I think I know Saltaire pretty well after 22 years of living here, yet every now and again my attention is grabbed by something that looks new and fresh. I have not consciously noticed these colourful doors before, one blue, one red. Perhaps one or both have had a recent coat of paint. They are the front entrances to houses in the oldest part of Saltaire, built in 1854. These properties are among the mid-sized houses in the village, designed for the overlookers (supervisors) at the mill. Each has a tiny front garden as well as a back yard (originally with an outside privy/loo) and most had three bedrooms, a large sitting room, a scullery kitchen and a cellar. There is nice detailing in the four-panelled arched doors (either original or reproductions faithful to the originals.) The stained glass panel above the red door will date from around 1930, when the houses were sold into private ownership by the mill company. People 'personalised' them with details that were popular at that time. Some of the houses have had the grime of years sand-blasted from the stone, whereas others are still blackened from the soot that came from mill chimneys and coal fires.
I recall the astonishment when a large "gritstone" public building in Leeds was sandblasted to remove 100 years of accumulated filth. Beneath all the grime workmen discovered solid marble built by a then very wealthy and prosperous city.
ReplyDeleteGlad you pointed out the difference in sand blasted and not, on the exterior stones. Interesting to see the line of differences between the two owners, same wall.
ReplyDeleteA great shot! Sandblasting has gone out of favor here since it is so hard on the bricks - now they use water or some kind of safe chemicals for the same results.
ReplyDeleteThe reason for the special delight at finding an unsuspected marble building was simple: the Queen and Prince Phillip were coming to visit Leeds! This was in 1958.
ReplyDeleteI like that contrast of colours.
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