This statue of Saltaire's founder, Sir Titus Salt, first stood in Bradford's Town Hall (now City Hall) Square. Funded by public subscription and unveiled in 1874 by the Duke of Devonshire, amid lavish celebrations, the marble statue itself was sculpted by John Adams Acton. It shows Sir Titus Salt seated, holding a scroll of the plans of Saltaire. The canopy was designed by the architects of Saltaire, Lockwood & Mawson and features Salt's coat of arms, along with symbols representing Justice, Prudence, Temperance and Charity. In 1896, traffic congestion in central Bradford forced its relocation to Lister Park in Bradford, where it remains today.
It's said that when Sir Titus found out about plans for the statue, he joked: "So they wish to make me into a pillar of salt." At the unveiling, the Chairman of the committee said: "we are met to do honour to one of Bradford's worthiest citizens......whose modesty of disposition and strength of character are worthy of imitation by the rising business men of the town."
It always amazes me how sculptors can make a likeness to a person from a slab of marble. He sure was a forward thinking man.
ReplyDeleteNice insight into the man's character.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful statue Jenny.. and great photographs.
ReplyDeleteCostas
A man with a great sense of humour
ReplyDeleteAnd he had a delightful sense of humour in addition to his great philanthropic disposition. A worthy memorial to a man who clearly was a tower of strength in his community.
ReplyDeleteHope things are better than expected, with your Mum, Jenny!
Love the 'pillar of salt.' Lot's wife came to a much less fortunate end.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post. Methinks he needs his beard trimming!
ReplyDeleteTruly great men and women are also humble; Sir Titus was no exception. I've been very impressed by his progressive thinking and actions as you have reported here on your blog. The sculpture is well done and he deserves proper commemoration, but, I hope I can be honest, it doesn't quite seem right to me that the structure above him looks like a miniature church.
ReplyDelete[I found some blossoms yesterday! Not as brilliant as your tree, but enough to make me smile and post my findings. :-D]
Yeah I think like Diane. How on earth do they take a huge slab of rock and create from it something like that. It's beyong my thinking.
ReplyDeleteVery nice captures of the statue. Would that current day businessman were as civic minded and of such character as Sir Titus.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting to me that they didn't just make a statue of him standing, as usual. He is seated, and has his own grand mini-chapel to spend eternity in.
ReplyDeleteNice photographs.
'Justice, Prudence, Temperance and Charity', like the four lions?
ReplyDeleteI have to say that he deserves to have a statue built in his honour!!
The Albert Memorial in London just came to my mind...
ReplyDeleteAt least he got to see it while he was still alive too! ~Lili
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