Well I got it wrong yesterday, we went to Saltaire, to the largest mill ever built in the world. Built by Titus Salt - philanthropist. politician and entrepreneur in the 19th century. Now turned into a fabulous gallery for works of art, think David Hockney. All those acrylic paintings now grace the long weaving rooms artfully lit.
Driving out of the valley, the steep 'B' road went on forever, past terraced houses fronting the road, weaving windows galore, one wonders what happened to all these people as the great industrialised mills opened up. Eventually we reached the top of the incline, and the bleak grey moors.
Saltaire is where our HMG lives and he is so proud of the mill it is place of calm I think for him, and I can see why. The colourful work of Hockney contrasts beautifully with dark grey flagged stone floors and dark ceilings. It has a welcoming atmosphere. But the mill itself is massive, how on earth did those Victorian ancestors of ours think so big?
The show of paintings capture the seasons of the year, over the same length of the lane. Most of us who walk have been along such a lane, their unfolding of their natural wonders of wild flowers, hedgerows and bird life reminding us of why we walk towards that green tunnel of trees in the distance.
There is also a camera eye view of the lane in snow, the photo images are broken up into squares and each square is just a little behind the square above.
Down on the other floor are expensive shops. The kitchen shop wares laid out along the full length, it struck me as first world emptiness - weird. On the ground floor gorgeous books are laid out for your perusal but none of us ventured to look.
Only one restaurant opened and very busy when we went back for lunch, luckily our table was reserved. Garlic mushrooms for me on top of baguette, as soon as they were ordered, the dish was wiped off the blackboard, so I was lucky.
There is a large antique emporium, a bit scary to walk around because of the signs saying all breakages must be paid for. Plenty of pretty jewellery but antiques have passed me by now.
Sounds like a good use for an old building
ReplyDeleteI think it was a friend of David Hockney who had bought the mill Sue.
DeleteI am not sure about breakages being paid for is legally enforceable without a court hearing.
ReplyDeleteThink I would be willing to argue in court, my self defense being you should not leave delicate breakable objects on low level tables Tom.
DeleteI do love the David Hockney exhibition at Saltaire, my brother and family leave nearby so we often drop in for a visit. The bookshop is a wonderful place to hang out too but I hear you on the other floors, there was a rather interesting small exhibition on dinner sets (not sure if that is the right word - sets of plates, bowls, cups, saucers etc) through the years at one end of the kitchen shop which we all rather enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteHi, I think the trend in all this 'house furnishing' it is so tidy and contrived but with nowhere to actually be creative yourself, if you see what I mean. The mill itself is awe-inspiring, and the town rather elegant with its streets of pretty terraced houses but it was so windy whilst we there.
DeleteWhat a lovely outing. I really enjoyed looking at the Hockney lane paintings and that photo snow scene is sublime. I see the "antiques" on offer seem to come under the category of "decorator's" pieces . . . (e.g. not the sort of thing you would buy if you actually collected antiques, unless you were putting together a collection of certain studio pots.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year anyway.
The emporium was actually further down and had all the usual stuff, 1960s clothes,60s furniture - Ercolish ;) and a lot of Victoriana. The Chinese stuff was there for decoration, there was so much space and all of it expensively grabbed Jennie.
DeleteIt's good to see these cavernous Victorian buildings being given a good second life. Enjoyed the art thank you. Arilx
ReplyDeleteYes it is good to see them used Aril, and not turned into flats and of course all those big windows are ideal for display, though of course my camera caught the reflections in the glass of the paintings
DeleteWhen my son lived in Halifax we went several times - I seem to remember they always had some Hockneys. Lovely place to visit. Happy New Year to you all down there.
ReplyDeleteHappy New year to you to Pat. As you know I don't know that part of the North, and it seems to me that I had entered a different country.
DeleteDesigned by my wife's GGG Grandfather.
ReplyDeleteThat is something to be proud of Tasker, it is gi-enormous, but fairly plain with just two towers on either side of the front entrance. We lost Lillie at one stage when she decided to come down the stairs and not use the lift.
DeleteThat is massive. I wandered off to read about it, and also Hole of Horcom. What a lot I learn from reading blogs!
ReplyDeleteHi Debby, the Hole of Horcum is a great beauty spot in North Yorkshire. A great bowl with the little steam engine from Whitby going through but the railway lines never quite reaching York.
ReplyDelete