21. Saltaire doors

20. The village houses

The oldest streets in Saltaire village are amongst the prettiest, with two- and three-storey houses mixed together to give a pleasing variation to the terraces. These were built in 1854. They have small front gardens, and yards at the back, separated by stone walls to give privacy. (When they were built, they each had a privy/toilet in the yard - a modern luxury in those days). Most of the streets in the village are named after family members. The street pictured is George Street, named after Titus Salt's second son.

19. As if by magic

The magic of Photoshop reveals the beauty of both the inside and the outside of Saltaire's Congregational church (now the URC) at the same time.

18. Fire and beauty

The distinctive shape of Saltaire's church is instantly recognisable, even in silhouette against a sunset sky.

17. Salt Mausoleum

Some time after the church was completed, Salt decided to have a mausoleum added. By 1860, he had lost two children and a third daughter, Fanny, was terminally ill. The bodies of Whitlam and Mary were exhumed from their graves in Lightcliffe where the family lived and laid to rest, along with Fanny, in the new family tomb. In time, another five members of the family were interred in Saltaire - Sir Titus himself, his wife Lady Caroline, his son Titus Jnr, Edward's first wife Mary Jane and the cremated remains of Catherine, widow of Titus Jnr.

16. Inside Saltaire's church

Because it's a Nonconformist chapel, there is no overt religious imagery inside the church, but nevertheless it is quite ornate and splendid, with the focus on the pulpit and below it the church organ.  There are fine ormolu and glass chandeliers and much detailing in the plasterwork and scagliola ornamentation, which resembles marble.

15. The Congregational Church

Sir Titus Salt's motivation was grounded in his Christian faith and he was keen from the start to provide spiritually for his village's residents. On a carefully chosen site, right opposite the Mill's grandest entrance, he had a church built. The foundation stone was laid in 1856, by Salt's wife Caroline, three years after the Mill opened. It's a magnificent example of Victorian architecture, now Grade 1 listed, with six huge Corinthian columns supporting its round tower.

14. Green oasis

Although Saltaire was a functional and industrial township, and in the early days would have been smoky and more polluted than it is now (though nothing compared to the city of Bradford itself), it was built on a greenfield site. The river, open parkland, allotments and the canal at its heart meant - and still means - plenty of green space, enjoyed by generations of the village's residents - and these days by plenty of visitors too.  This is my favourite stretch of the canal, in the heart of Saltaire alongside the church. The shot was taken several years ago.... Now you can't see this unspoilt view because of the ice-cream boat that moors here for much of the year, though many seem to consider that an asset. (It sells ice-cream, it's not made of the stuff!)  See here.

13. Venetian fantasy

The chimney of Saltaire's New Mill is wonderfully ornate, considering its prosaic function. The architects Lockwood and Mawson modelled it on the campanile of the Basilica of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, one of Venice's great churches. One can only assume Sir Titus wanted to make a statement, crowning this building that is so visible, as it sits beside the bridge at the bottom of Saltaire's main street.

12. The New Mill

The classic view of Saltaire's New Mill from across the weir on the River Aire. I wouldn't like to guess how many photos have been taken here over the years - including quite a lot of mine! (Click the New Mill label below to see more.)

The New Mill stands on the site of the much older Dixon Mill, a water-powered mill that existed when Titus Salt bought the land. Located on a narrow strip of land between the canal and river, the New Mill was built as an extra spinning mill. It was opened in 1868, which also happens to be the year by which most of Saltaire was finished. The area between the canal and river held gasometers (for gas to light not only the mills but also the village) and a dye works too. Later, in Sir James Roberts' time, the New Mill was extended by the blocks you can see behind it. These are now apartments. Whilst they look not dissimilar to the older buildings, being faced in stone, in fact they utilised a much more modern reinforced concrete construction method.

11. The canal gap

The Leeds-Liverpool Canal was a significant factor in Salt's decision to build his mill here in the Aire valley. Built in the 1770s, it provided a route for the import of wool (notably alpaca wool from South America) via Liverpool docks and for export of the finished cloth. These days it is used mainly by leisure boats and provides visitors to Saltaire's World Heritage Site with a pleasurable stroll along its towpath.

The gap between Salts Mill (on the left) and the New Mill (on the right) makes a distinctive canyon-like corridor that is one of my favourite parts of Saltaire. Often the wind whistles through the gap, but on calm days, especially in the mornings, you get beautiful reflections in the water.

Canal works Open Day

A quick information bulletin....
For those who, like me, were fascinated to see the drained Five-Rise Locks at Bingley, there's another  chance to marvel... This time there's the opportunity to walk along the drained aqueduct that carries the Leeds-Liverpool Canal across the River Aire at Dowley Gap, as well as to explore the double rise locks. The Open Day is on Sunday 27 January 10am - 3.15pm, with car parking on the little industrial estate by the Fisherman's pub. Wear your wellies!

10. Aire valley view

This panorama shows how Salts Mill dominates this part of the Aire valley.  If you click on the photo you should be able make it bigger to see more detail. 1 and 2 are the mill chimneys (Salts Mill and the New Mill) and 3 marks the domed tower of the church, Saltaire URC. Behind the mill you can see the village of Saltaire, set out in a neat grid pattern.

9. Salts Mill at night

Equally imposing by day and at night; the lights of Salts Mill glow warmly, announcing its presence at the heart of Saltaire. In the background you can see the lights of Shipley and the sodium glare from the lights of the city of Bradford.

8. The Bookshop, Salts Mill

Light, bright, full of wonderful books, cards and prints, all beautifully displayed for browsing, and lots of quirky bits - vintage furniture and relics from the mill's industrial past.

7. Inside Salts Mill

 

  

5. Salts (Saltaire)

Salts Mill was owned and operated by Sir Titus Salt and his sons from 1853 to 1892.  After his death in 1876, his sons carried on the business but two then retired, Titus Jnr died quite young in 1887 and it was left to Edward to struggle on through tough economic times until it was wound up in 1892. In June 1893 the mill and the surrounding village were taken over by four Bradford businessmen, who revitalised it, investing in new machinery and extending the buildings. One of them, Sir James Roberts had a 25-year involvement until 1918, by which time the 1st World War had taken its toll on trade and on the workforce. The mill continued to operate, through good times and bad, as Salts (Saltaire) Ltd, and later as part of the Illingworth Morris group, before finally closing its doors in 1986.

Been getting some stupid anonymous spam slipping through so, sorry, but I'm enabling comment moderation for a few days.

4. Salt-y bits

Around the Salts Mill site...

3. Salts Mill

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.

1. Rest, regroup, reprise...

I'm taking a break from active blogging for a while. It seems like a good time for a rest and taking stock. The weather is grey and wet, I have little time for getting out with my camera and I feel in need of some new inspiration. However, until I get that (!) I did think I might re-run some of my early Saltaire photos. It will keep things ticking over, as well as gathering the pictures and narrative together. Apologies to those who've heard it all before! 

For those who are interested... Take a tour of my village and its history...

Cheers to a new year

London Olympics 2012 Opening Ceremony  -  PA Photo from the web

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.     Oprah Winfrey

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.   Ralph Waldo Emerson

With best wishes for a happy, healthy, peaceful and secure 2013.

Silent night

All is peaceful on Albert Terrace in Saltaire. The scene on this cobbled street at night probably looks little different from how it looked when it was first built in 1854. That's kind of comforting, I feel.

OK, some purist will point out that the lamps used to be gas and the mill chimney used to have a fancy top... but never mind! The sepia toning is entirely natural.

The reason for the season

Another of Saltaire's Living Advent Calendar windows, in a house on Caroline Street, this seemed an appropriate image to remind us of the real reason for Christmas (not Santa after all!)

I heard a whisper somewhere (can't recall where) that there really was a new-born baby living at this house - and if that's true, then I wish the family every blessing at this special time of year. Enjoy your little one, they don't stay tiny for long. This time last year, my precious granddaughter was not much bigger than this. A year on and she's almost a toddler, and seems as happy and healthy as a child can be, for which I am thankful every single day. I'm going to really enjoy my Christmas Day with her.

Thinking today of all my family and friends: those I will see and those I won't, those I know face-to-face and those I know (and many I don't) who read this blog. Wishing you a very happy, peaceful and joyful Christmas, if you celebrate it, and a very good day if you don't.

'The star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him.'  Matthew 2: 9-11

Santa's coming!

As a child, I would have loved this metal rocking horse. It's in the window of the vintage homewares shop on Saltaire's Victoria Road. Only the thought of the shortage of storage space at home prevented me from popping in to buy it for my granddaughter! Together with the traditionally decorated Christmas tree, it makes an attractive and nostalgic display, especially at night when the lights are on. It seemed an appropriate illustration for Christmas Eve, when every child in the country must be waiting with barely suppressed excitement to see what Santa brings and whether he read their wish list!

Heavenly host

Another of Saltaire's Living Advent Calendar windows - this can be seen in the porch of Saltaire's United Reformed Church.  It exemplifies the best of these window designs - bold, graphic, simple - and yet somehow (to me) it gets across a feeling of joy and exuberance, of angels trumpeting the good news of Christ's birth.

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests.' - Luke 2:13-14

Spiderman gets lucky

Of all the Saltaire Living Advent Calendar windows, I think I like this one in Rhodes Street the best this year. It's different, it's amusing, it's bold, modern and colourful, beautifully executed and yet quite unfussy. 10 out of 10 from me!

I've been slightly disappointed that a lot of the windows have not come out very well on my photographs this year. Sometimes it's been a practical problem, a car or tree in the way. Though they all look very attractive to the observer (which is, I guess, the real point...) some are very pale or simply too detailed and intricate to show up well in a photograph. I have risked being run over standing in the middle of the road with a tripod but even so I have found that I need a longer telephoto lens for some. [It's on my Santa list but I don't think I've been good enough for long enough yet ;-(  ]  The Facebook page has pictures of all of the windows, taken by better photographers than me, so hop over there if you want more.

Peeking

I guess most people enjoy peeking into other people's houses. I do. I've been known to go round 'show houses' that are for sale, just being nosey. I also get a magazine called '25 Beautiful Homes' to ogle the lovely interiors shown and glimpse the lifestyles that go with them. House-porn, they call it! I know lots of people blog about home decor too, and 'pin' pictures on Pinterest, so I know I'm not alone in this desire to see how other people live. Winter is the best time to peek into other people's rooms, when they leave their curtains open and the lights on. I've loved looking for Christmas lights, ever since I was a child, when it was a game we played on the journey to my grandparents' house at Christmas. So it was a delight to see this inviting scene, with its candles, wreath and Christmas tree, when I was out photographing the Advent windows in Saltaire. Sometimes 'an ordinary window' can look as attractive as the specially designed displays. It looked like someone had drawn a face in the condensation too, ha!

An urban forest

All of a sudden a little forest has sprung up in Saltaire! Christmas trees for sale, all lined up on the wet pavement outside the greengrocer's shop.  I didn't bring one home, as my sitting room is too small - I can't fit a proper tree in anywhere, much as I like the look (and smell) of them. So I have a little carved and painted wooden tree that I bought at the German Christkindelmarkt one year. It's decorated with tiny wooden snowmen and bells, quite pretty. It wasn't until I looked at this photo that I noticed the florist's shop (Bouquets) has closed down. Another victim of our recessionary times.

Doves of peace

Window number 16 of Saltaire's Living Advent Calendar can be found on George Street. It's a flock of doves, beautifully lit. This photo hardly does it justice. In these chaotic times it was good to feast my eyes on these symbols of peace, spend a few moments thinking of the world's troubled places... Syria and Newtown, Connecticut, amongst others... to reflect, too, on why we have Christmas at all.

They have made the most of those old 1930s stained glass windows that some of the village houses have. They are a legacy from when the housing stock, which had originally belonged to the Salts company, was sold (see more here) and people could opt to buy the property they lived in. A lot of people apparently started 'modernising' and personalising their homes with these leaded light windows that were very fashionable at that time.

Late night shopping

Out in the evening with my camera on a tripod, the parade of shops on Saltaire's Victoria Road looked too enticing to pass by without a photo. I liked the different colours and warmths of the lights. The hairdresser, on the left, has sparkly chandeliers; the bakery always looks warm and inviting; the bar 'Don't tell Titus' has hot red lights that make it look like a haven in a storm. Further down, the jeweller's lights are appropriately diamond-white and the shops at the bottom of the row, which sell nice things for the home (oriental, vintage, art), have fairy lights - very pretty.

Baildon Green revisited

Although it's only a fifteen minute walk from Saltaire, the hamlet of Baildon Green always feels to me like a different planet altogether. Many of the buildings pre-date Saltaire (which lies further down in the valley, more or less at the end of the road you can see). The hamlet grew up as a small farming community; then the textile industry developed, firstly domestic handlooms, then a 'loom shop' attached to a farm and in 1840 a small mill was built. The open land was 'Common Land' (something Saltaire did not have) where people were allowed to collect firewood and graze their animals. To this day the grass on the right is grazed by goats and a natural spring forms a small pool. Baildon Green became famous for an annual Gypsy gathering. They say that over 5000 people attended in1881 but the tradition died out at the beginning of the 20th century. These days the area is a Conservation Area, so hopefully its character will continue to be preserved. (See also this early post of mine.)

Seaside colours

Sometimes the dark and cold at this time of year starts to get me down. It's nice then to seek a dose of colour and sunshine on blogs from sunnier climes. It's even better to wake up to a sudden clear, crisp, sunny day. On just such a golden morning recently, I went out for a walk; not far, just up through Baildon Green, following the road because the footpaths were so wet and muddy. The route passes through what was once a quarry (where some of the stone that built Saltaire originated from, I believe). Looking up the hill, I liked the tones of blue, white and sandy yellow - in fact it reminded me of seaside colours!  The trees and the grasses may be winter-dead but they are still pretty.

Success in 'Le Bid'

Yorkshire will host the 2014 Tour de France! The county has beaten worldwide competition in its bid to bring the cycling race, one of the world's largest sporting events, to the North of England for the first time. On the 5th & 6th of July 2014, the county will host the Grand Départ, the prestigious opening days of the iconic cycling race. The race will start from Leeds, probably touring up into the North York Moors and then from York through to Sheffield. The exact route will be announced in January next year but as well as starting locally it's likely that it will pass not far from Saltaire on the second day too. The Tour will then move south for a final stage, finishing in London, before moving across the Channel to France. Expect to see everyone go cycling mad. I'm excited already! All credit to those involved in putting Le Bid together - Welcome to Yorkshire (the tourism body) was the prime mover. 
Allez Yorkshire!

Dancing bear

Window number 5 of Saltaire's Living Advent Calendar is particularly innovative. Created by Abbi and Craig on Constance Street, the window features this bear, wearing a very Christmassy sweater, with a robin in a party hat (so cute!) If visitors click the QR code in the bottom corner of the window with a mobile phone app, they can watch the window come to life in an animated version. (This may be a Victorian village but we're up there with the latest trends!) Happily, you too can see this delightful animation from the comfort of your own home - click here to watch it on Vimeo. It's quite jolly!

It's that spam again...

Another anonymous fan comment (ha!) :
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(Though they do want me to look at their useful webpage: 'How to get fair skin naturally at home'.  Bathe in milk, maybe...? Let me know if you want the link to look at it for the incredibly 1st time.)