The Rules of Saltaire Village

Related links: Fake rules of Saltaire | Myths peddled about Saltaire

The genuine rules of Saltaire

So far, it's been established there are two sets of Rules of Saltaire Village from Sir Titus Salt's time that are genuine.

• Almshouses rules
• Park rules

Historian, Colin Coates, confirms there are also genuine rules for Sir Titus Salt Hospital, written in 1910 and revised in 1922.

• Sir Titus Salt Hospital Byelaws, 1st July 1910 (Revised May 1922)

Saltaire Village Rules: the Almshouses [Verified]

Source: Saltaire and its Founder. Abraham Holroyd. 1873. Republished by Piroisms Press in collaboration with Falcon Books of Saltaire, 2000 (ISBN: 0953860108)

The following is a copy of the Regulations of the Almshouses:

1. The occupants of the almshouses may be either men or women, and either single, married or widowed.
2. The almshouses will, so far as the occupants are concerned, be free from rents and taxes, and the obligation to make repairs other than such as may be rendered necessary by the wilful act of any occupant, will rest alone upon the founder and his trustees.
3. Each married almsman residing with his wife in one of the almshouses shall receive a weekly allowance of ten shillings; and each almsman or almswoman living there without a wife or husband, shall receive the weekly allowance of seven shillings and sixpence, which allowances will be paid weekly.
4. No person shall be appointed or chosen to be an occupant of one of the almshouses unless he or she be a person of good character, destitute of property, or other means sufficient for his or her support, and incapacitated for labour by reason of age, disease or infirmity so as to be unable to earn his or her own living.
5. The almspeople will be appointed by the founder during his life, and after his death by the trustees for the time being.
6. Any applicant for nomination of election shall send to the founder during his lifetime, and after his decease to the trustees, an application in writing, stating his or her name, age, occupation and place or places of residence during one year preceding such application, also a written statement of the applicant’s circumstances as regards means of livelihood, and a certificate in writing of the truth of the facts set forth in such statement, and of the personal probity and fitness of the applicant from the minister of the Gospel, or from two creditable householders who shall be known to the founder, or after his death to the trustees, and who shall have known such applicant for at least five years; also a certificate in writing from a duly qualified medical man (who shall be the applicant’s own medical attendant, if he or she have any) of his or her incapacity for labour and of the cause of such incapacity. If the applicant be married, the fact must be stated in the application, and the like information and certificates as before mentioned must be furnished as to the wife or husband, or satisfactory reasons assigned why the same are not furnished, which reasons must be vouched by a minister or two householders as hereinbefore provided in regard to the applicant’s own fitness.
7. Before any person shall be admitted an inmate of any of the almshouses, he or she shall sign a paper, in such form as shall be prescribed, by which he or she shall undertake to quit and give and give up the house to be occupied by him or her whenever required to do so by the founder or the trustees; to abide by and observe all the regulations now made or hereafter to be made in regard to the occupation of the almshouses, and the conduct of the inmates thereof.
8. In the event of any inmate of the said almshouses leaving a widow at his death, such widow shall, if she gives notice in writing of her desire to continue to reside in the said almshouses, be considered an applicant, and may be nominated or elected to be an almswoman, if judged a proper object of the charity, without any further compliance with the preceding rules for application for admission.
9. Each house is to be kept clean by or at the expense of the occupant, and any damage to any of the houses, fixtures, or furniture, must be made good by the occupant, or otherwise the cost thereof will be deducted from the weekly allowance thereafter to become due to each occupant. The founder or his trustees will make a periodical inspection of the almshouses for the purpose of ascertaining that this rule is observed.
10. None of the inmates of the almshouses shall underlet the tenement assigned to him or here or any part thereof, or take any person to lodge or reside therein, without the written permission of the founder, or of the trustees, or of some two of such trustees first obtained; nor shall any such inmate take in washing, or carry on any trade or business of any kind, nor shall any of the inmates absent themselves from the almshouses for a period exceeding forty-eight hours without the life written consent, and then only for such time as shall be thereby authorised.
11. The Garden in the Square opposite the houses will be under the charge of the founder, and after his death of the trustees, and it will be the duty of each occupant to protect the property therein from injury. The chimneys will be swept at the expense of the founder or trustees.
12. No clothes are to be hung out to dry in front of any of the houses.
13. If any inmate of the almshouses shall at any time after his or her election marry, or wilfully disobey or infringe any of these regulations, or any of the rules of the Institution, or if it shall at any time appear that any inmate, or the wife of any inmate, is guilty of insobriety, or immoral or other improper conduct, or from alteration in his or her circumstances shall have ceased to be a proper object of such a charitable Institution, the founder or the trustees will, upon proof thereof to his or their satisfaction, displace and remove any such person, and the decision of the founder or trustees shall be final on any matter arising out of or bearing upon this clause.
14. The founder during his life, and the trustees after his death, will have the power to alter, modify, add to or expunge these regulations from time to time at their discretion, in order the better to carry out the intentions of the founder and increase the utility of the Charity.

Schedule of printed Forms to be used in pursuance of the above Regulations:-

No. 1. Application for admission, and particulars of the case.
2. Declaration and certificate of circumstances and fitness.
3. Medical certificate.
4. Agreement as to occupancy.
5. Permission to take a person to reside with occupant.
6. Permission to be absent from Almshouse.
An Infirmary has also been built on the north-east corner of the square, where medicine is dispensed and where any accidents which may happen at the works are attended to by a competent surgeon.

SOURCED

Saltaire Village Rules: Saltaire Park [Verified]

Source: Saltaire and its Founder. Abraham Holroyd. 1873. Republished by Piroisms Press in collaboration with Falcon Books of Saltaire, 2000 (ISBN: 0953860108)

The Rules of this Park are as follows:-

“This ground is set apart as a place of recreation for the working people of Saltaire, and it is with a view to promote their comfort and happiness, in the use of it, that the Donor has made the following regulations.

1. The Park will be open (except as hereinafter mentioned) during the following times, viz. :- On Week-days – between April 1st and September 30th, from 6 a.m. till sunset; between September 30th and April 1st, from 8 a.m. till sunset. On Sundays – from noon till 6 p.m.
2. This Park is under the control of the firm of Sir Titus Salt, Bart, Sons, and Company and may be closed entirely, or used only upon payment of admission fees, on such occasions as the Firm shall prescribe, but not exceeding TEN days in any year; at other times the Park will be open free of charge for all persons choosing to resort thereto and conforming to these regulations.
3. The time of closing will be indicated each day by the ringing of a bell, and all visitors are then required to leave.
4. No person will be allowed to enter or leave except through the gateway.
5. No person will be allowed to enter or remain while in a state of intoxication.
6. No child under the age of eight years will be admitted, except in the care of an adult.
7. No dog will be admitted or allowed to remain unless led with a chain or string.
8. No horse, ass, or mule will be admitted; and no carriage or cart will be admitted, except chairs on wheels, drawn or propelled by hand for the use of invalids, and perambulators for children.
9. Visitors are not to interfere with the cannons or the flag pole, nor to touch the trees, shrubs, plants of flowers, now to throw or leave about any orange peel or other refuse, no to walk on the grass borders or on any portions of the park except the walks and those parts laid down in grass which are appropriate for games.
10. No person is to sell or expose for sale any goods or wares, or to set up any booth, show, stall or stand, without the written permission of the Firm.
11. No music, singing, preaching, lecture or public discussion, and no meeting for the purpose of making any religious or political demonstration will be allowed without the written sanction of the Firm.
12. No shooting no discharge or firearms of any kind, except by members of the Rifle Corps when on drill, and no bonfire or fireworks will be permitted without the permission in writing of the Firm.
13. Angling is not allowed except by permission of the Saltaire & Shipley Angling Association.
14. Stone throwing, disorderly and indecorous conduct, profane and indecent language, gambling, pitch and toss, and soliciting alms are strictly prohibited.
15. No wine, beer, spirits, or intoxicating drinks are to be consumed in the Park.
16. Smoking is not allowed in the alcoves, nor spitting on the paths.
17. Bathing in the river will only be allowed subject to the regulations made from time to time by the Firm.
18. The cricket ground and bowling greens are only to be used subject to the regulations made from time to time by the Firm.
19. No games are to be played on any part of the Park except the cricket ground and bowling greens.
20. The play grounds are not to be used on Sundays.

Saltaire, July 1871.

SOURCED

Rules of Saltaire Village: Sir Titus Salt Hospital Byelaws [Verified]

Source location: West Yorkshire Archives
Source Title: SIR TITUS SALT CHARITIES, RECORDS
Catalogue Number:  BMT/SH/3/8

Kindly researched by local historian, Colin Coates.

Extract from Sir Titus Salt Hospital Byelaws 1st July 1910 (Revised May 1922)

Paying Patients   
Admitted on the following terms:-
Maintenance and General Nursing – 4 guineas per week
Full Services of a Nurse – 3 guineas per week extra

Out-Patients
Medical Staff shall attend those who are in receipt of a Pension from the Salt Charity.

In-Patients
Shall be admitted Tuesdays or any afternoon when convenient between 2 and 3pm
Casualties Daily 9.30 to 10.30
Out-Patients twice a week
Accidents admitted anytime

Donors & Subscribers
Each donation of ten guineas shall entitle the donor to five in patients or ten out- patient recommendations forms.

Annual Subscriptions
One Guinea – two out-patient recommendation forms
Two Guineas – two in-patients or four out-patients
Five Guineas – two in-patients and four out-patients

Matron – 4 weeks leave and one day per month and one half day per week
    Not to be absent overnight.

Nursing Staff – 4 weeks leave

• Daily off duty time 3hrs when on day duty
• When on night duty one night per month off and 3 hrs one evening per week.
• Not to leave premises without matron’s permission
• No visitors without permission

Domestic Staff – two weeks leave and one half day and one evening per week.

Staff and Ward Lights

• Fires not allowed in staff bedrooms without matron’s permission.
• Lights must not be left burning in any staff room when not in actual use.
• All staff lights out by 10.30pm.
• The lights in wards, corridors and other parts must be put out when not required.
• Ward lights must be reduced or extinguished by 8.00pm.
• No domestic animals allowed in the wards.

Patients

• Provide their own brush, comb, tooth brush, soap, towel, slippers and changes of linen from time to time and arrange for the washing of soiled linen.
• Provide their own trusses or other surgical appliances
• Expected to contribute towards the cost of their stay either during or afterwards.
• No personal gifts to staff
• Female patients able to do so must assist in needlework
• Loitering in corridors, visiting other wards etc., forbidden.
• Not to leave the building without consent of Matron

Visitors

• Wednesday and Saturdays 2 to 3pm
• Not to exceed two
• Admission tickets obtained from Matron
• Children over 12 count as a visitor
• Not to give anything to patients

SOURCED