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 As
a centre of the cloth trade Halifax had a Cloth Hall and a Linen
Hall for many years and businessmen who came to Halifax to sell
or buy cloth had long been in the habit of lodging at certain
inns, but in 1779 the fine new Piece Hall was built at the expense
of local clothiers on land provided by the Caygill family. The
design of the building, by Thomas Bradley, has always been striking
with its vast expanse of courtyard surrounded on all four sides
by over 300 small rooms which were used for the sale of woollen
pieces, and gateways on three sides, north, south and west. The
rooms are on three levels on the eastern side which, due to the
slope of the ground taper away to two levels towards the west.
The bottom gallery is known as the 'Arcade,' the one above is
the 'Rustic' and the top one is the 'Colonnade.'
Although the Piece Hall was constructed solely
for the sale of cloth the need for it declined as the changes
of the Industrial Revolution took effect and the coming of rail
transport was largely instrumental in causing the centre of the
woollen trade to move from Halifax to Bradford. The premises
now became principally used as a wholesale market for the sale
of fruit and vegetables, while various public events also took
place there. In 1861 a tightrope cable was stretched from a corner
to the one diagonally opposite and the world famous 'Great Blondin,'
who had recently crossed the Niagara Falls on a cable, carried
out his act to the excitement of the crowd below.
A series of 'Sings' was held every five years
from 1838 to 1890 by massed Sunday School scholars, an event
which was to be long remembered by many of them. The classes
came from all over Calderdale to sing hymns in the Piece Hall
and enjoy refreshments during the intervals.
The Piece Hall was restored at considerable
expense and reopened in 1976 after which it took on a new lease
of life with market stalls in the courtyard and shops using the
rooms on the galleries. Special events such as vintage car exhibitions
are arranged in the open air and a stage is available in the
centre for musical and dramatic performances, while a Tourist
Information Centre is at hand to answer enquiries.
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