~Saltaire~
22nd April 2012
Victorian Costumes in Saltaire
Scroll down for photos and a description of the walk....
Salt's Mill
I apologise in advance for this incomplete study of the World Heritage Site that is Saltaire. The usual suspect, our weather, is almost entirely to blame. So this is a case of making the best of it. Titus Salt - What a clever chap - provide employment and modern housing all in one place. The mill was the largest building in the world (by floor area) when it was completed in 1853
Saltaire Railway Station
Surely no coincidence that the mill was completed in 1853 and the railway that runs between the mill and the village was ready to run by 1856. So mill, 850 houses, shops, church, railway line, canal, river etc. etc. all in one place. No pubs....
Salt's Mill
Much of the building nowadays is off-limits, but there is public access to some floors with a David Hockney art exhibition and a book store, plus other stuff like a cafe, a rug store and other bits and pieces.
Roberts Park
But, as usual, the author wanted a walk and a route was chosen up on to Baildon Moor. The plan being for a good walk, including a great view of Salt's Mill, followed by a wander throught the streets of Saltaire. This weekend, Saltaire was host to a "Wolrd Heritage Site" event and consequently some folk were dressed in Victorian clothing.
Ancient & Modern
Lady one shows lady two an image on her iPhone. Rather takes the edge off things.
Shipley Glen Tramway
In 1895 a short cable-driven tramway was opened to allow locals to visit Shipley Glen without having to endure the steep climb. We had to have a go, one carriage goes up as the other comes down.
Prod Lane
Former pupils of a certain time at Blackburn Grammar School will raise a smile. 1st formers entering the Big School dreaded being put into Class 1G, but I drew a short straw and was in Mr.Longstaff's class. He was known as "Prod". He had an intollerance of any kind of bad behaviour and punishment was often a sharp prod on the upper arm. I was prodded, more than once!
Shipley Glen
Shipley Glen is the wooded area to the left; walkers can remain up above the woods and away from the road on open grassland.
Baildon Moor
Looking back down our muddy route on to the moor and here comes the rain. Again. Falling on my head like a memory! Only this time it's serious - about an hour's deposit of the wet stuff testing our waterproofs. The worst of it came in from the north-west, right and out of picture.
Hope Farm
Well, not actually Hope Farm, but it was nearby. Up here, we were supposed to be getting great views of the Victorian vista of Saltaire and Shipley.
Saltaire
The uniformity of Saltaire is only hinted at by the rows of chimney pots, mainly to the right of the Mill. The houses in the foreground were not part of Titus Salt's development. The rain persited and got a little heavier.
Shipley Glen Tramway
We walked down the path and watched the last tram of the day.
River Aire
Almost back at the car, the sun came out, but it was still raining. Next time, I will look more closely at the village and the efforts of Titus Salt to nurture a loyal and productive workforce. If Cadbury, Salt and Lever could do this, how come many more such "model villages" weren't developed during the productive and prosperous Victorian era?
Victoria Tearooms
Walkers: Karen and Me
Time taken: 2hrs 10 mins over a distance of about 5 miles.
Route: Saltaire, Shipley Tramway, Glen Road, Dobrudden Farm, Hope Farm, West Lane back to the tramway, down the footpath into Saltaire.
Weather and conditions: Dull start, steady rain followed.
Richard's Refreshment Review: Before the event, we had our light lunch at the Victoria Tearooms, which is downstairs below the Salts Village Bakery. An excellent little cafe with fine decor and very attentive staff. Good tea and my toast and pate was first rate. Menu was full of good stuff and there is a separate "gluten free" menu.
Take me back to the start ....