If you have close connections with Saltaire and you would like to contribute your story, please get in touch and we will arrange an interview.

Please note: some of these interviews took place several years ago and may need updating.

Contact the Editor: editor@saltairevillage.info

Anzalone, Assuntina

Saltaire historian, David King writes: In March 1950 a 19 year old Italian girl, Assuntina Anzalone, left behind her recently widowed mother and travelled with a small group of similar Italian girls to find employment in England. Assuntina found work at Salts Mill in Saltaire. Read Assuntina's incredible story >

Geoff was interviewed by Roger Clarke in March 2005. At the time, Geoff was the Secretary of the Saltaire Village Society.

 

At the time of this interview, Paul Breeze was the Reverend of the Saltaire United Reformed Church. Paul sadly died on 20 January 2014.

 

Czenkusz, Feliks
1920 - 22 August 2013
Written by Maggie Smith, January 2013
Added to website: 14 January 2015

An extraordinary journey to find work in
Salts Mill
THE STORY OF FELIKS CZENKUSZ

Please note: This article can be downloaded as a PDF document, which has additional notes. Download The Story of Feliks Czenkusz

I was born on June 4th in 1920 in a village called Lakorz, about 3hrs bus ride away from GDANSK and 2 kilometres from the German Border. My childhood was spent in the village and my father was a craftsman with leather, making tack for horses and also working in upholstery. I was the eldest child and had 2 younger brothers and 2 sisters.

 

Pat Holland from Halifax shares the fascinating story of her relatives, the Dewhirst family, who lived in Saltaire from 1855/60 until the early 1900s. Her great grandfather, Jimmy Dewhirst, was killed in a horrific accident at Salts Mill.

The Dewhirst story and genealogy >
Report of Jimmy Dewhirst's fatal accident at Salts Mill, 1860 >

 

Eaton, Alex & Louise
Saltaire Sentinel, January 2006

 

Kevin & Eileen Foster: A family wedding in Saltaire: Kevin Foster marries Eileen Winifred McNicholas)

Kevin and Eileen Foster lived in Saltaire on Shirley Street from the 1940's to the late 80's and are both in the photo.
Read more >

 

Dave Shaw speaks to Harold Garrard, who recalls his first day of work in 1935. Harold worked at Salts Mill for 50 years >

 

Ninety-five years old in November 2006, Jack Grimley was one of the most important men in the Village in the 1950’s and 60’s.

 

Michael Halliday was the licensee of the Boathouse Inn for a year until August 2005. More >

 

Anne and Roger Heald took over the business at Number 2, Victoria Road in November, 1993.

John Holroyd, artist and photographer. Examples of John's work is all around us: on advertising for many of the Village businesses and on tourist items in the local gift shops >

 

Holroyd, Lincoln

Abraham Holroyd's descendant, Lincoln Holroyd, Cornet Soloist.
In 1892, Lincoln Holroyd emigrated with his family from Saltaire, England to Bordentown, New Jersey.

His father Edwin is credited with giving Lincoln his first lessons on cornet and is referred to in one source as a “well known band man”. By 1900 Linc had established himself as a cornet soloist with Winkler’s 2nd Regimental Band of Trenton, New Jersey.

Read more >

 

 

Eddie Lawler is an award winning writer and musican who lives in Saltaire. His entertaining, and often light hearted songs and poems have the gravitas of social comment.

This link takes you to the Writers & Artists section of this website >

 

Helen Kemp is well known in Saltaire for her huge contribution to the life of the community. She came to the Village in 1993 after 12 years teaching pottery (and 8 years teaching calligraphy) at Shipley College.

 

Lodge, Carole & Christine
Written by Roger Clarke
Published in The Saltaire Sentinel, June 2006

Coronation celebrations in Saltaire streets
As a snapshot of community spirit, Coronation Day, 1953 will take some beating. Twins Carol and Christine Lodge (their names reflect their Christmas birthday) were 3 years old at the time, living on William Henry Street in Saltaire >

 

McAllister, Jean - Principal of Shipley College has worked in Saltaire since 1978. She originally came to Yorkshire from Southampton in 1968, to study at Leeds University, where she stayed to complete her Master’s Degree in Comparative Politics.

 

Mitchell, Julia (nee Spalding)

Two years at Albert Road Infants’ School 1946 - 1948
A very enlightened education

I was born in March 1942 at the Norman-Rae Nursing Home at the junction of Bingley Road and Kirkgate next to the Ring of Bells pub. Life, during and for a few years after the Second World War, was spartan. I spent my first few nights of life in an air raid shelter as planes flew nightly over Bradford on their way to bomb Liverpool.

 

What is it about Saltaire which attracts family businesses? First the Salts, then the Silvers, and now the Morrises. Jeff, aged 62, Stephen 40, Christopher 28 and Nikky 26 are three generations of the Morris family who own and run Jayfort Security Services.

 

The Quanbury family, who first appeared in Saltaire in the 1880s, have made a considerable contribution to local history – and are still very much in evidence! Emma Quanbury was born in Market Deeping, Lincolnshire, in 1863; a time when most women had to work on the land or go into service.

 

Randall, Peter - Saltaire Gentlemen's Hairdresser.

 

Rowbotham, Tim - Microbiologist and Ironmonger extraordinaire!

 

In the immediate post World War II period, Denys Salt served in the British Military Government, in the Province of Styria of occupied Austria. He was decorated by the Austrian Government for his contribution to that country's reconstruction. Following his army career, Denys then worked for the BBC for 28 years. He continued to be very attached to Austria and its people.

 

Nigel Schofield will be best known to most of you for his involvement with Pennine Radio between 1975 and 1986.  He was initially producer there, and then became Head of Music.

 

THE MEMORIES OF FRANK SENIOR
HIS LIFE IN SALTAIRE AND WORK
IN SALTS MILL BETWEEN 1918 and 1983

Please note: This article can be downloaded as a PDF document, which has additional notes.

Download The Memories of Frank Senior

I was born in 1918 and had a younger sister. I spent my early childhood in Saltaire. My father came from Batley and worked at JT and J Taylors in Batley as a loom tuner. My mother’s family, originally from Cleckheaton, moved to Saltaire in 1890.

 

Colin Coates writes: In March 2015 I met up with Dave Sharp, who had travelled from his home in Flamborough to meet up with friends in Shipley and to have a chat with me about his family who had lived in Saltaire for over sixty years. Dave is a Shipley lad who recalled conversations with his grandfather, William, who was born in Saltaire in 1915. More >

 

Born in Thomas Street, Shipley, Eric attended Charlestown Infants  (now demolished), Saltaire Road and Albert Road schools, leaving when he was thirteen.

 

Eighty-one year old Leslie and seventy-six year old Ronnie (who still lives in the Village) are part of a family of six brothers whose parents brought them up on Helen Street.

 

The Memories of Ray Sykes - Growing up in Saltaire. Ray was born in Saltaire in July 1942. His father, John Henry Sykes (known as Jack) was born in 1920. Ray's grandparents lived in 29 Shirley Street.

 

Nick Tankard, children's illustrator and Saltaire-inspired artist. (Article, 2007)

Nick Tankard, Illustrator .

 

Bert and Sheila Thornton have been important members of the United Reformed Church community for many years. The Thornton family history in the area began with Bert’s great grandfather, Anthony Thornton, was a manager at Dixon’s Mill...
Written by Roger Clarke, June 2006

Also: "I was born in Saltaire in June 1917..."
Mr. Bert Thornton's own talk given to the Saltaire History Club on 17 May 2007.
"I was born in the village at number 15 Shirley Street in June 1917.  My father’s family were from Shipley.  My great grandfather lived in Saltaire Road, Regent Street..."
Written by Bert Thornton, May 2007

 

Harriet is based in Saltaire and writes fact-based historical plays and events, usually site-specific and written to commission. These projects are then directed and produced by Harriet Townsend and her team. Harriet also devises drama tours and promanade theatre.
More on Hattie's work, by Pamela Reynolds

Also: Saltaire People: Hattie Townsend
I’ve always thought that the performance of an actress is enhanced when the role she plays resonates with her own personality. Hattie Townsend played Dinah Stuart, housekeeper to the Salt family, in this years Saltaire Festival.
Written by Roger Clarke
Published in The Saltaire Sentinel, August 2006

 

Roger Clarke’s Saltaire people SPECIAL
THE HISTORY OF CLIVE WOODS

Most people in the Village will know Clive Woods, with his ruddy complexion, bushy beard, ready smile and friendly (rather eccentric) manner.
The Saltaire Sentinel: January 2007

Also: THANK YOU, CLIVE, SAY WE WHO LOVE SALTAIRE

Editor, James Duncan writes: Clive Woods died on November 22nd at his home on Victoria Road. It is not the role of this paper to announce this sad news, which is surely already well known throughout the Village.
The Saltaire Sentinel: December 2007