Rupert Crossley

Dramatic shifts in the economy and manufacturing over the last three decades have left many of Halifax’s mills derelict – a sorry reminder of industrial decline. Conversations with former textile workers have given an insight into the life and community of these former powerhouses. Based on these descriptions, ‘stage sets’ were constructed replicating precise spatial qualities and exploring issues of familiarity and space in relation to objects and photography.

Qualities explored in these constructions have informed a programme of strategic repair and interventions, which will trigger a regeneration of Ladyship, a largely vacant Halifax mill.

The project aims to extend the productive life of the mill and uses memory as a tool to implement a sequence of intimate spaces with the idiosyncrasies that might engage future workers and promote a sense of purpose and belonging.