Corn Exchange Leeds, Yorkshire ... and a bit more !!

The Corn Exchange in Leeds was designed by a Yorkshire Architect called Cuthbert Brodick. After the success of his competition winning first project of Leeds Town Hall, this was his second building to be completed about 1863. He also designed The Grand Hotel at Scarborough which was completed a few years later.

From the Middle ages to the Victorian era, the City of Leeds developed as leaders in the Wool, weaving and cloth making industries. The successes of these industries brought an affluence to the City that was demonstrated in buildings like this one.

The Dome roof was specifically designed in order for the traders to be able to inspect the grain for its quality.
Unfortunately most businesses have a lifespan and the building eventually began to fall into a state of disrepair. Early proposals of a conversion into a concert hall fell on "deaf ears" and a shopping centre proposal became the favoured idea in 1985 keeping the use of the building with a similar theme.

The speciality shopping centre re-opened to the public five years later to what could be termed as alternative independent traders. Whether this was to do with the fact that the building was situated next to the market and on the edge of the cities shops, who knows ! It took another 17 years before the current owners decided to add a central food area and updated refurbishment in 2007. Another injection of new life.

I leave behind my solo trips to the hills and whatever day trip takes my fancy with the camera as I commence a new series of my real journey of life on the road. What is peculiar however is the fact that this seasonal post, which wouldn't be appropriate in for example March or April, is the very latest in a set that I will retrospectively be displaying.
Photographically, I was restricted by my accomplice who didn't appreciate fully what I was about ... and Leeds is a city for shopping !!! (Apologies to those expecting better images but I will have to return here at some point to repeat the Town Hall and German Christmas market.) This particular day marked a conclusion to a thought that had been haunting me since if not May 2011, then July ... and a step forward with a new beginning as I considered the conclusion during the 90 minutes train journey home. The 26th November was for me personally the worst and yet best day of the year.

Time to move on !!

The Victorian quarter has a number of Arcades that were opened between 1877 and the turn of the century. It carried on the affluent trading tradition of the city in wool and cloth right up to the present day designer shops.

Vivienne Westwood and Mimco boutiques

I managed to sneak outside a shop for five minutes and grab the above two simple images.

After lunch and a wander around the Art Gallery, it was time to take in some sights of the German Christmas market. Unfortunately it was very busy and I was always playing catch up to my accomplice who wouldn't wait and was slightly unfairly critical of the displays.

"Can I not even have time to change the ISO setting ?! " 

Wisdom learnt today from more than just the symbol of Leeds !!

Lastly I finish my post with a seasonal image that puts into perspective a few things about my 2011 journey. In an inversely proportional manner, as this post marks the end of a specific set that I will retrospectively be telling you about soon, so the final image from Sheffield Cathedral was one of the first taken in the year.

Wishing you all a Happy Christmas and a great New Year.

A much more important person taking a step on a journey.