An announcement!
Sorry for the radio silence. What are you up to this weekend?
Readers, hello, how are you all? Firstly, apologies for the radio silence over the past couple of weeks. My lovely gran passed away in hospital at the end of September, and we’ve been busy with organising her funeral, and all the other things that go along with that.
The funeral this week went well and it was good to look at old photos of her and hear stories about her long and happy life. But I will miss her.
So. An announcement. After a year and a half of weekly (ish) emails I’m going to move the blog to a monthly post.
A monthly post means I can tell you about all the places we’ve been and things we’ve been up to across a longer period of time, and store up some stories and pictures to share.
Check your inbox on the first Friday of the month for an email from me, and as ever, please do let me know about any exciting places you visit in the North West that you’d recommend for families.
This week I wanted to share with you a cool place that we’ve visited a few times recently as our friends live there (hello Karrie!)
Have you been? Do you fancy a look around? Leave me a comment to let me know.
This week’s adventure… a trip to Saltaire
The brilliantly-named Titus Salt was a Victorian entrepreneur who decided in 1851 to close down his factories and mills in Bradford, and move them all to a giant, new ‘super mill’ in the West Yorkshire countryside, next to a railway line and a river in nearby Shipley.
And so the village of Saltaire was born.
In addition to the mega mill (the top floor is apparently as big as the pitch at Wembley Stadium) Salt built stone cottages for his workers, bath-houses, a hospital, a school and various other community hubs.
It was a revolutionary approach and a massive departure from the dirty and cramped conditions Bradford’s mill workers had been used to living in, and that’s recognised today as Saltaire is now a UNESCO world heritage site.
Which is all well and good, but why should you visit?
Firstly, Titus Salt’s mega-mill has now been converted into a really cool space. There’s an art gallery showcasing work by the Bradford-born artist David Hockney, and also floors dedicated to independent shops where you can browse anything from jewellery to garden furniture.
There‘s a glorious bookshop with a big kids books section, and a light, spacious and airy cafe called Salts Diner that serves cakes, snacks, drinks and lunches.
Secondly, Salts Mill is on the opposite side of the river to Roberts Park. This is a Victorian Park built for promenading with loads of lovely original features, including a bandstand and lots of ornate Victorian shelters.
My daughters (aged 9 and 6) love the play area, complete with zip line and obstacle courses, and a skate park. We watched a little boy who can’t have been older then five doing some incredible flips and tricks on his scooter last time we went.
The park also links directly onto the canal, lovely for a stroll, although as with all canals the the tow path is right next to the water (always a source of mild anxiety and extra jeopardy.)
Saltaire is about an hour’s drive from our house in Bolton, and well worth a visit to explore the park and the mega mill. I’m told there are also lots of cute, independent shops, cafes and bars in Saltaire village, although in all honesty we never get that far as we get waylaid by the park and the cafe.
It would also make a lovely autumn visit as the leaves on the trees put on their annual, multi-colour show.
Is Saltaire somewhere you like or somewhere you’ve been? Let me know as I’d love to hear about your experiences there.
Right, that’s it from me. If you made it this far then give yourself a pat on the back and know that you’re my favourite reader.
See you in a few weeks.
Jenna