According to semi-official records "the first building in the nature of an Exchange" was erected in 1729 by Sir Oswald Mosley, and though designed for "chapmen to meet and transact their business" it appears that, as to-day, encroachments were made by other traders until cotton manufacturers and merchants preferred to do their business in the street.
It supported Mosley's fascist Black Shirts in the 1930s including the notorious headline ' Hurrah for the Blackshirts ' .
The crowds had grown hoarse by this time and were relieving their shouts of " Down with Mosley!
The first street formed was called Mosley Street, in compliment to the alderman of that name, who warmly patronized this excellent improvement.
Oswald Mosley used to strut around in a black costume of his own devising.