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SilentHill
09-05-2011, 11:02 PM
Another one I never got around to posting before.

The Wool Exchange Building in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England is a grade I listed building that was designed as a grand Gothic Revival 19th century wool-trading centre, to symbolise the wealth and importance that wool had brought to Bradford. Today it is used by Waterstones.

It was built between 1864 and 1867. The commission to design the building was given great importance in Bradford and John Ruskin was invited to give his advice. There was a competition to design the building: entries included one from Norman Shaw, but it was won by the local architects Lockwood and Mawson. The foundation stone was laid by the then Prime Minister, Lord Palmerston. The architectural style employed is Venetian Gothic with some Flemish influence in the tower.

The main hall has finely detailed lofty hammer-beam roof with wrought iron work decoration. The hall is surrounded by tall polished granite columns with foliate capitals and there is an outer south aisle arcade with good naturalistic foliage carving. Lively wrought ironwork balcony and staircase balustrade.The building has not been used for trading wool since the 1960s.

Not a big report but thought it worth posting for the rather superb ceiling which took my breath away :thumb

Hope you like it.

Visited with Judderman and Joybee.

How it was in the men of the cloth day's

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/SilentThrill/Bradford%20Wool%20Exchange/woolexchangetraders.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/SilentThrill/Bradford%20Wool%20Exchange/woolex10.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/SilentThrill/Bradford%20Wool%20Exchange/woolex9.jpg

Cracking Architecture (Not the Waterstones logo :lol:)

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/SilentThrill/Bradford%20Wool%20Exchange/woolex7.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/SilentThrill/Bradford%20Wool%20Exchange/woolex5.jpg

Some nice tileage :thumb

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/SilentThrill/Bradford%20Wool%20Exchange/woolex4.jpg

The stunning roof

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/SilentThrill/Bradford%20Wool%20Exchange/woolex3.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/SilentThrill/Bradford%20Wool%20Exchange/woolex1.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/SilentThrill/Bradford%20Wool%20Exchange/woolex2.jpg

And the man himself. Mr Richard Cobden (3 June 1804 – 2 April 1865) he was a British manufacturer, associated with John Bright in the formation of the Anti-Corn Law League as well as with the Cobden-Chevalier Treaty. He was called the greatest classical liberal thinker on international affairs

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/SilentThrill/Bradford%20Wool%20Exchange/woolex11.jpg

Next time you are in Bradford! Get your butts in here :thumb

Ta for looking.

MJS
09-05-2011, 11:05 PM
Very nice shots of a very nice building, go go Silent Hill

BA
10-05-2011, 12:19 AM
Wow!!
Cracking shots :)
That place is fab :thumb

Nicola
10-05-2011, 08:56 AM
'Tis a grand building indeed - nicely captured! :thumb

homosapien1918
10-05-2011, 08:59 AM
wow fantastic place, good to see it being used, great pics.

boxerheaven
10-05-2011, 09:45 AM
wow fantastic :)

SilentHill
10-05-2011, 10:14 AM
So much detail to see that just aint visible from the deck. The mezzanine floor used by Starbucks would be the way to go, but people having coffee and cakes don't really mix with peeps armed with lenses and tripods :lol:

converse1
10-05-2011, 11:10 AM
Superb shots there matey!

BatteriesNotIncluded
10-05-2011, 11:58 AM
saw that place the other day. I must get over the fear of looking a twat taking pictures in public!

SilentHill
10-05-2011, 12:37 PM
saw that place the other day. I must get over the fear of looking a twat taking pictures in public!

I used to feel like that mate. Just go for it and trust me! Once you get your eye up against the viewfinder all you will think about is getting the shot :thumb

blueink
10-05-2011, 12:56 PM
Very nice shots cool history

SilentHill
13-05-2011, 10:10 AM
now i just say fuck it and get what i need

:lol: That's the way to go mate :thumb

Downlow
13-05-2011, 10:26 AM
nice photo's, didn't realise it counted as exploring if you pay to get in, I've got loads of pictures from places like this. I'll have to dig some out :)

SilentHill
13-05-2011, 10:31 AM
nice photo's, didn't realise it counted as exploring if you pay to get in, I've got loads of pictures from places like this. I'll have to dig some out :)

Mate, this place is used by Waterstones who sell books, and It's free to get in :lol: :thumb

Downlow
13-05-2011, 10:35 AM
Ha ha d'oh, good job of photographing a bookshop and managing to get hardly an books in your shots. Thought the big W was a logo for Wool exchange or something. Didn't recognise it till you pointed it out. Should of done really, I spent enough time in Waterstones when I was at uni :0 lol

Downlow
13-05-2011, 10:36 AM
PS I'll have to look up more when I'm in buildings from now on

Downlow
13-05-2011, 10:37 AM
and read reports instead of just looking at the pictures lol

SilentHill
13-05-2011, 10:40 AM
Yes to both of the above :thumb

Mutilated_Pixie
14-05-2011, 12:29 PM
This is my favourite building in Bradford, I have spent many hours in here admiring the place. I have lost count how many times I have bumped into people/objects due to staring at the ceiling.

SilentHill
14-05-2011, 07:59 PM
Keep looking up :lol::D