Saltaire Collection

Items

• 2022.89: A madcap schoolgirl

  A hard backed novel by Alys Chatwin. Bookplate in the inside front page states the book was presented to Doris Milner in 1927 as a prize for good attendance at the Sunday School, Saltaire Congregational Church during 1926-1927.
• 2022.90: The taming of Teresa

  A hard backed novel by Margaret C. Field. Bookplate in the inside front page states the book was presented to Doris Milner in 1929 as a prize for regular attendance at the Sunday School, Saltaire Congregational Church during 1929.
• D4-098: Attendance certificate

  First prize attendance certificate for Stanley Chew at Saltaire Congregational Church Sunday School 1926
• D4-015: 'The Sentinal' No.2 (1917)

  Original copy of 'The Sentinal' No.2 (1917) [Sunday School newsletter ?]
• E1b-010a: School counting class in Albert Road School, 1925

  Photograph of a school shopping (or counting) class in Albert Road School, Saltaire in 1925. The photograph is taken from the back of the classroom. It shows a class of 22 girls looking towards the front of the class where a girl is standing in front of a table. The table has several sets of grocery items arranged in stacks. The girl is presumably counting the objects. A teacher stands at the side of the class next to a blackboard where she has written the results of the counting.
• Byles, Harriet

  Harriet Byles (1853–1937) was a prominent progressive educator who served as the second and longest-serving headmistress of the Salt Girls' High School in Saltaire. Appointed in 1886 as the successor to [Medina Griffiths](https://www.saltairecollection.org/story-of-saltaire/biographies/medina-griffiths/), she led the school for 34 years until her retirement in 1920. Background and Appointment - Family: She was born into a prominent non-conformist, Liberal-supporting family in Bradford; her father, William Byles, was the proprietor and editor of the *Bradford Observer*. - Early Career: She taught at the Salt Girls' High School under Medina Griffiths before being promoted to headmistress in 1886. Leadership and School Expansion Under Byles' leadership, the school underwent significant growth and modernization: - Physical Expansion: In 1906, due to an increase in student numbers (partly from absorbing a local pupil teacher centre), the school premises were expanded with a second storey, adding three classrooms, a laboratory, and a domestic science room. - Increased Access: In the early years, the school received no government funding, making it difficult for poorer students to attend. Byles successfully obtained scholarships from the West Riding County Council, which allowed more girls from disadvantaged backgrounds to enroll. - University Progression: A considerable number of her students progressed to higher education, particularly the University of Leeds. Educational Philosophy Byles was known for an inclusive and trust-based approach to education: - Individual Potential: She believed in ensuring every girl achieved her full potential, regardless of her future path. She famously supported the view that schools should not just focus on 'clever' students to win successes while neglecting the 'rank and file'. - Corporate Responsibility: She fostered a strong spirit of comradeship and provided students with 'liberty combined with trust,' which she believed developed a high sense of individual and social responsibility. - Successful Alumni: Her students went on to achieve high-ranking positions, including Edith Dolby (headteacher of Bedford Girls Modern School), Dr. Hilda Byles (head of the Women's Hospital in Hankow), and others who became factory inspectors, medical missionaries, and secretaries to the League of Nations. Retirement and Legacy - Parting Gift: Upon her retirement in 1920, her colleagues presented her with a pony and trap, which she used to travel around her new home in the village of Austwick. - Historical Record: In retirement, she wrote a written reminiscence and an account of her time at the school, which the Saltaire Collection identifies as an invaluable source for understanding the history of education during that period. The Saltaire Collection preserves several items related to her tenure, including her letter of thanks for her retirement gift and copies of her school history.
• Salt High School

  The Salt High School opened in 1876. Initially it occupied temporary accommodation, mainly in the Saltaire Club and Institute. In 1878 it moved into the building on Victoria Road that had originally been built to house the Factory School for Salts Mill. The High School was open to both boys and girls although they were educated separately. The High School eventually moved to a new site on the far side of Roberts Park. Today the original buildingis part of Shipley College, a further education institution.
• C2a-131a: School magazine

  'Quid Non' - The school magazine of Salt Grammar School No.31 Summer 1963
• E1a-011.1: Music from Albert Road J M School 1969

  2 A vinyl record (10 inch diameter, 33rpm) of songs and music made by Albert Road (Junior Mixed) school children in 1969. Includes tracks by junior and seniot recorders groups, junior and senior choirs (sometimes with staff). Tracks: Side 1 Track 1. Staff and choir: Where the gentle Avon flows (Binge/Halsall) Side 1 Track 2. Junior choir: Andulko (Czech Traditional. Arranged Whitred)) Side 1 Track 3. Junior choir: Tik-tak (Czech Traditional. Arranged Whitred) Side 1 Track 4. Junior recorders and junior choir: All through the night (Welsh Traditional. Arranged Atkinson) Side 1 Track 5. Junior recorders: L'amour c'est bleu (Popp. Arranged Lloyd) Side 1 Track 6. Junior recorders: Yesterday (Lennon and McCartney. Arranged Lloyd) Side 1 Track 7. Junior recorders and junior choir: Skye boat song (Traditional. Arranged Lloyd) Side 2 Track 1. Senior recorder group: Minuet (Eine Kleine Nacht music. Mozart. Arranged Naylor) Side 2 Track 2. Staff and choir: Lead me Lord (Wesley) Side 2 Track 3. Senior choir: Pearly Adriatic (Yugoslav Traditional. Arranged Williams) Side 2 Track 4. Senior choir and recorders: English country garden (Chappell) Side 2 Track 5. Senior recorders: Trio from Symphony Number Two (Schubert. Arranged Benoy) Side 2 Track 6. Senior recorders: Lightly tread (Scotland. Arranged Benoy) Side 2 Track 7. Choir and staff: All in the April evening (Roberton/Tynan)
• E1a-028: School Certificate

  University of Oxford School certificate for Arthur Harry Firth of the Salts School
• 2026.5: 1872 When samurai came to Saltaire

  A PowerPoint presentation of 46 slides used to support a talk given by local historian Les Brook to the Saltaire History Club about the visit to Saltaire in 1872 by the Iwakura Embassy. The Iwakura Embassy was a global mission by high-ranking officials from Japan to industrialised countries to obtain information helpful in the modernisation of Japan. The talk deals with the background of the mission and then describes their visit to Britain, including Bradford and the surrounding distict in late October 1872. They came to Saltaire on 25 October and the talk describes their being met by Titus Salt Junior and company director Charles Stead, and their tour of the village including the High School, primary school, almshouses, and park.
• Griffiths, Medina

  Medina Griffiths (1840–1927) was an outstanding and progressive educator who served as the first headmistress of the Salt Girls' High School in Saltaire. Appointed in 1876, she was known for her 'outstanding character and ability' and her commitment to providing girls with an education equal to that of boys. Early Life and Background Born in Wales in 1840, Medina was the daughter of a Congregational minister. Before moving to Saltaire, she taught at a school near Cardiff. Leadership at Salt Girls' High School Medina Griffiths led the school during its formative years: - Establishment: The girls' school opened in 1876, initially sharing a building on Victoria Road with the Factory School before the younger children moved to a new site on Albert Road in 1878. - Broad Curriculum: She introduced a wide range of subjects, including Latin, Greek, French, mathematics, drama, art, and music. - University Aspirations: She actively encouraged her students to remain in education and pursue university degrees, which many did. - Succession: She remained headmistress until 1886, when she was succeeded by Harriet Byles, who had previously taught under her. Educational Philosophy and Teaching Style Griffiths was considered an inspirational and enlightened teacher with several unique approaches to education and discipline: - Equality for Girls: She famously stated, 'I would have girls placed on an equality with boys so far as educational advantages are concerned…I would have girls stand in the foremost rank'. - Holistic Learning: She believed lessons in 'patience, unselfishness, self-control and attention to detail' could be learned as effectively through well-directed plays as through traditional schoolwork. - Approach to Discipline: She set a rule that girls should have no more than one hour of homework per day, believing that five hours of work during the school day was sufficient. - Student Relationships: She was known to be witty and musical, often reading to students during mealtimes. On her birthdays, she entertained students at her home, where each girl brought a gift of toys or clothing to be donated to charity. The Saltaire Collection preserves records of her tenure, including school certificates bearing her signature and that of Titus Salt Junior.
• Technical and Art School

  After Saltaire had been built, additional school places were required. A School of Art and Science was built at the edge of the village was completed in 1887. It became the Technical School, and contained a School of Art. Later known as the Institute of Technical Education and is now part of Shipley College.
• Salt Grammar School

  The successor school to the Salt High Schools following the education reforms of 1944. It subsequently became the comprehensive Sir Titus Salt school and is now located just outside Saltaire on the north side of Roberts Park.
• E1a-011.2: Sleeve of vinyl record made by Salt School children

  Photocopy of record sleeve from a record made by Albert Road School children
• E1a-016b: The Story of the Salts Girls School for Fifty Years: Reminiscences of Harriet Byles, Headmistress 1886-1920

  Harriet Byles's reminiscences of working at the Salt High School for Girls from the 1870s until retitement in 1920. Byles started as a teacher when the first headmistress was Medina Griffiths. Byles became the second headmistress in 1886 and continued a programme of progressive, wide education for her students.
• E2b-026b: Shipley Technical School viewed from Caroline Street

  Photograph of Shipley Technical School on Exhibition Road in Saltaire taken from nearby Caroline Street. The image appears in the Technical School prospectus for 1919-1920. The Technical School was originally named the School of Art and Science. It is now part of Shipley College.
• 2022.51: The history of Pace

  The story of Pace Microtechnology from its foundation in the early 1980s to its acqusition by Arris in the 2010s. Based on original research by Mike Farren, including extensive interviews with the founders David Hood and Barry Rubery and key manager Rob Fleming.
• 2018.49: The History of the Mill Hill School Foundation 1807-2007

  The History of the Mill Hill School Foundation 1807-2007 by Roderick Braithwaite. Titus Salt Junior attended this school for two years up to 1855. His brothers William Henry, George, Edward and Herbert also attended. The School was an independent school in London set up to provide education to the dissenting (non-Church of England) familes and so was suitable for the Congregtationalist Salt family. This book is a history of the school written by the school's archivist.
• E1a-021a: Salts School certificate

  Copy of a 'Salts School certificate' for Ada Fox on leaving the Salts School, Shipley in 1879. There are drawings of the Institute and the main Salt Schools building on Victoria Road. The certificate is signed by Medina Griffiths (headmistress of Salt High School for Girls) and Titus Salt Junior (chairman of the board of governors).