'Look towards the mill chimneys - can you feel a breeze behind you?' (Hope you're well wrapped up on this wintery walk!) Sir Titus Salt deliberately built his mills on the eastern side of the village. He was concerned about the harmful effects of smoke produced by factories and located his mills where the prevailing westerly wind would blow the smoke away from the village. (I know this first-hand - my workplace is directly east of the mills and sometimes the wind funnelled along the valley is so fierce that you can barely stand up.)
Salts Mill is on the right of the photo (its huge chimney is hidden) and the building on the left is the New Mill, built a few years later, with its ornate Italianate chimney. The Victoria Road bridge goes over the canal and at one time went straight over the river into the park. Since the river bridge was demolished, the road ends rather abruptly in the wall you can see. (The old film clip I mentioned yesterday has footage of people walking across the original bridge, with the mills in the background - at 2.34 in the film.)
I took all these photos on such a dull winter day - they're not the best in that sense but, in a way, I like the dark feel. And I am really enjoying showing you round my hometown. Some of you have commented that you are beginning to recognise parts and 'know where you are'. That really pleases me - and I hope it doesn't make my blog boring. There are only so many photos you can take in a square mile or so, but I keep endeavouring to find new angles.
[On the street plan the photo is taken from near the green man. The New Mill is No 16 and Salts Mill is No 1]
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