The factory was founded by T. R. Harding to make steel pins for carding and combing in the textile industry, and the original buildings, by Thomas Shaw, were erected in 1864–66.

[3] The design for the Giotto Tower included ventilation systems that were way ahead of their time in terms of minimising pollution from the steel works.

The factory sustained damage in the Second World War when neighbouring buildings were bombed during the air raids on the nearby Leeds railway station.

Tower Works lies at the heart of the Holbeck Urban Village renovation area, it was acquired by Yorkshire Forward in 2005.

A masterplan for the site was drawn up by Yorkshire Forward, ISIS Waterside Regeneration and Bauman Lyons Architects for an exemplar sustainable mixed use development.