News

Walker Singleton’s own Halifax heritage to become part of The Piece Hall’s future

Posted: 21/10/2017

Leading West Yorkshire Chartered Surveyors Walker Singleton, with their roots in Calderdale, are the latest business to show its support for the recently restored Piece Hall in Halifax by becoming a corporate member.  Alongside this, the company – which was founded in Sowerby Bridge in 1889 is donating to The Piece Hall Trust an original handbill from 1826, unearthed several years ago.

The 19^th century handbill, which was used to promote the sale at auction of six rooms in the Grade 1 Listed building, had been hidden in a roll of documents stored in the company’s archive.  The bill offers for sale half a dozen individual rooms on The Piece Hall’s Arcade Level, following the death of their owner, a Mr David Jennings of Sowerby.  The bill gives an authentic insight into the building’s past.

Nicky Chance-Thompson, Chief Executive of The Piece Hall Trust, said: “The Piece Hall was originally built by the traders of Halifax, as a place where enterprise flourished. Through the support of our members like Walker Singleton, we are able to secure the long-term future of this great building which once played a vital part in the town’s economic life and already is playing a leading role as a contemporary public space for culture, heritage and trade.”

In donating to The Piece Hall Trust a handbill that dates back almost 200 years, Walker Singleton is contributing a wonderful insight to the past life of the building with fitting reference to the professional services they offer today. The handbill has hung on the office wall of Director David Heap who felt that joining the corporate membership scheme was the perfect moment to pass it on to the Trust.

David Heap comments: “My personal association with The Piece Hall dates back to the 1970s when I was involved with letting some of the spaces following its original restoration.  Over the intervening years I have advised the Council on the future of the Piece Hall and more recently have been directly involved in the successful Heritage Lottery Grant application. Following its transformation, it is satisfying to see the potential of the Piece Hall finally being realised and the knock on effect on the Town Centre of Halifax is already visible. Walker Singleton are pleased to be part of this iconic building’s next chapter.”

Those businesses playing a key role in the future of The Piece Hall by signing up to be a corporate member benefit from exclusive invitations to special events and networking opportunities, can reach new audiences and demonstrate corporate social responsibility by showing support for the local economy and communities.

Walker Singleton join other Yorkshire-based businesses that have supported The Piece Hall Trust since its re-opening including The Halifax, YPO, Covea Insurance and McArthurGlen Group.