Sturdy leather clogs worn by the workers of the cotton mills in the nineteenth-century Lancashire. The iron soles could be heard clanking along the streets as they trudged to work in the morning and again on the weary walk home in the evening.
Cotton created extreme wealth for the owners of the textile mills. With their new found cash these industrialists became collectors of extraordinary treasures. Everything from paintings, coins, glass, books and whatever they looted from the graves of other civilisations.
Several collections form the industrial north west have been brought together in an exhibition "cotton to gold" showing at Two Temple Place. Tiffany glass, Turner paintings, ancient gold coins, 13th century books, are just a few of the items in this incredible show. One not to be missed.
On until 19th April.
