Leeds

Following his portraits of Dublin and Liverpool, photographer Paul Barker turns his attention to Leeds, the largest and most important city in West Yorkshire. As a result of the Industirla Revolution, the population of Leeds grew from 10,000 in 1700 to 150,000 by 1840 and it became the cenre not only of engineering but also of communications. As a result of its canal and rail connections, at one point nearly half of England's total exports passed through Leeds. Paul Barker's photography explores the city district by district, from the Victoria Quarter, with its opulent shopping arcades between Briggate and Vicar Lane, to the vibrant cultural quarter, which contains the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds College of Music and the Royal Armories Museum. Leeds was voted 'UK's favourite city' by Conde Nast Traveler magazine in 2004, 'Best English city to visit outside of London' in 2005 and 'Visitor city of the year' by the Good Britain Guide in 2005.