'Salt wanted to distribute his products quickly and cheaply so he chose a site with excellent transport links. The Mill was built beside the railway, the motorway of the 19th century. The canal linked the village to Leeds and Liverpool and there were good local road connections.'
The Leeds-Liverpool Canal bridge provides one of the most attractive views in Saltaire - even on a cold dark winter morning. The canal runs alongside the grounds of the church, whose tower you can see on the left. In front is the Stables. When the village was built in the 1850s, road transport was predominantly by horse-drawn vehicles and stabling facilities were a necessity. December's ice on the canal is gradually melting - but it is a reminder of how, in Victorian times too, transportation in the winter months would be fraught with hazards.
The little knot of people standing watching the swans was a group of 'silver' walkers, undeterred by the cold. This spot in Saltaire seems to be a place where people congregate and I think sometimes it's a meeting point for the organised rambles that the Council's Leisure Services provide. One of the enjoyable things about living in Saltaire is its proximity to some lovely countryside.
[Green man on the plan]
No comments:
Post a Comment