28 Westgate, Tadcaster, North Yorkshire LS24 9JB
The architect was Bertram Wilson of Tadcaster, copies of his original designs dated May 1923 are below.
William Riley-Smith 1890-1954
Founder of The Riley-Smith Hall
The hall survived in the hands of John Smith’s Brewery throughout World War II and most of the twentieth century. Following a takeover by a larger parent company, John Smith’s Brewery put the hall up for sale in 1992.
With donations from each of the breweries in Tadcaster, local residents and the town council, enough money was raised to purchase the hall for the continued social benefit of the community.
The Riley-Smith Hall Charitable Company was formed and it became the new independent owners of the building. The hall was in a very poor state of repair when the charity took it over. There were no fire precautions, the electrical wiring was original and needed replacing, the seating was old and dilapidated, the hall was dirty and undecorated.
Over the past 20 years the charity has invested around £200,000, mainly raised from hall hire fees and some supporting grants, on the continued maintenance and improvement of the hall for the benefit of the community.
History of The Riley-Smith Hall
The hall was commissioned by William Riley-Smith of John Smith’s Brewery just after World War I as a memorial hall for those who lost their lives during the war.
Originally, Mr Riley-Smith planned to call the building the Victory Hall however during construction he changed his mind and decided that is should be the Riley-Smith Hall.
Below is the letter dated 28th November 1923 from the Empire Stone Co of Narborough, Leicestershire acknowledging the request for the name change.
The Empire Stone Co provided the “stone” blocks for the main facade of the building - they are actually cast concrete - a method of fabrication that became popular during the Art Deco era.