ARCADES PROJECT

The two Victorian arcades in Halifax run into the indoor market building, which was opened by the future George VI, when he was still Duke of York in 1896. The arcades have the classic glass and ironwork ceiling, with impressive stonework entrances, but they are both quite short and are divided by Russell Street, so for the purposes of this Arcades Project, they will be reviewed together.

They have also had several names over the years: Russell Arcade, Market Arcade, The Arcade, Old Arcade. The arcades had 16 shops in all – there is a similar number today, though while the Market Arcade (which runs into the market itself) is fully occupied in 2023, the Old Arcade is only half full, with a number of empty units.

Current tenants include cafes, a beauty salon, a health food shop, a wig and hair salon, and a vintage clothes shop, so more in line with many mid-range arcades in the UK than the early tenants (see Pick of the Past below). Halifax has done something interesting in recent years, however, putting a glass roof over a whole street in a busier part of the old town: Westgate Arcade won’t be reviewed in this Arcades Project, as it is not an original heritage arcade, but it is now a vibrant space in the town centre, with live music, performances and lots of eateries. Is this the future of arcades?

My pick of the arcade’s past

Early tenants in these arcades included: 1894, at No 16 New Market Arcade: Berry’s tobacconists, selling Havana, Manila and Mexican cigars; From 1896 for over 30 years, Taylor’s chemist’s at No 11, Old Arcade; 1903 at No 12 The Arcade Walter Neaverson sold glass and china wear with top brands like Royal Worcester and Crown Derby. 1917 Milliners at No 9 Old Arcade (this shop would have a woman sitting in the shop window showing ‘how to put on a hat and how well they looked when they are on’); women’s dresses at No 1 Old Arcade in 1919.

In 1927, the local newspaper ran a campaign for the two arcades promoting the notion of ‘Old Arcadians.’ To join the club, you had to follow two simple rules: “Every Old Arcadian shall visit the Old Arcades at least once weekly; Every Old Arcadian shall make certain of seeing every window in the Old Arcades in order that no bargains shall be missed.” And the advantages of ‘joining’? ‘Value for money,’ ‘Two very fine arcades where everyone may shop in comfort whatever the weather,’ and goods bought could be ‘delivered to any address in Halifax without extra cost.’

Health inspectors took the café in the arcade to court over their ‘buttered teacakes’ in 1955. The prosecution was based on the fact that margarine was used in place of real butter and the wording ‘buttered teacake’ was misleading ‘to housewives.’ Café management argued that they told people it was margarine, and that the expression ‘margarined teacakes’ had not yet been coined. They won their defence.

Stories in this section courtesy of www.britishnewspaperarchive,co,uk The British Library Board, 1) Halifax Evening Courier, 10 March 1927 – National World Publishing Ltd; 2) Halifax Evening Courier, 21 June 1955 – National World Publishing Ltd.

This arcade in films or books

I have yet to find the Arcade in Halifax in any book or film. If you know of any, get in touch and I’ll add it here.

What memories do you have of visits in years gone by?

Have you got any good stories to add on the past of this arcade?

Have you seen these arcades in any film or book?

What’s your favourite shop in the arcades today?

Is there a website for these arcades?

I didn’t find a website, or any social media presence for these arcades (though the newer Westgate Arcade is active via both). I did, however, find this blog post about all the different arcades in Halifax through the years, written by HalifaxPeople.com.