A braver man than I...

Photo © Dr John Rhodes, used with permission

One of my good friends, Dr John Rhodes, also a keen photographer, recently took the opportunity to climb the tower of St. Peter's Church, Shipley (see here) with his camera. He has kindly agreed to let me show some of the photos he took. They give an interesting view of the area that can't be seen from any other vantage point. 

Photo © Dr John Rhodes, used with permission

Despite having been church warden at St. Peter's for a number of years, I was never brave enough to venture up the steep staircase (see left) which is topped by a 20ft ladder to reach the parapet of the tower. Not for the faint-hearted - and I get vertigo even on a step ladder!

But the views from up there are wonderful.  Photo one (above) shows Moorhead Lane, the road leading down past the church to the junction where Saltaire roundabout used to be (now traffic lights). To the left (beside the orange truck) is Saltaire tram-sheds, where the old trams used to be garaged. It's now a bar/restaurant called The Hop. In the middle distance you can see the western end of Saltaire village on the right and also Salts Upper School, the modern white building. Beyond that, the wonderfully named Hope Hill rises up to Baildon Moor.

Photo © Dr John Rhodes, used with permission

The photo above is a telephoto view of Salts Mill, with Saltaire village in the foreground and the Victoria Hall on the right, with its tower visible.  Behind the Mill, at the foot of the escarpment, is the hamlet known as Baildon Green, with Baildon itself on the hill top. 

Photo © Dr John Rhodes, used with permission

No prizes for identifying the iconic domed tower of Saltaire's famous Victorian United Reformed Church, nestled among trees.