Titus Salt's vision was not just big, it was huge. He sent the drawings back to the architects at one point, saying the plans 'were not half large enough'. The southern frontage of Salts Mill is 545ft long, with six storeys rising 72ft. It was designed by the Bradford architects Lockwood and Mawson, in the Italianate style that was becoming popular at the time (resembling Osborne House, Queen Victoria's new home on the Isle of Wight). It is characterised by symmetry and heavy but ornate detail - square cupolas and some rounded arches to windows and doors. The mill sits low down in the wooded valley, beside the river, the canal and the railway that runs along the valley bottom.
It was the time when games were being played in the North of England : which town can build the grandest Town Hall, which mill-owner can build the grandest mill. Such games have left us with some truly great monuments.
ReplyDeleteI'm always impressed by the visions sir Titus had about his town!
ReplyDeleteThose buildings were made to last.
ReplyDeleteHi Jenny .. amazing photo - and yes Titus' vision for 'his' town ... I love this vista - shows the Mills off to their best ...
ReplyDeleteCheers Hilary
This feels like a review class. Very welcome. You told us lots of this when you began, but my memory isn't very good.
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