Wool Exchange, Bradford

Gelatine silver print entitled 'Wool Exchange, Bradford' by Ian Beesley. Produced for the commission `Through the Mill:, The Story of Yorkshire Wool in Photographs'. 1985-1987'.

Roosting starlings survey the Gothic splendour of the clock tower of the Wool Exchange building in Market Street. In this building (erected 1864) Bradfordians could boast there was not a type of wool nor hair, no matter where grown, for which a buyer could not be found. Here the 150 feet high clock tower dominates the archways of the main entrance, flanked by the carved figures of Bishop Blaize, patron saint of woolcombers, and Edward III.