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Friday, 23 October 2009

Fanny Street


This photograph is taken looking east along Albert Terrace, Saltaire at its junction with Fanny Street. Albert Terrace runs alongside the railway line and has Salts Mill at its far end (you can see the mill chimney). Still surfaced with its original cobbles, it is one of the most photographed streets in Saltaire and in many ways, embodies the spirit of the village. The far end nearest the mill is the more familiar view (see my very first post for 17 June). This end of the street is much quieter and has a very villagey and charming feel to it.

Fanny Street was named after Sir Titus Salt's second daughter (1841-1861), who sadly died of a lung disease, at the family home of Methley Hall, just before her 20th birthday. One of Salt's biographer's, Rev.R.Balgarnie wrote (in typically Victorian melodramatic fashion): '[Fanny had] such a spirit of gentleness, calm resignation and simple reliance on the merits of Christ that it seemed...she was fast ripening for the better land. When the time of her departure came it was very sudden but she was ready. On a summer evening in August 1861 she was seized with alarming symptoms in the library, from which she was unable to be removed. There on a couch she lingered, till her gentle spirit returned 'unto God who gave it.' Fanny was interred in the family mausoleum in the church in Saltaire.


2 comments:

  1. I believe Titus Salt eventually moved to my part of the world - to Crow's Nest just outside Brighouse. Was this after Fanny died? Your posts are a constant delight - so glad I found your blog.

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  2. Thank you so much. Yes, the Salts leased Crow Nest at first (1844-58) and then had to move out when the owner wanted it back, so they then went to Methley Hall. They were quite upset, so later they jumped at the chance to buy Crow Nest when it came on the market in 1867. Sir Titus died there in 1876.

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