Today I visited the place that I really came to the UK to see - and it exceeded my expectations. In fact, I felt a bit emotional when I first entered. The Piece Hall was built in 1779 for the trading of pieces of cloth (30 yard lengths of woven woollen fabric produced on a hand loom). This trading of cloth was hugely important, not only to Halifax, but to the nation over a period of 600 years. The Piece Hall is considered one of Britain’s most important Georgian buildings.
Wandering around Halifax it’s obvious that this was once a very wealthy city. There are many beautiful old buildings, including my hotel. It’s also obvious that those times are gone, with many shuttered shops and no sign of luxury goods. Mind you as today was a public holiday some of those places might have been closed for the day.
After spending the whole morning at the Piece Hall I collected my car from the parking place and went in search of the Salterhebble Locks. That was a bit of a challenge as the GPS wasn’t interested in locks. I finally got there only to find that the car park was full, so I continued a little way and parked on the side of the road. I was in luck as just near my car was a little bridge across the canal and a track down to the canal path. It was lovey down there and so vividly green. I found the two upper locks and also a little lock keeper’s cottage that was available for holiday rental.
My next stop was supposed to be Shibden Hall, once home to Anne Lister, a very interesting but somewhat scandalous character. However the car park was full and the area further up the road that cars were in was also full and the road was way too narrow to park on. So I skipped the house and returned to town.
Had a wander round the centre and made my way down to the Piece Hall once again for a cuppa before returning to my hotel and finishing my book, “You are here” by David Nicholls. I really enjoyed it, especially as it was largely set in Yorkshire. Dinner was a tasty steak and ale pie in a pub that needed a good scrub. It too has seen better days.
Oh, how glad I am to have seen that wonderful Piece Hall.
I watched a YouTube walk around Halifax before I read your blog and recognised the significance of the buildings you included. Your summary of the towns fortunes matched that of the commentator. Annie Lister…a courageous woman in conservative times. And her Dad fought at Lexington and Concord!! A beautiful canal interlude. Another most interesting day, Rutts. 🌻
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