Spring comes to Shipley

Trundling home from Asda with my groceries, I almost passed by this little patch of daffodils without a thought. Then I stopped, realising the blessing in them. They didn't just appear by magic... Someone (presumably from the Council's horticultural department) took time and trouble to plant them. As year follows year they burst into flower, bright and bobbing, to herald the transition to warmer, sunnier days. On the other side of the curved wall is a more formal raised bed, at the moment stocked with primulas. 

Beyond that is a building worthy of noticing too. Now housing a portrait photographer's studio, a hairdresser, a furniture store and our local Conservative MP's constituency office, it was at one time Shipley's Public Baths, with a swimming pool and slipper baths. The date stone on the building says 1906. It has an interesting corner, where the ground floor is rounded to allow more room to pass and the upper floor juts out square above. I also found a fascinating website with information about Shipley during WW1 (HERE) that had the following rather amusing snippet: 

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Beyond the old baths is Shipley Town Hall, still used for that purpose. This Edwardian complex also at one time held Shipley's Fire Station, which was then moved to newer premises up Saltaire Road, and recently again to a brand new building on Valley Road.