The Flickr Charlesthornton Image Generatr

Dating back to 1762, The White Swan in Leeds began life as the Swan Inn, a traditional pub with a singing room that would eventually give rise to one of the city’s most treasured theatres. Under the stewardship of landlord Charles Thornton in the 1800s, the upstairs room evolved into “Thornton’s New Music Hall,” later renamed the “White Swan Varieties,” and finally the City Palace of Varieties—now the iconic City Varieties Music Hall.

Today, The White Swan operates as a gastropub run by Leeds Brewery, popular with pre-theatre audiences and locals alike. With a nod to its showbiz roots in its décor, and outdoor seating on the cobbled street, it remains a proud part of Leeds’ cultural and historic fabric.

The Grade II Listed Thornton's Arcade, a Victorian Arcade in Leeds, West Yorkshire

From medieval times, a series of yards had linked Briggate to parallel streets, and Charles Thornton, a local entrepreneur, had the idea of constructing a shopping arcade along one of them. He commissioned George Smith, who had previously designed his City Varieties Music Hall for him in Swan Street, for the task. 1875 he applied to build Thornton's Arcade on the site of the Old Talbot Inn yard and amended plans were approved in 1877.

It contains carved figures by JW Appleyard of Leeds. It has a decorative slate roof; cast-iron glazed roof to arcade. 3 storeys. Gothic Revival style. A narrow arcade opening from Briggate, the
principal facade, and Lands Lane.

The arcade is the first of this characteristic shopping facility built in the city. These, along with the grand City Markets, absolutely transformed the centre of Leeds. Leach and Pevsner reported that Thornton's arcade has a "mix Gothic Renaissance façade of brick and painted stone with a high arch and pavilion roof ... carried on cast-iron pierced Gothic cross-arches rising from slender shafts with foliate capitals and brackets with dragons. With rooms over the shops, this produced a three-storey or "tripartite Gothic composition of arcade, triforium and clerestory".

Information source:
britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101255837-thorntons-arcade-c...

1949; Voluptuous by Charles Thornton. unknown Artist.

Built by Charles Thornton in 1873

Built by Charles Thornton in 1873

Built by Charles Thornton in 1873

Built by Charles Thornton in 1873

Charles Thornton during "Storytelling for all ages".

Photo by MDH.

Charles Thornton telling stories about children's right to be bad and his mother Fanny May.

Photo by MDH.