Victoria Square

In the second half of the 19th century Titus Salt famously built Saltaire. Not personally of course, in fact I doubt he even picked up a shovel. He created a model village consisting the mill, homes, shops, bath-houses, a school, hospital and church. He also saw fit to include a Club and Institute, the building that we call Victoria Hall today. It was completed in 1871 and housed a library, reading room, chess and draughts room, a smoking room, billiards room, lecture theatre, concert hall, rifle range and a gym. As Titus Junior said, it should supply all the advantages of a public house without its evils. 

The space outside the hall was known as Victoria Square and marked at each corner by the four lions, War, Peace, Vigilance and Determination. The square itself has been long forgotten, busy traffic on Victoria Road has made sure of that - until now. 

Bradford Council has recently completed work along Victoria Road including the restoration of the square as a cobbled area outside the hall. It's a great addition to Saltaire and a perfect place to start walking A Dales High Way. Start your walk with Determination and finish at Peace.