Victoria Hall
Victoria Road,Saltaire, Shipley BD18 3JS
THE VILLAGE
Saltaire is named for philanthropist Sir Titus Salt and the River Aire, which flows between the village and Roberts Park. Salt had the village built in the1850s as housing for workers in his enormous new textile mill (still known as Salts Mill). This was a revolutionary development at a time when nearby cities of Bradford, Leeds and Manchester had people crammed into slums. His model village became a landmark across the world, and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
ARCHITECTURE
Salt admired 15th century Italian architecture, so chose that style when commissioning ‘a centre for recreation, culture and learning’ for local people. The building now known as Victoria Hall was designed by architects Lockwood and Mawson, and its doors first opened in 1871. A reception marking its150th anniversary was held in 2022 to thank all the people whose work helps to keep the doors open.
The Lions outside Victoria Hall (and the Salt Building opposite, part of Shipley College) have stories to tell too. They were designed by sculptor Thomas Milnes of London, and were – apparently – originally destined for the bottom of Nelson’s column in Trafalgar Square in London. Local legend has it that the lions clamber down to the River Aire after dark each night to drink, before returning the next morning. We’ve tried to catch them, but they’re pretty sneaky for such big lions.
USEFUL LINKS
https://www.discoverbradford.com/saltaire-food-and-drink
Saltaire is also home to the largest collection of works by David Hockney in the world , so if you fancy a bit of a break from all the dancing head down to Salts Mill