Saltaire Village near Bradford was created by Titus Salt to provide homes for his mill workers. He built a new factory with good transport links via canal to Leeds and Liverpool and the railway in the greenfields on the river Aire. Conscious of the pollution of Bradford he deliberately sited his factory where the prevaling winds would blow smoke away from the homes of his workers.
This village has been almost totally preserved and houses are still ocupied and you can take a Heritage Trail walk around the whole village. Get the map from the tourist information office opposite the station. The vilalge is built on a grid style, and you can see the different types of houses allocated according to the rank of the employee. All the streets are named after Titus's children or royalty. The houses were designed so that each house would receive ample daylight.
The shops served the community and are stil open. You must try the old fashioned bakery as they sell delicious meat pies and pastries to eat in or take away.. They offer the famous local specialities of "fat rascals" parkin and curd tarts. Other shops offer vintage accesories for interior decor. Items for sale bring back many memories.
Titus also believed in the importance of leisure, and wanted to distract the workers froim the evils of alcohol, so he provided Roberts Park on the banks of the River Aire, with bandstand, sports and boating facilities. The park is stil lovely today and there is a large children's playground there. It is ideal for a family day out. Parking is attached to the park. There is also some on street parking for limited periods. The United Reformed Church is absoutely beautiful inside. The actual mill is separated from housing by allotments where the workers could grow their own vegetables. Education was a major part of Titus' plan for his workers who he encouraged to better themselves. The school is stil operational and there is also a working college stil ocupiying some of his buildings.He provided a hospital for all their health needs and almshouses for the elderly, way before state aid was provided. Allow at least two hours to explore the vilage, longer if you decide to picnic. The old Salt's Mil has now opened as an art gallery housing a large collection of local artist, David Hockney, and a bookstore. The is a popular Diner and fantastic home store seling all the latest in international designers' kitchen ware. Free parking is at the back of the Mill, a litle out of the way to find and it is a fair walk from the front entrance which is closest to the railway station.
