Unity Works

Constructed in 1867 for the Wakefield Industrial Co-operative Society, the building was extended down Bank Street in 1876 and again extended down Westgate in 1904 to create Unity Hall. The building is three stories (plus attic), constructed of red brick with terracotta dressings and slate roofs. The main meeting hall, on the third floor, features an ornate wooden roof. The Hall was used by the local community as a venue for films, wrestling and ballroom dancing. It continued to be used for dances in the 1950s and 1960s, and was used as a live music venue in the 1970s and 1980s. It was also the main performance space for local theatre productions until Wakefield Theatre Royal reopened in 1981, and was used as a nightlub in the 2000s. In 2011 Unity House (Wakefield) Ltd, a community benefit organisation, was established to develop a creative and enterprise space for Wakefield. Unity Works, which opened in September 2014, features a 600-seat capacity Major Hall (which can hold 800 standing), a 100-seat Minor Hall, a cafe/bar, a gallery and office and meeting space.