Shipley

Less than a mile down the road from Saltaire, Shipley is our nearest small town, with a market, supermarkets and the usual crop of charity shops and chain stores (Wilkinsons, Boots, Superdrug, Iceland and Home Bargains to name a few). The town underwent significant redevelopment in the 1950s, when back-to-back houses, condemned as slums, were demolished and the centre was rebuilt with low rise retail units and the market hall with its Brutalist clocktower. Further redevelopment in the late 1970s meant that few of the original buildings survive, and some notable old manor houses were lost.  

It's a pity. I think things are often dealt with more sensitively these days and wholesale clearance is less common. It has left Shipley - in my view - a rather characterless place, utilitarian rather than attractive, though they do their best to brighten it up with floral displays and such like. I rarely take photos in town unless there is an event taking place, so one day I thought I'd remedy that with a few general views. 

The top photo shows the square, which hosts an outdoor market a couple of days a week and is backed by the indoor market hall. Below is a view looking down Kirkgate into the square, with the market hall on the left. 

Below is Wellcroft, a largely pedestrianised precinct, product of the late 70s/early 80s. On the right is the town's public library.

A gym sits above one of those shops that sells more or less everything! (Mostly cheap imported plasticky stuff.) 

Inevitably there is a Wetherspoon's pub, named after the local benefactor Sir Norman Rae, who gifted Northcliffe Park to the town. Market Street, alongside, is effectively Shipley's bus station, with most of the local bus routes having a stopping point here.