George Hotel, Huddersfield facts for kids

Quick facts for kids George Hotel
Type	Hotel
Location	Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England
Owner	Kirklees Council
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official name: The George Hotel including stone-flagged area and surrounding walls and railings to the south and west
Designated	20 September 1977
Reference no.	1277386

The George Hotel in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England, is a very important old building. It was designed by William Wallen and built between 1848 and 1850. The hotel has a grand style, inspired by Italian buildings.

This hotel is famous for a big reason: it's where rugby league football officially began in 1895. You can find many items and pictures about this historic meeting inside the hotel. There was even a special museum dedicated to rugby league history here.

What the George Hotel Looks Like

The George Hotel is a large building made from sandstone. It has four main floors, plus extra rooms in the roof area. The front of the hotel has seven sections, and the sides have three.

The ground floor looks strong and solid. The windows on the first floor are decorated with fancy frames. One special window on the side has a balcony with a cool railing. This railing has circles that cross over each other. On the balcony, there's a carving of Saint George, a famous figure.

A Look at the Hotel's History

How the Hotel Came to Be

The Huddersfield railway station opened in 1847. It was built just north of the town's main area. At that time, a lot of Huddersfield belonged to the Ramsden family. The head of the family, Sir John William Ramsden, 5th Baronet, wanted to improve the town centre. He especially focused on the area near the new station.

This led to the creation of the grand St George's Square. The George Hotel was built on this square. It stands right next to the station, with both buildings forming part of the square.

Replacing an Older Inn

The Ramsden family had an older hotel called the George Inn. It was built in 1726 and rebuilt in 1787. However, a new street, John William Street, was planned to connect St George's Square to the old Market Place. This new street meant the old George Inn had to be taken down.

So, the new George Hotel was built as a replacement. It opened between 1848 and 1850.

Changes and Ownership

Over the years, the hotel grew bigger. An east wing was added before 1874. This part had a large dining room and a billiards room. In 1874, a north-west wing was built for the kitchen and laundry. A glass and iron entrance porch was added in 1926. More changes and updates happened in the 1930s and 1960s.

Eventually, the entire Ramsden Estate, including the hotel, was bought by Huddersfield Corporation. Today, the hotel is still owned by Kirklees Council, which took over from Huddersfield Corporation.

Recent Times for the Hotel

The George Hotel was recognized as a Grade II* listed building in September 1977. This means it's a very important historical building. The hotel closed its doors in January 2013.

Good news came in 2022! Plans were announced to spend £20 million to bring the hotel back to life. It was set to become a Radisson RED hotel. In 2023, some parts of the hotel were approved for demolition as part of this big renovation. The hotel is expected to reopen in 2024.

The George Hotel and Rugby League

The George Hotel holds a special place in sports history. On August 29, 1895, representatives from 21 rugby clubs met here. These clubs, mostly from Lancashire and Yorkshire, decided to form their own league. They voted to leave the Rugby Football Union and create the Northern Rugby Football Union. This new group later became known as the Rugby Football League in 1922.

Another important rugby group, the British Amateur Rugby League Association (BARLA), was also started at the George Hotel in 1973.

The Rugby League Heritage Centre

From 2005 until the hotel closed in 2013, the Rugby League Heritage Centre was located in the basement of the George Hotel. It was the only museum in the UK dedicated to rugby league history. The idea for the centre came from sports presenter Mike Stephenson.

Inside the centre, visitors could see many cool items. These included rare jerseys, medals, caps, and old photographs. There were also videos playing on screens. The British Rugby League Hall of Fame, which honors the sport's greatest players, was also part of the Heritage Centre.

In 2020, it was announced that a National Rugby League Museum would be created at the George Hotel. This project is a partnership between Rugby League Cares and Kirklees Council.

See also

• Grade II* listed buildings in Kirklees
• Listed buildings in Huddersfield (Newsome Ward - central area)