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
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
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
Back in York today for catch ups with @RedfernNeil @archaeologyuk @mikeheyworth & exciting to see the team at @York_Minster Fund & have a hard hat tour at the centre for excellence for heritage craft skills & estate management nearing completion. 1/5 yorkminster.org/discover/centr…
Firstly we visited the new - almost ready - heritage skills campus & centre. Stonemasonry will be taught on site & first year apprentices will live on site to support their first year in York. The centre will be sustainable with ground source heat pumps & solar panels. 2/5
The apprentices’ rooms echo monastic cells & the quad courtyard echoes cloisters in the nearby cathedral. There will be shared gardens & meeting facilities too.
I’m on the other side of the Pennines today in York. A great meeting this morning with York’s MP @RachaelMaskell covering archaeology & planning, heritage & social prescribing, heritage-led tourism & creativity and funding for issues such as RAAC
On @RachaelMaskell’s recommendation I used my lunch break to pop into the @YorkArtGallery to see their partnership with the @NationalGallery for #MonetinYork around #NG200
The exhibition situates Monet’s Waterlilies in the context of inspiration from earlier works & legacy. Including Monet’s collection of and interest in Japanese works such as those of Hokusai.
Really inspiring day today in the North West looking at heritage projects that exemplify how heritage supports communities, regeneration, arts & wellbeing. First stop @TheMonasteryMcr - a spectacular restoration effecting real change & delivering services in Gorton…
Originally a Pugin designed church & friary, when it closed in the 90s, vandalism caused huge damage.
This led to the site becoming a @WorldMonuments site at risk. The passion of brilliant individuals including current CEO Elaine & team and investment from funders including @HeritageFundUK saved the @TheMonasteryMcr
Good morning from the Albert Dock in Liverpool where I’m attending the @dannyinsteam Maritime Heritage Maritime Futures youth engagement event with @henryseasteam56
Hearing from @dannyinsteam following 1st yr of @HeritageFundUK programme on youth engagement. The Danny was at risk of being broken up & has been restored & used as part of a youth skills & training programme. Supporting confidence & community. Pride & interest generated.
“There are places I remember, all my life, though some have changed…” an exceptionally moving blue plaque unveiling this morning for #GeorgeHarrison at his birthplace, with a speech from his wife Olivia. A once in a lifetime privilege. Well done @HistoricEngland Thread🧵👇
We began with a special tour of places associated with #GeorgeHarrison & The Beatles. There’s the pub associated with Ringo, John’s house (under renovation by @nationaltrust) & Paul’s house. Great to spend time with @Conservators_UK Emma, @Ecclesiastical Laura & @bernarddonoghue
Good morning from our @Heritage_NGOs member @DelapreAbbey who are hosting @archaeologyuk & @HistoricEngland #WellbeingandHeritage Conference. Follow along here for a few reflections on the day. Looking forward to hearing from lots of our members today throughout the programme.
Following intros from @DelapreAbbey CEO Richard Clinton & @HistoricEngland Linda Monckton we are hearing from @RedfernNeil on how we need to embed this into what our orgs do in the future. 80+ contributions. So much interest. Think about what we need to help our work thrive?