The Dining Hall in World Heritage Saltaire

Celebrate Saltaire World Heritage Site's 20th anniversary with a tour of the Dining Hall

Today, the Dining Hall has become Shipley College's 'Mill Building' but it retains many original features and has a terrific story to tell. And don't be deceived: it looks small but it isn't!

When it was completed in 1855, with a tunnel from Salts Mill for the workers, local journalists thought it had been a mistake on Titus Salt's part as workers of the time preferred bringing food from home.

Saltaire's fine public buildings were yet to be built so, for many years, the Hall was used as a school for ‘half-timers’: mill workers in the morning, schoolchildren in the afternoon, and vice versa. It also served as a meeting place, library, reading room, a venue for religious services and numerous social events and political debates. As Saltaire grew, many of these functions were provided by the purpose-built Salt Schools, the Saltaire Club and Institute (Victoria Hall) , the Congregational Church and Methodist Chapel.

After changes to the building at the end of the 19th century, the Hall’s new upper floor continued to provide social space for everything from boxing tournaments to flannel dances, and a buffet for the adjoining railway.

This event is part of the 20th anniversary celebrations for UNESCO's recognition of Saltaire as a World Heritage Site. It is also part of Heritage Open Days - and the Saltaire Festival, so why not make a day of it!

Find Festival events at https://saltairefestival.co.uk/events

IMPORTANT VISITOR ADVICE

COVID-CAUTIOUS RULES on masks and distancing will be followed. To ensure your safety, only 12 tickets will be issued for each 1 hour tour.

The event runs for 2 days:

Saturday 11 September and Sunday 12 September 2021

The first tour each day will be 10.00 (check in 09.50) and the final one, 16.00 (check in 15.50)

TO GUARANTEE A PLACE, EVENTBRITE REGISTRATION IS ESSENTIAL

And you must CHECK IN  10 minutes before your tour starts - Covid-cautious rules ready please!

FAQs

How do I get to Saltaire and the Dining Hall?

Saltaire is 4 miles north of Bradford, 20 minutes from the M606 and the motorway network. Follow the brown road signs to Salts Mill from the motorway. The Dining Hall (now the Mill Building) is on Victoria Road next to the Saltaire rail station. It's 20 minutes from Leeds or Bradford.

The address of the Dining Hall is Victoria Road, Saltaire BD18 3LA but if you are driving, put BD17 7EF into your satnav to go to Salts Mill's very big FREE car park. When your satnav says you've reached your destination, keep going along Salts Mill Road following the brown signs - you'll pass a big red brick chimney on your left as you cross the canal and pass The Waterfront, an office building, on your right. Then you'll see the mill in front of you at the end of the road. Proceed through the gate into the FREE Salts Mill visitors car park which is on the right.

Next, walk parallel to the railway, into and through the mill grounds until you reach Victoria Road where it crosses the railway. Walk on to Victoria Road itself. The Dining Hall (now the Mill Building) is on the other side of the road by the entrance to the railway platform.

You may find the map below helpful. The venue is 5, marked with a yellow star.

What about people with disabilities?

We welcome folk with disabilities and because we're restricting ticket numbers, we're confident we'll be able to address a wide range of issues. Email the organisers if you want advice.

Part of the tour is up a number of steps but there is a (slow) lift.

Disabled and coming by car? Put BD17 7EF into your satnav. Follow the BD17 7EF directions above but don’t park in the very big car park. Instead, pass the 'Visitors Parking' sign and continue past the mill chimney. You will see a glass canopy with disabled parking spaces close by. You are now very close to the event venue.

Next, go parallel to the railway until you reach Victoria Road where it crosses the railway. Walk on to Victoria Road itself. The Dining Hall (now the Mill Building) is on the other side of the road by the entrance to the railway platform.

Are there ID or minimum age requirements to enter the event?

No.

Children are welcome if supervised by a responsible adult.

Who's responsible for this event?

The Dining Hall in World Heritage Saltaire is a collaboration between the Saltaire Collection and Saltaire History Club . We're pleased to acknowledge financial support from Shipley Town Council.