Saltaire

The village itself was built in the nineteenth century by the Victorian philanthropist Sir Titus Salt, to provide self-contained living space for the workers at his woollen mills, a welcome alternative to the then "dark satanic mills" of Bradford and Leeds.

More recently Salt's Mill has been converted by the late Jonathan Silver into shops and the "1853 Gallery" which houses a collection of the works of the famous artist, David Hockney (who was of course born in Bradford ).

Other buildings in the village have now been similarly transformed into shops, licensed restaurants and pubs (just a little touch of irony here - as Sir Titus was a staunch advocate of abstinence from alcohol !)

Also of interest is the United Reformed Church - one of the nation's most precious Victorian buildings and a unique example of Italianite religious architecture.

Close nearby are Hirst Woods and also the local beauty spot of Shipley Glen (which can be reached using the Victorian Shipley Glen Tramway - a historic funicular dating from 1895).

Further afield (and also worth a visit) are the villages of Haworth and Thornton (famous as being the birthplace of the Brontes), the spa town of Ilkley, and the beautiful Yorkshire Dales to the north.

With its Bohemian feel and Hockney connections, Saltaire village has become a magnet for artists, poets, writers and musicians. Every year the village hosts the very popular Saltaire Festival (which is usually held in September).

In December 2001 Saltaire was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, thanks to the hard work of a dedicated group of locals who mounted a successful bid to get the village recognised for its historical significance at the international level. [N.B. Please click here for more information about Saltaire's designation as a World Heritage Site.]

Saltaire (in Bronte Country) - Home Page

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