’s Old Building, was completed in 1882 on Great Horton Road and designed by T. C. Hope of Hope & Jardine. Built as the new Bradford Technical School, it reflected the city’s industrial confidence, with teaching spaces for textiles, art and design, engineering, chemistry and dyeing. Its grand ashlar stone façade, Italian Renaissance and Baroque detailing, Corinthian columns and prominent tower made it one ’s most recognisable educational landmarks. The building later became part of Bradford Technical College and remained in educational use as the college expanded around it through the 20th century. It was Grade II listed in 1983, recognising its architectural and historic importance. In later years, as Bradford College reorganised its estate and moved into newer facilities, the Old Building became surplus to modern teaching needs. By the 2020s it was described in planning documents as the former Bradford College Old Building, privately owned, and allocated for conversion to housing, with plans for around 190 apartments.

The building's history is closely connected to Bradford's textile industry and is reflected in its surviving features and natural decay. 's university campus, the structure stood conspicuously out of use.

Starting in the entrance, there is this stunning plaque.

To the right, you enter the main hall.

Entrance doors.

The building is designed with inspiration from Italian Renaissance and Baroque detailing, with Corinthian columns featured heavily throughout.

The opposite side contained more modern classrooms where architecture and decay remained visible.

Back the other way, the building becomes much older again and you reach this beautiful, decaying staircase.

Curved lecture theatre.

All the power works, too.

A storage room followed the curve of the lecture theatre and contained old papers.

Modern lecture theatre next door.

Wrapping around the upper floors are some lovely corridors.

And finally, you reach a scintillating laboratory. One can only imagine if the partition wasn't there.

Further decaying classrooms stood on the route to the clocktower, which was heavily occupied by pigeons.