The picturesque ruins of 12th century Fountains Abbey, near Ripon, make a splendid excursion from Elmet Farmhouse. Adjoining the abbey grounds are the serene 18th century water gardens created by John and Wiliam Aislabie on their Studley Royal estate. Newly restored by the National Trust, who own both properties, the gardens consist of a series of lakes, ponds and canals adorned with classical statues, overlooked by temples, towers and viewpoints. These vistas, along with the stunning views of nearby Fountains Abbey, combine to create an unforgettable landscape experience.
Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, near Ripon, North Yorkshire HG4 3DY
Suranne Jones as Anne Lister in the BBC TV series Gentleman Jack
Shibden Hall - Home of Anne Lister
Anne Lister of Shibden Hall
Shibden Hall - Home of Anne Lister - Gentleman Jack
Shibden Hall - Home of Anne Lister - Gentleman Jack
Shibden Hall - Home of Anne Lister - Gentleman Jack
Gardens at Shibden Hall
Suranne Jones as Anne Lister with Sophie Rundle as Ann Walker in Gentleman Jack
Shibden Hall - Home of Anne Lister - Gentleman Jack
Gardens at Shibden Hall
Shibden Hall - Home of Anne Lister - Gentleman Jack
Grounds of Shibden Hall
Suranne Jones as Anne Lister and Sophie Rundle as Ann Walker in Gentleman Jack
Anne Lister (1791 – 1840) of Shibden Hall, near Halifax – whose story is told in the major BBC TV series Gentleman Jack – was a remarkable woman; a landowner, business woman, diarist, mountaineer and traveller.
Celebrated today as the ‘first modern lesbian’, the diaries kept by Anne Lister from her teenage years until her death at the age of 49 run to around 5 million words. Tall and boyish, shedressed in black andwore her hair in tight curls on either side of her face. With her neck ruff, stout boots, black coat and round hat (rather than a bonnet) she looked distinctly masculine. Nicknamed ‘Captain Tom Lister’ locally during her lifetime, she was later referred to as “Gentleman Jack”.
Anne’s diary entries chronicle her daily life, as well as social, political and economic events and her business interests. Approximately one sixth of the diaries are written in code. This clever combination of Greek letters and algebraic symbols was referred to by Anne as her ‘crypt hand’. The crypt hand entries describe quite graphically Anne’s deepest emotions, her private affairs and relationships with a number of women, including the tactics she used for seduction.
Born on 3 April 1791, Anne Lister lived at Shibden Hall, 2 miles outside Halifax,from 1815 until her death in 1840. As well as rent from farms and cottages, the Shibden estate drew income from its reserves of coal, water, stone and timber. Further income was generated from canal shares, turnpike road trusts and pew rents. Anne inherited the estate in 1836 after the death of her Father and Aunt and made great changes to both Shibden Hall and the estate, adding to their size and grandeur.
Following a series of intimate relationships with female friends over the years, which often ended unhappily, Anne was keen to find a ‘wife’ to live with her at Shibden Hall. In 1832 Anne became reacquainted with Ann Walker, a wealthy young heiress who had inherited the nearby Crow Nest Estate. Their friendship developed rapidly, the two became lovers and Ann Walker came to live at Shibden Hall in 1834.
Anne Lister’s story is told in an 8-part BBC/HBO co-production called Gentleman Jack, starring Suranne Jones as Anne Lister and Sophie Rundle as Ann Walker. Written by BAFTA award-winning screenwriter Sally Wainwright (of Happy Valley and Last Tango in Halifax fame), who grew up in Calderdale, Gentleman Jack was filmed at Shibden Hall and the surrounding area. For more information about the film locations used in the series, please click here.
Shibden Hall near Halifax – Home of Anne Lister – ‘Gentleman Jack’
Shibden Hall, which dates back to the 15th century, is run by Calderdale Museums and is open to visit.For further information about Shibden Hall, please click here
Salt's Mill, 1853, in Saltaire village UNESCO World Heritage Site
Salt's Mill, 1853, in Saltaire Village UNESCO World Heritage site
Statue of Sir Titus Salt, the industrial philanthropist who created Saltaire
Saltaire Elementary School, 1868, now Shipley College
Carved decoration on Saltaire Elementary School, 1868
Saltaire Instiute, 1869, now Victoria Hall
Lion sculpture outside Victoria Hall in Saltaire, carved by Thomas Milnes
Lion sculpture outside Victoria Hall in Saltaire, carved by Thomas Milnes
Canalside view of Salt's Mill with bridge crossing the Leeds Liverpool Canal
Almshouses in Alexandra Square, Saltaire
TS monogram of Titus Sale on almshouses in Alexandra Square, Saltaire
Superior workers' houses in the model village of Saltaire
Superior workers' houses in the model village of Saltaire
Decorative doorway detail on workers' houses in Saltaire
Superior workers' houses in the model village of Saltaire
Workers' houses on the corner of George Street in Saltaire
Workers' houses on George Street and Caroline Street in Saltaire
Workers' houses on George Street in Saltaire
Workers' houses in the model village of Saltaire
Workers' houses in the model village of Saltaire
Workers' houses in the model village of Saltaire
Workers' houses in the model village of Saltaire
Allotments in front of Salt's Mill in Saltaire UNESCO World Heritage Site
Salt's Hospital, 1868
Doorway of Salt's Hospital, 1868
Works Dining Room, 1854, across the road from Salt's Mill in Saltaire
Shops on Vicotria Road in Saltaire village UNESCO World Heritage Site
Shops on Vicotria Road in Saltaire village UNESCO World Heritage Site
Saltaire village UNESCO World Heritage Site
Congregational Church, 1858-9, now United Reformed Church
Congregational Church, 1858-9, now United Reformed Church
Tower of Congregational Church, 1858-9
Congregational Church, 1858-9, now United Reformed Church
Entrance to Roberts Park in Saltaire, opened in 1871
Pavilion in Roberts Park in Saltaire
Pavilion in Roberts Park in Saltaire
Promenade in Roberts Park in Saltaire
Benches in Roberts Park in Saltaire
New bandstand in Roberts Park in Saltaire
New bandstand in Roberts Park in Saltaire
Cricket pavilion in Roberts Park in Saltaire
Half Moon Cafe in Roberts Park in Saltaire
Half Moon Cafe in Roberts Park in Saltaire
Half Moon Cafe in Roberts Park in Saltaire
Statue of Sir Titus Salt in Roberts Park in Saltaire, presented on the centenary of his birth in 1903
Memorial to Sir Titus Salt in Roberts Park in Saltaire
Alpaca goat on memorial to Sir Titus Salt in Roberts Park in Saltaire
Angora goat on memorial Sir Titus Salt in park in Saltaire
Salt's Mill, 1853, in Saltaire Village UNESCO World Heritage site
Salt's Mill, 1853, in Saltaire Village UNESCO World Heritage site
Salt's Mill in Saltaire Village UNESCO World Heritage site
Saltaire near Shipley – only 16 miles from Elmet Farmhouse – is great place for a day out. A model village built in the mid 19th century by the philanthropic industrialist Sir Titus Salt (1803-1876), it was created to provide high-quality housing for the thousands of workers at Salt’s Mill, his huge complex of textile factories next to the River Aire.
Almost every aspect of this extraordinary development was the brainchild of this visionary man, from the magnificent Italianate Salt’s Mill (1853) designed by Lockwood and Mawson, to the elegant Congregational Church (1859) with its circular tower, and the imposing Saltaire Institute, 1869, flanked by four majestic carved stone lion sculptures by Thomas Milnes. Saltaire is so unusual and well-preserved that the whole village has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Take a walk around the village and admire the handsome stone terraced houses designed in a variety of different styles. Don’t miss the shops and cafes on Victoria Road in Saltaire Village and the regular vintage fairs in the grand Victoria Hall. There’s more to see in Roberts Park (opened in 1871) across the footbridge over the river, where you can watch the cricket, stroll along the promenade, listen to the band or take tea in the Half Moon Cafe. Nearby Shipley Glen Tramway, dating from 1895, is open during the summer months.
Salt’s Mill
Salt's Mill in Saltaire village UNESCO World Heritage site
Salt's Mill
Salt's Mill
Painting of Salt's Mill by David Hockney
Salt's Mill
New Mill - later extension to Salt's Mill - seen from across the River Aire
Salt's Mill
Bust of Sir Titus Salt, the founder of Saltaire
Canalside view of Salt's Mill with bridge crossing the Leeds Liverpool Canal
Portrait of Sir Titus Salt in Slat's Mill
Statue of Sir Titus Salt in Roberts Park
Shop inside Salt's Mill
Burmantoft's Pottery vase in Salt's Mill
Works of art by David Hockney displayed in Salt's Mill
Works of art by David Hockney displayed in Salt's Mill
Works of art by David Hockney displayed in Salt's Mill
Works of art by David Hockney displayed in Salt's Mill
The Arrival of Spring exhibition of ipad paintings by David Hockney in Salt's Mill
The Arrival of Spring exhibition of ipad paintings by David Hockney in Salt's Mill
The Arrival of Spring exhibition of ipad paintings by David Hockney in Salt's Mill
Burmantoft's Pottery displayed in Salt's Mill
Burmantoft's Pottery displayed in Salt's Mill
Burmantoft's Pottery displayed in Salt's Mill
Salt's Diner in Salt's Mill
The Home design store in Salt's Mill
The Home design store in Salt's Mill
Rainbow over the roof of Salt's Mill
Although the textile industry is long gone, Salt’s Mill has been resurrected as an exciting cultural and creative hub. Beautifully restored, it houses a dynamic complex of galleries, shops and restaurants, including two enormous bookshops, an antiques centre, a buzzing diner and a design shop called The Home.
A unique feature of Salt’s Mill are the hundreds of works of art by multi-talented Bradford-born artist David Hockney, informally displayed all over the building. Hockney’s work is lively and colourful, and the work on show spans his long and varied career, including paintings, prints, photomontages and posters, as well as his latest digital paintings created using an ipad.
Complementing Hockney’s vibrant paintings is an exuberant collection of Victorian ceramics made by the Burmantofts Pottery in Leeds. Decorated with brightly-coloured glazes, these large pots are a visual delight and reflect another aspect of the creativity in the West Riding.
Saltaire’s Textile Heritage
Ram: 'the father of the flock'
Australian sheep shearer using hand shears
Crane hoisting huge bales of fleeces on board a ship
Series of paintings by Henry Carr illustrating textile manufacturing processes
Wool sorting - separating the different qualities of wool within the fleeces
Wool scouring - removing dirt, grease and vegetable matter from the raw wool
Wool combing - removing the short fibres and combing the long fibres so that they can be spun into worsted yarns
Slivers of combed wool prior to spinning
Spinning wool on a large power-driven cap spinning frame
Warping - preparing the warp for transfer to the loom
Warp twisting - threading the warp yarns onto the loom
Power loom weaving the cloth
Loading a skep in the dye house
Burling and mending - checking the cloth for faults and repairing them
Packing the finished cloth in the warehouse
Saltaire’s textile heritage is recorded in a fascinating series of paintings by Leeds-born artist Henry Carr R.A. illustrating textile manufacturing processes. Specially commissioned by Salt’s Mill between 1957-59, many of the paintings are on unusual irregular-shaped canvases. They accurately record each stage of the manufacturing process, from sorting, scouring and combing the wool, to spinning the yarn and weaving the cloth, to dyeing and inspecting the fabric. Recently restored, these wonderful paintings are now displayed in various parts of the mill.
Birds of many feathers flock together in the hills and dales around Hebden Bridge
Whether you’re a serious birdwatcher or simply enjoy observing garden birds, there’s a wealth of birdlife in the hills and dales around Hebden Bridge. Because of its hilltop location, Elmet Farmhouse is the perfect place for birdwatching. Surrounded by meadows, with woods and rivers in the valley below and open moorland on the uplands above, there’s an unusually diverse array of species in close proximity.
From golden plovers, lapwings and curlews up on ‘the tops’, to kestrels, swallows and pheasants in the fields, to woodpeckers, tawny owls and treecreepers in the woods and herons, dippers and grey wagtails by the river, there’s great scope for bird-watching in the Upper Calder Valley. These photos record some of the birds we’ve encountered locally in the last few years.
Blue Tit
Barn Owl
Black-headed Gull
Blackbird
Buzzard
Canada Goose
Chaffinch
Chiffchaff
Coal Tit
Curlew
Dipper
Dunnock
Fieldfare
Gadwall Duck
Goldcrest
Golden Plover
Goldfinch
Goosander
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Great Tit
Green Woodpecker
Greenfinch
Grey Heron
Grey Wagtail
Greylag Goose
Guinea Fowl
Herring Gull
House Sparrow
Jackdaw
Jay
Kestrel
Lapwing
Linnet
Little Owl
Long-Tailed Tit
Mallard Ducks
Meadow Pipit
Mistle Thrush
Northern Wheatear
Oystercatcher
Parakeet
Peacock
Pheasant
Pied Wagtail
Raven
Red Grouse
Redpoll
Redshank
Redwing
Reed Bunting
Ring Ouzel
Robin
Rook
Sandpiper
Short-Eared Owl
Siskin
Skylark
Snipe
Song Thrush
Starling
Swallow
Tawny Owl
Treecreeper
Tufted Duck
Willow Warbler
Wren
For up to date news about sightings by keen local birdwatchers, visit Calderdale Birds
Following a major renovation, Halifax’s magnificent 18th century cloth market – The Piece Hall– reopened in 2017. Originally built in 1779 as a market hall for merchants selling hand-woven woollen and worsted cloth produced by independent yeoman clothiers from the surrounding area, this spectacular Grade I Listed building is an architectural masterpiece.
Constructed from fine-grained local sandstone with a stone slate roof, the Piece Hall is the most significant surviving monument to the domestic textile industry in Britain. The building takes its name from the 30 yard lengths of cloth, known as ‘pieces’, which were the mainstay of its trade, along with raw wool.
A large rectangular building housing 315 small rooms, the Piece Hall is believed to have been designed by Thomas Bradley, a Halifax architect and builder who was Surveyor for the Calder Navigation Company. Taking the form of a quadrangle, the Piece Hall has a large open square in the centre measuring approximately 110 yards by 91 yards. Constructed on a slope, the western side has a ground floor with one upper storey, while the east face is on three levels, with internal staircases at each corner.
Classical in style, the Piece Hall draws inspiration from Roman and Italian Renaissance buildings. The merchants’ rooms are set back behind elegant colonnades. The lower arcade has round-headed arches on square piers. The middle level has Rustic pillars with Tuscan capitals. The upper colonnade has circular Doric columns.
There are arched gateways on three sides of the building. The north gateway, which was originally the main entrance, has a pediment topped by a classical urn, and is inscribed ‘Opened January 1st 1779’. The west gateway has a classical cupola with a bell, surmounted by a Golden Fleece and a weather vane. The south gateway features elaborate multi-coloured cast iron gates dating from 1871.
Trading at the Piece Hall was strictly regulated and took place between 10 am and 12 noon each saturday morning. Originally cloth was transported to the Piece Hall by packhorses after being collected from farms and cottages on the surrounding uplands where it was made. The cloth was then distributed throughout Britain and Europe.
Following the Industrial Revolution, textile manufacturing processes were mechanised and production shifted to water- and steam-powered mills in the valleys. This radically altered the system of trade, as a result of which the Piece Hall rapidly became defunct. From the early 19th century onwards the building was used for a variety of additional purposes, including firework displays, religious sermons and political rallies. In 1867 the Piece Hall was transferred to the Halifax Corporation and from 1871 onwards it was used as a wholesale fish, fruit and market. This continued for the next 100 years.
By the early 1970s when the wholesale market ceased, the Piece Hall had fallen into disrepair and was threatened with demolition. Thankfully it was saved, however, and after being renovated, the building reopened in 1976 housing shops and an outdoor market.
Following another major restoration project grant-aided by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Piece Hall was given a new lease of life in 2017. Now managed by the Piece Hall Trust, it incorporates shops, galleries, cafes and bars, as well as displays about the history of this iconic building. A varied programme of outdoor events – from street theatre to art installations and concerts – is held in the repaved central square, a stunning public space.
Adjoining the Piece Hall is the newly-extended Square Chapel Arts Centre, a lively arts complex including a cinema, theatre and cafe bar. Housed in the historic Square Chapel, a red-brick Georgian chapel dating back to 1772, this is a key element in Halifax’s new Cultural Quarter, along with the new Central Library and Archive incorporating the spire of the 19th century Square Church. The library houses a Visitor Information Centre and provides direct access to the Piece Hall from Halifax railway station and neighbouring Eureka! The National Children’s Museum.
Fountains Abbey
