Thread by @heritage_lizzie

I’ve just left the incredible, bustling & unique Georgian @ThePieceHall where I’ve had the privilege of spending the day. Thanks to Steve for the fascinating tour & @NickyChanThomDL & @gary_rae for a great lunch meeting. Here’s a tour… #NorthernProgress

The Grade I listed @PieceHall, Halifax is the only remaining Georgian cloth hall in the world, the sole survivor of the great 18thC northern cloth halls, showing the importance of the trade in wool & hand woven textiles to the pre-industrial economy of West Yorkshire

Originally built as a 2nd cloth hall for Halifax @ThePieceHall (cleverly built to benefit businessman John Caygill) opened New Year’s Day, 1779. The opening, involved “much fanfare and public ceremony”. A large crowd participated in the opening celebrations.

A procession of local tradesmen & bands marched from @ThePieceHall & there was a firework display by “celebrated Signor Pietro, consisting of a beautiful Egyptian Pyramid illuminated with spiral wheels, globes & vertical wheels to be set on fire by a pigeon!” (Would love a pic!)

Trade would take place every Saturday between 10am & 12noon only - just two hours each week. The width of @ThePieceHall was the length of a 30 yard piece of cloth & there were over 300 units for traders. It was a very masculine place at the time. A place of business.

After 50 years of thriving, the textile industry started to cut out the middlemen during the industrial revolution & @ThePieceHall was no longer needed for trade. The Victorians used it for entertainment and large gatherings & then it became a fruit & veg market until the 70s.

Blondin walked on a trapeze across the @ThePieceHall & hot air balloons were launched from here. There’s a statue to local celebrity #AnneLister @GentIemanJackTV & fascinating stories about (due to the high value of wool/cloth) the executions that were held in Halifax for theft.

The term “being on tenterhooks” comes from here. The cloth would be stretched on tenterhooks outdoors overnight. But due to its size and value it was vulnerable. Owners would be nervous it might be stolen (hence the high penalties).

Some excellent family interpretation on the site too, in tandem with bustling independent businesses and cafés and the @ThePieceHall own food and drink businesses. Love also that the local library is on site.

Big thumbs up from the miniature colleagues. Even our initials on the carousel 🎈@ThePieceHall

The fabulous team should be immensely proud of @ThePieceHall has achieved. It celebrated its 5th birthday on Monday’s #YorkshireDay reaching 10m visitors. business-live.co.uk/economic-devel… A true eg. of heritage-led regeneration with £5 for Halifax for every £1 spent at @ThePieceHall

They’ve hosted an exceptional series of gigs - what a backdrop - examinerlive.co.uk/whats-on/music… and a great case study around Heritage & Creativity to complement case studies in our 2019 report theheritagealliance.org.uk/wp-content/upl…

The @GentIemanJackTV series has also led to tv tourism for Halifax to the @ThePieceHall & nearby @ShibdenHall yorkshirepost.co.uk/heritage-and-r…

And thank goodness it didn’t become a car park. Thanks for sharing this @jamesdoeser @ThePieceHall #NorthernProgress

https://twitter.com/jamesdoeser/status/1555233461576802304

On leaving the @ThePieceHall I headed over to the third stop on my West Yorkshire day (here was stop one via stunning @MarsdenmoorNT )… #NorthernProgress

https://twitter.com/heritage_lizzie/status/1555121582871289856

Here’s the @CivicHolmfirth - new @Heritage_NGOs member. The Civic is a true local community asset. A listed building, in council ownership until 2017 when it became a charity. With 2 halls & other rooms it is planning a renovation & restoration. #NorthernProgress

During the pandemic, @CivicHolmfirth was unable to host their array of community uses from badminton clubs to dance, societies, a community cafe, theatre, event bookings etc… & they were able to get emergency support from @Sport_England & @ace_national & pan-economic measures

They also applied for @Heritage_NGOs @Heritage_RH support in fundraising, communications & business support via our partnership with @CreativeUtdUK @Media_Trust @CIOFtweets & are a case study for the impact of the programme: rebuildingheritage.org.uk/resource/holmf…

It was great to see the passion in the team for this valuable local asset. Their new friends scheme aims to spread the word that they are a charity, need support & are run by the community for the community. thecivicholmfirth.org/get-involved/m… @CivicHolmfirth

Holmfirth has some beautiful buildings (as well as being well known for being the film set for Last of the Summer Wine). Here’s a stunning Edwardian shop front for @shepherdmg & other fellow shop front fans.

Heading home over the route past Dovestone & Yeoman Hey Reservoirs. Looks like it has filled a little since this report manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-m… - and here’s a Vintage Ford on the route for the mobile gang. #NorthernProgress

Just stumbled across this great little article on @ThePieceHall restoration. …eyorkshirejournal.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/2018-1… - one to read at leisure…