Places not to visit

Tuesday, 22 September 2009 20:40

...... Hell, Hull and Halifax

The saying "From Hell, Hull and Halifax, good Lord deliver us" was a thieves litany in around the 16th century. The horror of hell was the extreme punishment, Hull's Prison was not to be enjoyed and Halifax had a Gibbet. This was used for much longer in Halifax as wet cloth drying in the hillsides was vulnerable to theft and a "felon taken within the liberty of Halifax" carrying stolen goods to the value of 13 and a half pennies, "shall after three markets be taken to the gibbet and there have his head cut off his body".

Gruesome! (Scarletharlot6 Creative CommonsAttribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported)

Fortunately for us, we had no intention of carrying stolen goods and anyway the gibbet is now only a replica! So we thought a trip to Halifax was worth the risk! It is only a short bus ride from Sowerby Bridge.

Some more images of Halifax to delight!

The Piece Hall, where small traders came to sell their cloth. Now small shops occupy the terraces.

The Parish Church is one of the old buildings that has not been cleaned, as much of it is medieval and the stone is easily damaged. (My photos are better than the ones on the website!)

Church and gargoyle

John couldn't resist the stocks!

There are some amazing windows - from very plain Puritan to the beautiful Victorian chancel window, which won a prize at the Great Exhibition.

If the preacher was too active as he held forth he might find himself skating across the nave ....in the pulpit on wheels! At least those sitting behind pillars in the Jacobean boxed pews would get a chance to see him!

These are misericords and may well have come from Kirkstall Abbey when Henry rampaged against the monasteries!

Clergy seats in the chancel

This chap used to beg and collect for the poor and his effigy is now collecting in perpetuity by the south door

Old Tristam

There is much more to see in the church but I will move on to our next destination - the Town Hall. This is open to the public during the week and is really worth a visit. The Town Hall was designed by Sir Charles Barry, architect to The Houses of Parliament, and opened in 1863 by the Prince of Wales.

Town Hall clock tower, entrance to the left

Victoria Hall and ceiling light detail

The Prince of Wales Chair and Busts of Albert Edward and Alexandra, presented by the Mayor at the time John Crossley. (remember Crossley Carpets?)

Upstairs the gallery has mirrors to make it look larger

The Council Chamber, panelled in dark mahogany has an amazing ceiling too - also the Calderdale coat of arms above the Mayor's chair.

It was time to return to Sowerby Bridge and Epiphany. Outside, the sun was shining on the hills, reminding us that Halifax is a Yorkshire town, built in a valley and everywhere is "up"!

Yorkshire sunshine 

 If you want even more photos of Halifax, to save you visiting, have a look here!