The Village
Saltaire is named for philanthropist Sir Titus Salt and the River Aire, which flows between the village and Roberts Park. Salt had the village built in the1850s as housing for workers in his enormous new textile mill (still known as Salts Mill). This was a revolutionary development at a time when nearby cities of Bradford, Leeds and Manchester had people crammed into slums. His model village became a landmark across the world, and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Architecture
Salt admired 15th century Italian architecture, so chose that style when commissioning ‘a centre for recreation, culture and learning’ for local people. The building now known as Victoria Hall was designed by architects Lockwood and Mawson, and its doors first opened in 1871. A reception marking its150th anniversary was held in 2022 to thank all the people whose work helps to keep the doors open.
The Lions outside Victoria Hall (and the Salt Building opposite, part of Shipley College) have stories to tell too. They were designed by sculptor Thomas Milnes of London, and were – apparently – originally destined for the bottom of Nelson’s column in Trafalgar Square in London. Local legend has it that the lions clamber down to the River Aire after dark each night to drink, before returning the next morning. We’ve tried to catch them, but they’re pretty sneaky for such big lions.
Victoria Hall (then)
Billiards, Bagatelle and Fencing, oh my!
When it opened, Victoria Hall housed a library, gymnasium and rifle drill-room, fencing room, armoury, chess room, laboratory and lecture theatre, bagatelle and billiards room, a school of art, and a large dance hall with a fully sprung floor. It was perfectly suited to a huge variety of events, and we still are today, hosting weddings, meetings, exhibitions, festivals, concerts and lavish balls.
Famous Faces
Sir Titus Salt hosted an impressive array of speakers such as historian John Ruskin, Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli and the great explorer David Livingstone. Charles Dickens was booked to speak shortly before his unexpected death in 1870. To this day the venue still attracts visitors from across the globe. It has also been used as a filming location, including for celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal’s Great British Food series.
Victoria Hall (now)
We’re a small but perfectly formed team, passionate about delivering great customer service and looking after this beautiful venue to pass on to the next generation to do the same thing.
Our team and the Salt Foundation trustees believe in looking after this gorgeous old lady of a venue for future generations.
She has seen so many stories over the years! We’re delighted to do our bit in helping to add new stories to that history and ensuring her longterm success.
We believe in really looking after our clients. The buzz we get when we see your event going well, introduce a visitor to the building’s history, or see the joy in a couple’s eyes when they’ve just got married here - you can’t beat it
We believe in our community: our fabulous, creative and varied Saltaire, but also the whole of Yorkshire. We’re immensely proud of our corner of the world, our clients and fantastic recommended suppliers!
We’re proud to be home to Yorkshire’s finest Wurlitzer Cinema Organ, managed by the Cinema Organ Society.
The Wurlitzer is beneath the Main Hall stage, with an array of beautiful pipework permanently sited under the stage, and the console rising on a hydraulic lift for performances and concerts.
It has been used to welcome wedding couples and Company Directors into events in spectacular fashion (arrival by Wurlitzer).
The Cinema Organ Society’s Northern Wurlitzer was built in 1937 and installed that year in the Gaumont Cinema, Oldham. Since leaving there in 1961 it has had three other homes before arriving at Victoria Hall and having its first concert here in 2009.
The Cinema Organ Society promote regular theatre organ concerts and dances by top British and international artists, as well as by younger up-and-coming players. In addition to regular monthly events, the Wurlitzer is played several times a month by members of the society.
Why not pop in to see the Wurlitzer in action? You might even catch the console rising up to the stage.Small groups can be given a tour down to the heart of the organ, to view all the pipes, drums, cymbals and the mechanisms that make up the instrument.
You can find further information on the Cinema Organ Society North and their events on their website.
