FAQ: One of the most commonly asked questions is:
When is Saltaire open - and how much does it cost?

• Salts Mill is the main feature of the Village and it is free to enter. However, since the start of the pandemic, opening times have varied, so please check Salts Mill website. If you plan to bring school children, please plan this with Salts Mill via email or telephone. Contact details below.
• People google, "Is Salts Mill dog friendly?" The answer is, yes and no. Small dogs, carried by their owners, can enter into the galleries, bookshop and other retail areas, but not the eating/food areas. Larger dogs, which can't be carried, are not allowed.
• Otherwise, Saltaire is a village where people live, so is OPEN EVERY DAY for visitors.
• You don't have to book to come here, and there's no charge.

Saltaire is built in the Italianate style, giving it an enduring beauty and charm. In December 2001, Saltaire was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. You are free to wander around. There are places to eat, some shops, and a lovely park and adventure playground for the children.

Saltaire, World Heritage Site

Saltaire Village is  located in England on the outskirts of Bradford, West Yorkshire, and owes its name to Sir Titus Salt, a textile magnate and philanthropist who built a mill and a village for his workers by the River Aire.  Salts Mill was a masterpiece of its time and was hugely productive, turning out 18 miles of worsted cloth a day on 1200 looms attended to by 3000 workers. It was opened on 20 September 1853, Titus Salt’s 50th birthday and was celebrated with a banquet for his workers in the Mill’s combing shed.

The Mill changed hands - the textile industry faltered and the Mill closed in 1986. The following year it was bought by local entrepreneur, Jonathan Silver, who transformed it into a place of art and commerce.  Jonathan died in 1997 aged only 47, though the Mill remains vibrant and in the care of his family.

More about Saltaire, its architecture and heritage

Info about the buildings and Saltaire's heritage. Follow this link >

Salts Mill

Salts Mill website: www.saltsmill.org.uk

Opening times:

Due to the pandemic, opening times are responsive to these changing times.
Please check the Salts Mill website for the latest information: www.saltsmill.org.uk

Address, telephone numbers, email address

Salts Mill, Victoria Rd, Saltaire, West Yorkshire BD18 3LA
(Driving? Use satnav code BD17 7EF, see Directions)

Salts Mill, general info 01274 531 163
Salts Diner 01274 530 533
EMAIL: post@saltsmill.org.uk

Directions and Free Parking

Saltaire is 4 miles north of Bradford, 15 minutes from the M606 and the motorway network. Follow the brown road signs from the motorway. The Saltaire train station is just across the road from the Mill. It takes 15 minutes to Leeds or Bradford.

Sat nav users: entering our correct postcode brings you into the wrong side of the Mill for the car park. Instead, please set your Sat Nav to BD17 7EF. When it tells you you've reached your destination, keep going along Salts Mill Road following the brown signs - you'll pass a big red brick chimney on your left as you cross the canal and The Waterfront, an office building, on your right, then you'll see the mill at the end of the road. Proceed through the gates into the free Salts visitors car park on the right.

Group Bookings

School parties and other groups are welcome to visit Salts Mill.
Please contact Salts Mill in advance to book.

Download the Salts Mill information sheet.

Telephone: 01274 531163

Disabled parking and access

Come along Salts Mill Road, pass the 'Visitors Parking' sign and continue past the chimney where you will see a glass canopy with disabled parking spaces. Level access to all public areas and the lift is through the tunnel opposite these parking spaces. For additional information or help please call 01274 531163 during opening hours.

Salts Mill dog policy

People google, "Is Salts Mill dog friendly?" The answer is, yes and no. Small dogs, carried by their owners, can enter into the galleries, bookshop and other retail areas, but not the eating/food areas. Larger dogs, which can't be carried, are not allowed.

Ground floor

1853 Gallery
The 1853 Gallery displays the world's largest permanent collection of work by Bradford-born artist, David Hockney. Tel. 01274 531163

Second floor

Salts Book & Poster Shop
A vast book and poster store. Tel. 01274 531163

Salts Diner
Open every day from 10:00. Food served until 4:30, drinks until 5:00 weekdays, and 5:30 weedends. Tel. 01274 530533

The Home
The best of everything for your home. Tel. 01274 530770

Gallery Two
Showing commissioned artwork in our collection and the Saltaire History Exhibition. Go right through to the end of the Gallery to reach the History Exhibition and Carlton Antiques.

Carlton Antiques
Open Monday and Tuesday 1:00 - 5:00
and Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 5:30
Tel. 01274 592103

Kath Libbert Jewellery Gallery
Innovative, contemporary jewellery
Tel. 01274 599790

Trek & Trail
The finest outdoor gear for adults and children.
Tel. 01274 589692

Espresso Bar
Drinks, sandwiches and cakes
11:00 - 4:00 Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays

Third floor

Gallery Three
The Arrival of Spring, by David Hockney
A detailed study of the changing seasons on Woldgate near Bridlington, East Yorkshire, between 1st January and 31 May 2011.
Monday and Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday to Sunday and Bank Holidays: 10:00 - 4:00

Cafe in to the Opera
Light bites and lazy lunches surrounded by David Hockney's unique mural.
Monday and Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday to Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays: 10:00 - 4:30

Outside

All Terrain
10,000 square feet of wheels! An independent family business run by cyclists for cyclists.
Tel. 01274 588488

Visitor Information Centre
Located at the front of the Mill, just off Victoria Road.
Open daily:
April to September: Daily, 10:00 - 5:00
October to March: Daily, 10:00 - 4:00

The Early Music Shop
Inspiring instruments, sheet music, CDs and recorders. Tel. 01274 288100
Learn to play at The Yorkshire Music School. Tel. 01274 595954

Salts Mill - the building

Salts Mill is Italianate in style and was designed by the architects, Lockwood and Mawson. It is 545 feet long – exactly like St Paul’s in London; 6 storeys high and 72 feet high.  The glass covered engines which powered Salts Mill were visible from the railway - an incredible sight for train passengers. The top floor runs the whole length of the building.

The engineer was William Fairbairn of Manchester who introduced health and safety features into the mill. The mill is built with non-combustible materials: stone floors and staircases. Beneath the mill is a tank to hold 500k gallons of rainwater.On top of the warehouse is a tank holding 70k gallons drawn from the river, in case of fire.

The weaving shed covers 2 acres and housed 1200 looms. The warehouses form the letter T. Salts Mill chimney was 250 feet high with a decorative campanile (the campanile has been removed for safety reasons). The Mill was very productive. It produced 18 miles of fabric a day, or about five and a half thousand miles every year.

Salts Mill in the present day

Inside Salts Mill you will find the paintings of David Hockney and others. There's so much to see! There's a permanent exhibition of the Story of Saltaire.

Jonathan Silver bought the mill in 1987 when it was in a state of disrepair and brought it back to life. He was especially interested in fashion and art - he had previously owned a string of boutiques. He died at the age of 47, ten years later. The Mill is now run by his widow, Maggie Silver with other family members. The Silver family is held in great esteem.

The Mill is home to lots of businesses. It's free to enter, atmospheric, and a great place to be come rain or shine

Want to know about its history and architecture? Follow this link >

Victoria Hall

Victoria Hall hosts events, classes, weddings, craft and vintage fairs, table top sales, etc. The staff are very welcoming. It is a beautiful building in the shape of a T, with a garden in front, flanked by stone lions by sculptor, Thomas Milnes. Look out for the sculptured faces of Greek Gods and the gargoyles guarding the buildings on each corner.

Victoria Hall's website: www.victoriahallsaltaire.co.uk

Victoria Hall's heritage, history and images
Detailed information on Victoria Hall, previously known as The Saltaire Institute, which was built between 1867 and 1871, and officially opened on 21 November 1872.
Follow this link >

Victoria Hall: home to Yorkshire's finest Wurlitzer cinema organ

This Mighty Wurlitzer, owned and maintained by The Cinema Organ Society, is housed in the main hall of the Victoria Hall.

In addition to a programme of regular monthly events, the Wurlitzer can be hired for private functions and is also played several times a month by members of the society.

Why not call in at the Hall and see if you can catch the Wurlitzer in action – you might even see the console rise up to the stage on its lift! Small groups can be given a tour down in the bowels of the organ to view all the pipes, drums, cymbals and the mechanisms that make up the instrument.

For further information and our current events:

Email: richard.stephenson@cinema-organs.org.uk
Website: www.cinema-organs.org.uk/

Saltaire Trip Boat

About The Saltaire Trip Boat is located at the bottom of Victoria Road, adjacent to The Boat House restaurant and Roberts Park. It's a new business and support is greatly appreciated. The trip along the canal is delightful. Available for private hire The boat is available for private parties. Contact & website Please speak to the Skipper, or phone 07944 550 488 Website: saltairetripboat.com

Location: Saltaire [Leeds to Liverpool canal] found at the bottom of Victoria Road. Duration of trip Each return trip lasts 30 mintues Fare All seats: £4.00 Availability April to September - Daily from 11.00am March and October - Daily, depending on the weather.

Shipley Glen Tramway

Website: www.shipleyglentramway.co.uk

Running times
Subject to operational safety
Open Sundays through out the year 12pm until 4.30pm
Open Saturdays and Sundays from Easter Saturday until Boxing Day 12pm until 4.30pm

Dogs are very welcome providing they are accompanied by a well behaved owner!

Group bookings
We are always pleased to accept school & special bookings at other times.
Please email us with your requirements and we will see what we can do.

About
The Shipley Glen Cable Tramway is the oldest working cable tramway in Great Britain (cliff lifts excepted). Dating from 1895, the line was built to serve the local beauty spot of Shipley Glen near Saltaire in West Yorkshire. At nearly a quarter-mile in length, the woodland ride provides a pleasant alternative to the steep path.  The museum at the bottom station displays photos and memorabilia of the tramway as well as Shipley Glen. Entry is free of charge.

Directions from Saltaire
The Shipley Glen Tramway is located behind Roberts Park in Saltaire (located at the bottom of Victoria Road). Walk throught he park, exit at the rear and cross Higher Coach Road. Follow the footpath located to the immediate right of Titus Salt School. The Tramway is at the foot of the hill.
Travel info: www.shipleyglentramway.co.uk/where

The United Reformed Church, formerly known as the Congregational Church

Quick information

Saltaire United Reformed Church website : www.saltaireurc.org.uk

• Foundation stone was laid by Caroline Salt in 1856 and the church was opened on 13th April 1859.
• Designed by Lockwood and Mawson.
• Cost £16k.
• Italianate in style with the appearance of a temple with Corinthian columns.
• Seating capacity for 600 – interior devoid of religious imagery.
• Titus Salt's initials TS are carved in the (interior) plasterwork above the windows.
• The mausoleum was added in 1861.
• A Grade I listed building.
• You can gain access into the church by contacting Len Morris: email len.morris@talktalk.net Tel. 0(44)1274 597894.
  
  On the left, notice the mausoleum attached to the side of the church, opened in 1861. Titus Salt's daughter, Fanny, died at Methley Hall on 4th August 1861, just days before her 20th birthday. Her body was placed in a temporary vault in the church, then interred in the completed mausoleum. On the way home in the carriage with his friend, the Rev. Robert Balgarnie, Titus said sadly, “I could have lain down with her.” Titus and Caroline Salt's young children, Whitlam and Mary, both died in 1851. They were exhumed and brought to Saltaire. The mausoleum is also the resting place of Titus Salt, his wife Caroline and other family members.

The hollow columns

Here's a picture of the interior of the URC, showing the beautiful ceiling, the hollow Corinthian columns with Scagliola exeteriors.

Inside are hollow Corinthian columns with beautiful Scagliola (imitation marble) exteriors. Two ornate chandeliers, originally lit by gas, hang from the ceiling. They are so heavy, additional roof trusses had to be inserted to support them.

Further information on the history and heritage of the Congregational Church

Follow this link >

Roberts Park, originally known as Saltaire Park

Quick information

The park is 14 acres of lawns, with lovely walks and flower beds.
Access from Higher Coach Road, Baildon, BD17
and Victoria Road, Saltaire (canal end)
Open 365 days a year, 24 hours.

Today
Roberts Park has been restored with money from the Heritage Lottery Fund and other partners. The Park Lodge, the Half Moon Cafe and seating areas are fully restored. A beautiful bandstand has been added which is now a venue for free music concerts. There’s also a new and popular children's play area and skate park. Roberts Park is also home to the Saltaire Cricket Club.

Brief History
Originally known as Saltaire Park, it opened on 25th July 1871. By this time, Saltaire Village was almost complete. Work stopped at the Mill so the workers could attend. Sir Titus Salt was there with his son, Edward and his daughter Amelia. Titus was 67 years old and his health was failing. He apologised for his wife's absence. Edward spoke to the crowd and Amelia declared the park, open. There was a music pavilion for the band, space for cricket, croquet, archery, boating, bathing and swimming. The church bells rang, people cheered and the Volunteers fired their rifles. Sir Titus walked with a stick around the park. The band finally played the National Anthem. 

It was and still is, free for all to enjoy.

A nice little bit of extra info about Amelia...
Amelia was Titus’s oldest daughter who acted as his personal secretary and aid. They had a very close relationship. In 1873, Titus Salt gave his blessing when she became engaged to Henry Wright, a Congregationlist and businessman. The two were married at Lightcliffe Congregational Church by Rev Thomson and Rec Binney on 2 April.  To the question, 'Who gives this woman to be married?' Titus replied, 'I do, with all my heart.'

When Titus Salt travelled to London, he stayed in the home of Amelia and Henry – not at Thomas’s Hotel, which was his usual place of residence in London. Titus said, 'I prefer Henry’s Hotel to any other.'

More history of Roberts Park
For information on the history of Roberts Park, follow this link >

The rules of the park
No alcohol. No gambling. No profane language. No religious or political demonstrations without special permission.
For the full rules of the park and the almshouses, follow this link >

The Friends of Roberts Park

Friends of Roberts Park is an active group which operates with the aim of helping to care, enhance, protect and broaden the enjoyment of their local Park. If you are interested in joining, the group meets regularly and would be delighted to hear from you.

E. forp@roberts-park.org
W. www.roberts-park.org

The Saltaire Bandstand

Free concerns from the Saltaire Bandstand, Roberts Park, are given throughout the summer and on some seasonal dates.

Check here for concert dates > Roberts Park Bandstand Concerts

Towpath walk

Walking instructions for a circular towpath walk in Saltaire, taking in Shipley Glen, courtesy of Danny Jackson. Towpath walk >

Street map of Saltaire

Download the original plan of Saltaire drawn from present day Ordnance Survey plans, courtesy of Nemine Juvante (Saltaire) Publications.

• Map page, detailing the original purpose of the buildings >
• View this street map as an Acrobat file >
  You can download and print it.
• Don't have Acrobat Reader? Download it FREE.

The Saltaire Festival

Website: www.saltairefestival.co.uk
Annual event which takes place in September.

The festival began a decade ago, instigated by local people who worked extremely hard to get the festival up and running with a wonderful vibe. It takes place every year around the time of Sir Titus Salt's birthday, 20 September, and goes on for around 10 days. It features local participation, concerts and events, a continental street market and street entertainment and music.