Stanza Stones: Rain

Continuing my excursions into West Yorkshire, a visit to Halifax today. The landscape on this side of the Pennines is so different.

After a look around the minster I visited the Piece Hall, the only surviving cloth hall in the country. Completed in 1779 and consisting of 315 rooms from which handloom weavers could sell their cloth, it fell into disuse with the rise of the factory system. In the mid 19th century it was adapted as a wholesale market, and then in the 1970’s escaped demolition to be converted to retail/leisure use. I was here over 30 years ago, since when it has been further improved. A lovely arcaded building surrounding a wonderfully expansive courtyard space (extra).

I then walked to Dean Clough Mills, a series of huge connected mill buildings spread over 22 acres. Formerly Crossley’s Carpets, the world’s largest carpet factory it is now a major arts, business, design, retail, hotel, leisure and education complex, with residential in the mix too. A brilliant regeneration project (extra).

I decided to return on a different route, from which I could visit my second stanza stone. This one sits alongside the Pennine Way on the Lancashire side, and is the Rain Stone. Simon Armitage’s poem is carved into the rock featured in the main image, bottom left. It can be read if viewed “large”.