| Product: |
Salts Mill (Shipley) |
| Date: |
08.05.08 (136 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Lots to see and it's free
Disadvantages: Probably not suitable for young children
The weather forecast for bank holiday was not looking good. Time to get my thinking cap on and come up with somewhere to take our visiting friends that would not be affected by the inclement weather. Then I remembered a recommendation by my sister; Salts Mill in Shipley, Yorkshire, about an hour's drive away.
The mill is a thriving centre for art, industry and commerce and it all started with Jonathan Silver and the 1853 Gallery. The gallery so called because that was the year the Victorian Mill was originally opened for manufacturing fabrics. The mill closed down in 1986 and lay derelict for a year until bought by Silver. He opened the gallery to the public in the autumn of the same year. He wanted to create a permanent exhibition of pictures by his long-standing friend, local boy, David Hockney.
On arriving at Salts Mill we found ourselves drawn by the music into the 1853 Gallery on the ground floor. The music being opera which suited the mood of the surroundings. Having crossed an enormous doormat, with the words Illingworth Morris and Co stamped we were met by some of Hockney's early work. Dating back to art school, etchings such as the set of illustrations from Grimm's Fairy Tales. There are lithographs like portraits of many of his friends and photomontages of landscapes and people. I have to admit to not knowing a great deal about Hockney's work, but what I saw, I liked very much. Silver was also a collector of Burmantoft ceramics from the local pottery in Leeds and much of this is on display. Each floor has a shop and this floor sold a fabulous range of artists' materials, art books cards, and stationery.
The second floor houses Salts Bookshop, an enormous collection of art and travel books and a wonderful display of children's' books. There is a special area for Tin Tin fans, which pleased my husband, no end; a space rocket full of Herges adventures sent him into his second childhood. Copies of original books like The Secret Garden, Rupert and Enid Blyton's Famous Five all beautifully illustrated were my favourites. Exclusive to the bookshop is a range of over 100 David Hockney posters. Beautiful reproductions of Simon Palmer's Saltaire Paintings are also available; the originals are on display later in Gallery 2 on the same floor. Now carefully restored they have pride of place in the History of Saltaire Exhibition. Here you can learn about Sir Titus Salt's mill and model village from 1853 to the present day.
The third floor houses one of the mill's three eateries, Café in the Opera. Lovers of fish and seafood dishes can enjoy lunch here with a glass of wine or two. This is a very interesting and colourful place. The café walls are like a stage set and are designed by Hockney. Scenes from "The Magic Flute", "A Rake's Progress" and "La Rossignol" are wonderfully original and classic Hockney The lighting and wonderful flower displays by Opera Florist make this a magical place and the service was excellent too. Opera Florists sits next to the café and the wide selection of tropical and unusual flowers and displays are on sale to the public.
Other areas worth mentioning - Zebra in the basement stocks everything from uniquely designed hand made rugs, furnishings and colourful fabrics with an African feel. Home - sells luxurious, bizarre and expensive items for the home. Everything from bath oil, kitchenware and furniture. I needed a new ladle but I soon but it back on the shelf when I read the price of £62! There is also a small gallery selling hand made jewellery by Kath Libbert. If you want something a little unusual, you're sure to find it here, but again at a price.
I mentioned Café Opera where the price for a fish lunch will set you back around £10 plus drinks. There is also a diner serving pasta, pizza and meat. We grabbed a panini and coffee in the Expresso Bar which also served home made soup, cakes and pastries as well as traditionally brewed dandelion and burdock, ginger beer and lemonade.
When you come out of the mill, it's worth a stroll into the village of Saltaire. Although we had planned for a rainy day, it was warm and sunny and a walk through the pretty park and along the canal was very welcome.
There is no entrance charge to Salts Mill and parking is free. Disabled parking is right outside the gallery and there is a ramp up to the entrance and lifts on every floor. The mill even provides the loan of a wheelchair.
Salts Mill is a great place to visit especially on a rainy day. The art and book sections should interest most children but this isn't a hands on gallery and younger children may well be bored. It is however great for adults wanting something a little different. I can now recognised the work of Hockney and I think he's ok!
Summary: Art gallery and more
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