Bradford
(West Yorkshire)
England
Bank Street
|
Columbus' head
|
1857
|
Description
Stone head in a medaillon.
Annotation
The Wool Exchange symbolises the great wealth and importance which Bradford had gained from the wool trade by the mid 19th century. It was completed in 1857 to the design of Lockwood and Mawson, won in open competition, and the foundation stone was laid in 1864 by the then Prime Minister, Lord Palmerston. It is ornate 'Venetian Gothic' in style with very decorative roof parapets and pinnacles. Between the ground floor arches are carved portraits of notable people: (facing Market Street) Cobden, Sir Titus Salt, Stephenson, Watt, Arkwright, Jacquard, Gladstone and Palmerston and (facing Bank Street) Raleigh, Drake, Columbus, Cook and Anson. Flanking the porched entrance below the tower are statues of Bishop Blaise, the patron saint of woolcombers, and King Edward III who greatly promoted the wool trade. There is a statue of Richard Cobden, 1804-1865 in the main hall of the building.
They are all illustrated on the website mentioned below.
The head doesn't look like Columbus at all.
Sources & Information
Index of:
Location (N 53°47'39" - W 1°45'8")
Item Code: gb001
Added: 4 September 2002
© Website: René & Peter van der Krogt
