Temple Works is a former flax mill in Holbeck, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It was designed by Joseph Bonomi the Younger and built by John Marshall between 1836 and 1840.
Temple Works, also known as Temple Mill, was based on the Temple of Edfu at Horus in Egypt with a chimney designed in the style of an obelisk. Marshall’s inspiration for the design of Temple Works was his interest in Egyptology. When it was built it was said that Temple Works was the biggest single room in the world.
One extremely unusual feature of the Temple Works building is the fact that sheep used to graze on the grass-covered roof. This served the purpose of retaining humidity in the flax mill in order to prevent the linen thread from becoming dried out and unmanageable.
Temple Works is the only Grade I listed building in Holbeck.
temple.works.leeds is an exciting, magical new cultural project in the North. Already it has seen more than six films made by international film makers; five photo-shoots featuring names from the worlds of fashion, music and art; four installations, including robots, ringing telephones and random creatures; three notorious performances, which had to be seen to be believed; a couple of rowdy, raucous all night music events; and one major massive, technologically marvellous light and sound show. And it's barely begun!