Opening celebration at The Piece Hall in Halifax

On Tuesday 1st August, Gillespies attended the official opening of The Piece Hall in Halifax. Organised by The Piece Hall Trust - the newly formed charity who will operate The Piece Hall - the daytime celebrations began by the sounding of a bell at 10am by Hannah Cockroft, the Halifax-born British wheelchair racer and Paralympian, signalling the official opening of The Piece Hall. 

The team were joined by members of the council, the Piece Hall Trust, locals and tourists who gathered to see the unveiling of the restored eighteenth century cloth hall, which is now home to a variety of independent shops, restaurants and businesses, as well as a reimagined central piazza which will host a variety of seasonal events.

The opening marks the culmination of an ambitious three-year transformation project delivered by Calderdale Council and designed by LDN Architects. Key elements of the conservation and build programme include the careful restoration of the 18th century stonework and the upgrade of infrastructure and services to convert the original 315 units (once used for storing cloth) into exceptional retail and public facilities. 

The Gillespies-designed piazza came to life with an array of family-friendly activities including trails, artistic displays, performances from local musicians, and actors portraying characters from The Piece Hall’s rich history.

The sloping central courtyard has been levelled, creating one of the most striking piazzas in Europe, fit for 21^st century public use, and measuring a vast 66,000 sq ft. It will host a seasonal programme of events with capacity for up to 7,500 people, set against the dramatic backdrop of the Georgian arcades.  The courtyard features new lighting, seating and two cascading water features designed by The Fountain Company, which sit within the north-west and south-east corners and subtly interpret the historical importance of water in the production of cloth.

 Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive at the Heritage Lottery Fund, said:

“The Piece Hall and its courtyard are pivotal players in the history of Halifax and West Yorkshire.  Our investment of £7m of National Lottery players’ money has been integral to its redevelopment and means that it can be enjoyed much more widely than before.  Whilst it’s lost none of its character as a vibrant 18th-century trading place, it’s now a much more welcoming civic space where people will be able to work, meet, learn and relax.”