| Description | Constructed as Halifax Cloth Hall in 1778, to replace an earlier building and an arrangement of open air stalls. Money raised by public subscription, plan and architect (John Hope of Liverpool) chosen by tender. Site on Talbot Close was a private donation. Opened on 1 January 1779. Constructed of stone throughout. Outside faces measure 102m. x 85m.; built around an open quadrangle 80m. x 60m., now partially paved but perhaps originally cobbled. Facing courtyard, a series of arcaded galleries.
The lie of land is uneven, sloping towards E; constant roof level maintained by varying number of stories on each side. W side has ground floor and one upper storey, E side has ground floor, sub storey or cellar beneath, and two upper stories. Ground floor on W is continuous throught the building, but that on E tapers out along N and S faces.
Upper storey arcade is formed of Doric columns supporting straight lintel; arcade beneath formed of square pillars with rusticated joints, also supporting straight lintel. Partial ground floor arcade consists of square pillars supporting rounded arches. Access to upper floors provided by a stone staircase at each corner. Behind each arcade is a narrow walkway, onto which opens a line of narrow rooms, each approx. 3.35m deep x 2.10m. wide, with one door and one window. These 315 rooms formed lockup shops used by the clothiers.
External walls blank, except for three massive gates at N, W and S. N and W gates constructed in a Classical style. N gate apparently originally main entrance (Innes, 1975.) S. gate heightened in 1870s. Building has suffered subsidence, probably due to the shallow nature of the foundations (Innes, 1975); arches reinforced in C19. Descheduled 29 August 1990. Former SAM County No. 130.
In 2005, Structural Perspectives undertook a programme of building recording at Piece Hall, in order to establish when, and to what extent, changes to the original fabric of the building have taken place. For details regarding their findings please see a copy of their full report (Structural Perspectives, 2005), a copy of which is on file at West Yorkshire HER. |