Salts Mill, Saltaire - West Yorkshire

The mill soon after opening (© Salts Estates Ltd.)

Former use (incl. architectural history)

In 1853 it opened as a sophisticated, state-of-the-art textile mill employing 3,000 workers on a greenfield site. Titus Salt who built the mill also constructed churches, schools and houses in a model village for the work force. Visitors and the people now living in the village still benefit from Salt's legacy of these attractive buildings.

New uses

View of Saltaire today

When Jonathan Silver purchased Salts Mill in 1987 it was semi-derelict and appeared to have no positive future. The village was in decline. Since then Saltaire has been transformed and now over 1,500 people are employed on the site of Salts Mill by firms which include large, high-tech manufacturing companies like Pace Micro Technology plc and Filtronic Comtek plc. In 1853 Salts Mill was the leading edge of textile industry; it now leads the world in high technology.

The Mill is also well known for its three art galleries devoted to David Hockney. Admission to the art galleries has always been free and the number of works on show has grown to over 300. In addition to the art galleries,  the other public spaces include a high quality diner and excellent speciality shops. The mill is open 7 days a week 10 to 6. Admission is free.

Employment

Over 2,000 people are employed on the site of Salts Mill.

Conservation issues

The success of combining the above developments in an historic building has helped Salts Mill and the surrounding village of Saltaire win several leading National and European awards.

Contact

Salts Estates Limited
Salts Mill
Saltaire
Shipley
West Yorkshire BD18 3LB

Tel: 01274 531163
Fax: 01274 531184

General website: http://www.clanvis.com/loc/sm2.htm

Pace website: http://www.pace.co.uk

Filtronic Comtek plc website: http://193.130.109.72