The house at Milner Field

This grand house, overlooking Saltaire (but well-hidden amongst trees and gardens) was where Titus Salt Jnr lived with his family. It was demolished in the 1950s, but when first built it was a wonder of contemporary Victorian living. Sadly, little remains today except an archive of wonderful photographs of both the interior and exterior, which give a fascinating insight into the lifestyle of well-to-do Victorians such as the Salts.

Built in 1873 in the (then fashionable) neo-Gothic style, with a nod in the direction of the Arts and Crafts movement, it had its own water and electricity supplies, sewage system and filter beds, water-cooled storage rooms (the forerunner of refrigerators!) and was connected by telephone to the mill in Saltaire. It had splendid facilities to cater for the family's recreational needs - a huge billiard room with pre-Raphaelite stained glass and murals, a magnificent library, a music room with a massive purpose-built pipe organ, and stables. It also had landscaped gardens and a large 'winter garden' conservatory and glasshouse, with a mosaic floor, housing palms, orchids and a variety of tropical fruits.

The Salts entertained lavishly, and were twice visited by royalty during their time at Milner Field. Titus Jnr died prematurely in 1887 but his widow, Caroline, continued to live in the house until 1904.