Thursday 21 January 2010

The Cotton Exchange / Exchange Hall in King William Street


Two images of the very gothic looking Cotton Exchange in King William Street. The foundation stone was laid in 1860 and the original plan was for a central tower, with a wing, as above, running up the top part of K.W.Street and another wing, the same design and length, facing the Old Town Hall. But due to the outbreak of the American Civil War and consequently a blockade of the raw cotton leaving the southern states, thus creating a cotton 'famine' here in the UK, the second wing was never built.
Nearby Exchange Street (Where the Borough Arms is) gets its name from this building
COURTESY OF THE CP COLLECTION

2 comments:

  1. My Grandfather born in Leeds was a skilled carpenter. The household moved to Blackburn before WW1 allegedly because he was working on the Cotton Exchange. Trying to estblish a date for this.

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  2. Sorry, I can't help you with that one. The Cotton Exchange was built in the 1860's. Not too sure what they would have been doing with it in the early 1900's.

    Try Blackburn Reference Library, they might be able to help, but to be honest, it's not a lot to go on.

    Regards.

    Colin

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