As mentioned earlier in the week we had a trip up to Yorkshire last weekend catching up with friends and exploring a little part of this county.
The first stop was the village of Saltaire. Saltaire is a Victorian model village built by mill owner Titus Salt. Salt moved his factories out of the nearby industrial city of Bradford, he wanted a healthier life for his employees and built a huge new factory, homes, schools and other facilities for the people that moved there. The village is now a UNESCO world heritage site. The name of the village is a combination of the founder's surname and the name of the river
The river passing by, which provided the large quantities of clean water needed in the textile trade.
Along side the mill runs the picturesque Leeds and Liverpool Canal, the mill also had a rail connection, giving it easy access to markets.
The Mill today has become home to many local businesses as well as a gallery and tea rooms. Its amazing to think that not that many years ago it was proposed to demolish this fabulous building.
On the Sunday we took a trip over to Harrogate, a spa town that Mark and I had wanted to visit for some time.
Harrogate has a very traditional feel, stone built buildings and with its history of a spa town has attracted visitors since the 17th century as people came for the health benefits of the spa waters.
As always when we visit somewhere new we look for local gardens. We hadn't planned in a visit to nearby RHS Harlow Carr on this trip but in the centre of Harrogate are the Valley Gardens.
As well as the spa waters, Harrogate is famous for Bettys Tea rooms, so we just had to pop in for afternoon tea!
Cheers!
The first stop was the village of Saltaire. Saltaire is a Victorian model village built by mill owner Titus Salt. Salt moved his factories out of the nearby industrial city of Bradford, he wanted a healthier life for his employees and built a huge new factory, homes, schools and other facilities for the people that moved there. The village is now a UNESCO world heritage site. The name of the village is a combination of the founder's surname and the name of the river
The size and scale of the factory is immense.
The river passing by, which provided the large quantities of clean water needed in the textile trade.
Along side the mill runs the picturesque Leeds and Liverpool Canal, the mill also had a rail connection, giving it easy access to markets.
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| Victoria Hall, (originally the Saltaire Institute) |
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| Saltaire Church, where Titus Salt is interned in a mausoleum |
The Mill today has become home to many local businesses as well as a gallery and tea rooms. Its amazing to think that not that many years ago it was proposed to demolish this fabulous building.
On the Sunday we took a trip over to Harrogate, a spa town that Mark and I had wanted to visit for some time.
Harrogate has a very traditional feel, stone built buildings and with its history of a spa town has attracted visitors since the 17th century as people came for the health benefits of the spa waters.
As always when we visit somewhere new we look for local gardens. We hadn't planned in a visit to nearby RHS Harlow Carr on this trip but in the centre of Harrogate are the Valley Gardens.
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| Lysichiton americanus, skunk cabbage making an appearance |
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| Love the old wisteria trunk |
As well as the spa waters, Harrogate is famous for Bettys Tea rooms, so we just had to pop in for afternoon tea!
Cheers!
Gaz
This gardening blog follows our journey as we create our Tropical and Exotic themed garden. We hope you'll enjoy the journey as much as we do. We started our Exotic Garden in 2005 and this site will show its development, as well as our travels, both abroad and within the UK to gardens, nurseries and friends.
Thanks for taking us along on your weekend adventure. It's always a plaeasure to see more of your beautiful country. Looks like you're both very much enjoying tea at Betty's!
ReplyDeleteOh it was fabulous, we had a great time!
DeleteOh that tea room looks soooo delicious!
ReplyDeleteHarrowgate and Saltaire look like beautiful places to visit. Thanks for showing us around.
The tea room was wonderfully traditional. Even the uniforms of the staff were a delight to look at!
DeleteCharming! I'm also impressed at how immaculate all the spaces looked. That's not generally something we see here except maybe at Disneyland.
ReplyDeleteThey’re proud of their public planting and bedding display. Also home to Harrogate Flower Show :)
DeleteI've been through Saltaire on the canal! The site was a totally unexpected surprise, it's immense! We visited again on foot a few years later, are the David Hockneys still on view in the gallery? The walk to Harlow Carr through the Valley Gardens is well worth it, if you visit again.
ReplyDeleteOh how cool! Have taken note of the walk. Yes the David Hockneys are still there :)
DeleteAre those greenhouses I see in front of the Saltaire factory in your first pic? I love how traditional it all is, and that the old buildings are still there and used. Great final photo of you both, btw!
ReplyDeleteI think they are although not sure what’s exactly in it :)
DeleteThere was a small allotments near the mill, I think the greenhouses were related to that.
DeleteMy husband and I have been watching old episodes of Who Do You Think You Are? on YouTube lately, and big old brick Industrial Revolution factories like this seem to often figure in the past history of somebody or other. It must have been so cool to see it. Here they consider a building built in the 1920s to be historical and old. Your teacakes look scrumptious, dreaming about tea and scones now!
ReplyDeleteSo poignant to go through these historical industrial buildings, to get a glimpse of what workers did before and you do wonder about their descendants.
DeleteWhat excellent use of those fabulous former mill buildings. Would like to see Saltaire. We've not visited the Valley Gardens either but have visited Harlow Carr and Harrogate several years ago where we just had to make a pit stop at Bettys. Naughty of you to taunt us with photos of that delicious looking afternoon tea :)
ReplyDeleteThe food was scrumptious!
DeleteYou are definitely getting about a lot x
ReplyDeleteJust a little bit :)
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