Piece Hall Yard, Halifax

Gelatine silver print entitled 'Piece Hall Yard, Halifax' by Ian Beesley. Signed in pencil on the back. Produced for the commission 'Through the Mill: The Story of Yorkshire Wool in Photographs', 1985-1987.

So named because of the length (pieces) of finished cloth which were sold from its 315 merchants' rooms. It was built in 1779 at a time when it was impossible for prospective buyers to visit the many thousands of Yorkshire weavers' cottages where cloth was woven. Still very much as it was, the classical architecture and colonnaded galleries now house an art gallery, museum and numerous craft shops.