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Big cover up on George Hotel January 1, 2022

A huge cover has been added to the scaffolding at the George Hotel in St George’s Square in Huddersfield, concealing work going on behind the scenes with a lifelike depiction of the heritage hotel, which was the birthplace of Rugby League.

The scaffolding cover is possibly the biggest artwork the town has ever seen.

Kirklees Council bought the Grade II listed hotel, dating from 1850 and closed in 2013, with the idea of it housing a National Rugby League Museum. It obtained grant aid for the project, but there have since been indications the museum will be housed in the town’s library while attention is focused on revitalising the hotel building.

Architects were appointed early last year to work on the hotel and nearby Grade II listed Estate Buildings, in Railway Street, which is also covered by scaffolding.

Estate Buildings forms part of the council’s growing portfolio of investment opportunities in the town as part of its ambitious 10-year Huddersfield Blueprint plans.

The George Hotel, next to the town's railway station, is where, on August 29 in 1895, 21 clubs voted to break away from the Rugby Football Union and set up the Northern Rugby Football Union, which became the Rugby Football League 100 years ago in 1922.

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