A house at the northern side of People's Park built in Louis Quinze style by Stokes in 1857 for Sir Francis Crossley.
It was built the site of an earlier house which Crossley had bought in 1845.
Whilst the house was being built, he lived at West House, Halifax.
He rebuilt Belle Vue in 1856.
In 1892, a meteorological recording station was set up.
In 1889, it was sold to Halifax Corporation for a nominal price, and became Halifax Central (!) Library in 1890, and Belle Vue Museum in 1897. The library was located in a single-storey extension to the north of the house.
An early conservatory is said to be by Joseph Paxton. A later conservatory was opened in 1937.
In 1953, an aviary was opened in memory of Alfred Hoyle who had bequeathed money.
The tower and the crenellated curtain wall in the garden are listed.
By the 1970s, the library at Belle Vue was subject to criticism, when a Government report in 1972 said that the library was not central enough and that money was spent inefficiently because of the inadequate building and a shortage of professional staff.
In 1983, the Library moved to its present site at Northgate. Belle Vue was considered for use as an annexe to the Percival Whitley College and there was a campaign to turn it into an Asian community centre.
In 1987, the house was sold to securities firm FKI Babcock Group who restored the building for use as their headquarters.
In 19??, the building was occupied by Gartland, Whalley & Barker PLC, an investment company.
In 2010, there were proposals by the then owner, Mr Dad, to convert the former ballroom for use for Muslim weddings
See Herbert Tate, John Walker and Whistler Park, Halifax
Page Ref: MMB61
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