|
Halifax
grew to prominence during the Industrial Revolution when the
textile industry boomed.
One of
the town's most notable buildings is the Piece Hall, dating
from 1779. In
this quadrangled hall, boasting 315 rooms, merchants displayed
pieces of cloth on market days.
Halifax
has many magnificent Victorian buildings including the Town
Hall, designed by Sir Charles Barry (who created the Houses
of Parliament), and the church of All Souls, built by Sir
George Gilbert Scott.
Other
attractions include the Wainhouse Tower, an elaborate chimney
built in 1871 for a dye house but never used, and the Halifax
Gibbet, where 50 people were executed for stealing cloth between
1550 and 1650.
Visitors
to the Bankfield
Museum, located in a wonderful Victorian mill owner's
house, can view an internationally important collection of
textiles.
Other
museums include the Calderdale Industrial Museum ( currently
closed ), the Duke of Wellington's Regiment Museum and Eureka,
the Museum for Children. Galleries include the Smith Art
Gallery and the Piece
Hall Gallery.
Halifax
is a bustling town noted for its shopping arcades and markets. The
Piece Hall holds a general market every Friday and Saturday.
There
are also plenty of parks and open spaces and a spectacular
section of the Rochdale Canal runs through the Calder Valley.
|
the internet holiday and travel guide to the UK
Halifax
