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The Piece Hall

The Halifax Piece Hall is a building in the town centre of Halifax, West Yorkshire, England, originally built as a sales centre for woollen handloom weavers. It opened on 1 January 1779, with over 300 separate rooms arranged around a central courtyard. The term piece refers to pieces of cloth that were sold. As factories started up in the early nineteenth century the trade in handwoven wool declined and around 1815 the rules were changed to allow the sale of cotton goods.

The Piece Hall is currently closed to the public due to redevelopment work taking place, due to be completed in 2016.

The piece hall was erected by the manufacturers and is a large quadrangular building of freestone occupying an area of ten thousand square yards with a rustic basement story and two upper stories fronted with two interior colonnades which are spacious walks leading to arched rooms where goods in an unfinished state were deposited and exhibited for sale to the merchants every Saturday from ten to twelve o clock. This structure which was completed at an expense of 12,000 UKP and opened on 1 January 1779 unites elegance convenience and security. It contains three hundred and fifteen separate rooms and is proof against fire.

The Piece Hall closed on 16 January 2014 for redevelopment work, which will repair and conserve the building in-keeping with its Grade-I listing, as well as installing new services. A three-storey extension will also be constructed at the south-eastern corner of the building, adjoining the Square Church spire site and Square Chapel.

When the Piece Hall re-opens in Spring 2016, the Piece Hall will be home to the Heritage Interpretation Centre, where you will be able to learn about the history of the building, independent shops, cafés and a newly landscaped courtyard area, which can be used for events, concerts and festivals, as well as being an attractive space for visitors to relax.

The Hall is in a central part of Halifax, next door to Woolshops Shopping Centre, outside the bustling Market Street, and is close by to the bus and railway stations.

On the exterior on the Market Street side are a pair of handprints, which, according to folklore, are cursed, as many attempts over the years have failed to eradicate them.

Until the recent closure for renovation, the Piece Hall was home to specialist shops, an art gallery, the Tourist Information Centre and other organisations.

The 1996 film, Brassed Off featured a scene set and filmed on location at The Piece Hall. In the film it is the location of the National Brass Band Championships - Yorkshire Area Qualifying Contest.

Text from Wikipedia LinkExternal link
Accessed 31/12/2014

LinkExternal link
by Phil Champion

Created: Wed, 31 Dec 2014, Updated: Wed, 31 Dec 2014


23 images use this description:

SE0925 : Reflections in the Piece Hall on a wet day by Stephen Craven
SE0925 : Halifax Piece Hall by Chris Allen
SE0925 : Central Library & Archives, Halifax by Phil Champion
SE0925 : The Blanket by Graham Hogg
SE0925 : Halifax Piece Hall - statue of Anne Lister by Stephen Craven
SE0925 : Interior of the Piece Hall on a wet day by Stephen Craven
SE0925 : Carousel at the Piece Hall by Stephen Craven
SE0925 : Halifax Piece Hall - carousel by Stephen Craven
SE0925 : Preparing for Christmas at the Piece Hall by Stephen Craven
SE0925 : Hare sculpture in the Piece Hall by Stephen Craven
SE0925 : The Piece Hall, Halifax by Phil Champion
SE0925 : Mystery play in the Piece Hall by Stephen Craven
SE0925 : Halifax Piece Hall - bandstand by Stephen Craven
SE0925 : Piece Hall Market by Stephen Craven
SE0925 : Covered walkway at Piece Hall by Graham Hogg
SE0925 : Christmas Market at the Piece Hall by Stephen Craven
SE0925 : Architects of Air: Albesila - The Piece Hall, Halifax by Phil Champion
SE0925 : Halifax Piece Hall by Chris Allen
SE0925 : Piece Hall panorama by Graham Hogg
SE0925 : Tour de Yorkshire 2018 by Dave Pickersgill
SE0925 : Eastern entrance to the Piece Hall on a wet day by Stephen Craven
SE0925 : Piece Hall, Halifax by Dave Pickersgill
SE0925 : Halifax Piece Hall - market stalls by Stephen Craven


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