Around Cartwright Hall

My plans for the day fell through at short notice and it was a beautiful day, so I took myself off for a walk in Bradford's Lister Park, which contains the civic art gallery, Cartwright Hall. Purpose built as a gallery in 1904, it houses a large art collection deliberately curated (since the 1980s) to reflect the multi-cultural area in which it stands. I always enjoy exploring the gallery, which has a room dedicated to the renowned Bradford-born artist, David Hockney.

The park in which the gallery stands is a beautiful green oasis in a densely built-up neighbourhood. It has fountains and pools in the Mughal Gardens, which echo Persian-inspired gardens in the Indian sub-continent. 

There's also a boating lake, now home to a large flock of Canada geese (which people do insist on feeding with stale bread, meaning they can be quite insistent and vocal as you walk past them!) In the middle of the lake are a few tiny islands, many holding a sculpture or two like the statue of Peter Pan, gifted to the city by Sir Trevor Pears and installed in 2020. 

As I explored the park I came across a wedding group, posing for photos. I cheekily asked if I could take a photo too and they agreed, though understandably didn't want their faces shown. I just wanted to record the bride's gown and veil, which were stunningly gorgeous: heavily embroidered and beaded. She looked amazing. Wishing them both every happiness and blessing.