Crispin House is located in Leeds' Northern Quarter on the corner of North Street and New York Road, and is a grade 2 listed building.
Originally it was called Heatona House as it was build for Henry Heaton's Clothing Company. At the height of business over 1000 people worked here, and in the 1970s over 3000 items of clothing were produced each week. Leeds at the time played a huge part in the nations clothing industry. The company prospered over the years but 1979 the building changed hands and it be came the property H.W. Poole & Sons Boot & Shoe Manufacturers, who changed the the name of the building to Crispin House, naming it after the patron saint of boot making.
Around 1990 this business closed down and the building stood empty for about 10 years.
In 2001 work started to convert the building into an apartment complex with a gym and retail units.
After a few years the work came to a halt owing to problems with the conversion, rumours at the time suggested that the interior steel work didn’t fit or they had run out of money!
For whatever reason this fine old building looked in a sorry state, the front of the building was covered in scaffolding, and all work had stopped. Then after a hiatus of about 5 years the work recommenced, and now the old building is back to it's former glory.
As of June 2015 there are still workmen on site bringing life back to Crispin House, but it’s well worth the short walk away from main shopping area of Leeds to have a look at this grades 2 listed building, which when built was one of the largest in Leeds.
If anyone has any other info on this building please let me now and i'll update this page.