shipley was historically a township and chapelry in the large ancient parish of bradford. shipley local board was formed in 1853. originally the board met at the sun hotel near the market. in 1880, it moved to the old manor house, until it was demolished in 1915. shipley became a separate civil parish in 1866. in 1894, shipley urban district council was constituted with 15 councillors, and shipley incorporated the windhill district, formerly part of idle. an attempt was made to gain borough status in 1898, but failed. shipley town hall was built in 1932, as part of a scheme to relieve high unemployment during the great depression and was opened by the earl of harewood. it became the seat of shipley's administration for the next four decades.