New lease of life for cultural and commercial centre

But a dramatic new renovation, finally completed at the start of this month, has begun an exciting chapter for the site as a new cultural and commercial centre.

Branding itself as ‘Yorkshire’s most important secular building’, the Grade I-listed building was opened in 1779 as a cloth hall for the trading of pieces of cloth.

One of the most outstanding Georgian buildings in Britain, it is the only surviving 18th century northern cloth hall. While it was built for trade, the design was inspired by the neo-classical orders of architecture derived originally from the Romans.

That combination of commerce and culture at its origins has been mirrored in the £19m conservation and transformation programme for the site, which was finally finished this summer after work began in 2014.

Construction took a year longer than expected but those problems were consigned to the past on August 1 when Halifax’s own Paralympian Hannah Cockcroft sounded Piece Hall’s famous bell to officially open the new centre at an event chosen to coincide with the annual Yorkshire Day celebrations.

By the end of its first day back in operation, more than 17,000 visitors has passed through the gates to take a look at the new lease of life given to the historic landmark.

Even in its heyday Piece Hall would only open for two hours once a week, but the new shops, restaurants and bars that now populate the space plan to open every day.

This picture, taken by The Yorkshire Post photographer Tony Johnson little more than 24 hours after the hall reopened to the public, highlights the impressive piazza that is at a key part of the redevelopment project; designed to be a town square for the 21st century that will play host to a wide variety of events and festivals in the years to come.

It may have taken slightly longer than expected, but the updated Piece Hall seems certain to remain at the centre of life in Halifax for generations to come.

Technical details: Nikon D3s camera with a 12-24mm lens, six second exposure @ f22, 100 ISO.