Personal stories of life in Saltaire
The Saltaire Collection has a small but important group of stories of living and working in Saltaire told by the individuals themselves.
Some of these stories are personal memoirs, others have been collected and faithfully recorded by Collection volunteers. Although the historical accuracy of some of the accounts can be questioned, they are true to how people remember their times in Saltaire. The stories provide a fascinating personal insight into the story of Saltaire from the late nineteenth century through the twentieth century.
Living in Saltaire
Clara came to live in Saltaire in 1894 when her father started to work at Salts Mill. Her account is rich in detail of living in a typical Saltaire terraced house
Born in 1922, Jack has vivid memories of growing up in Saltaire, including the arrival of new 'Tipler toilets', being isolated in hospital because of an epidemic, and the deafening noise in Salts Mill where his relatives worked
Audrey was born in 1926 and has many stories of playing on the streets of Saltaire, going to school, visiting Saltaire hospital, seeing a Royal visit in the 1930s, and of a curious lodger who was a famous West Indian cricketer
Working in Salts Mill
Frank started work at Salts Mill in 1933. He served in the army during World War Two, and returned to the Mill to finally retire in 1983 just a few years before it closed
Donald's grandfather worked in Salts Mill and knew Titus Salt. Donald was the last Managing Director before the turbulent closure of Salts Mill
Migrating to find work
At the start of World War Two, Feliks started an extraordinary journey from his native Poland to Russia, Iran, military service in Egypt and Italy, and after the war to East Anglia and finally Saltaire
Sisters Dora and Margherita Mackin and Velia Campbell (all nee Ricciardo) were born in Italy but travelled to Britain in the 1950s to work in the textile industry
Theresa travelled from Austria to Saltaire in the late 1940s to work in Salts Mill
Mohammed Aziz came to Britain from Pakistan in the 1950s to work in the textile industry, including time as an overlooker in Salts Mill just before it closed
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