James Kerr-Lawson-The Cloth Hall, Ypres (CWM 19710261-0334)

Before its destruction during the First World War, the Cloth Hall in the Belgian City of Ypres was one of the last surviving medieval architectural marvels of Northern Europe. Originally built by wealthy Flemish cloth guilds, the Hall was a splendid example of Gothis civic architecture. The Cloth Hall, Ypres shows the destruction brought about by repeated shelling by air and artillery fire. Only the central tower of the guild hall remains recognizable amid the rubble, while on the right, the Cathedral is in ruins. The central tower and one wing of the hall, were eventually rebuilt, and the debris of the other wing was cleared, save for some of the original pillars, which remained as a War Memorial.