SALTAIREUNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE

SALTAIRE 

We're located in Saltaire, a picturesque village built by Victorian mill owner Sir Titus Salt in the 1800s and a popular tourist destination today.

It was described as “an outstanding and well preserved example of a mid 19th century industrial town” by UNESCO when they awarded Saltaire World Heritage status in 2001 - giving it the same status as Stonehenge or the Taj Mahal.

It really is a model village, and it’s no surprise that Saltaire is also a star of TV and films - it has appeared in Peaky Blinders, Gentleman Jack, The Railway Children Return, The English Game and An Inspector Calls, to name a few!

Just a short walk through the village from our campus is Roberts Park, the River Aire and the Leeds to Liverpool Canal - Saltaire is a beautiful place to be!



The Saltaire Collection, which holds 6,000+ historical items, began to accumulate from 1986, initially through donations from prior Salts Mill workers and residents of Saltaire who gifted many items that help to tell
the unique story of the World Heritage Site. It has a wealth of information for researchers, schools or anyone who would just like to know more about Saltaire

The time period covered is from the origins of Saltaire in the 1850s, with plans for building the village, to the present day. It covers all aspects of work and living in the village, its surrounding area, and its international connections, told through a variety of documents, maps, plans, art, research papers, textile samples and objects some of which belonged to the Salt family and the Salt's immediate successor, Sir James Roberts. To explore the collection for yourself please take a look at our online catalogue and online exhibitions.

Saltaire World Heritage site welcomes thousands of visitors each year, information is also available from Bradford Tourist Information Centre, Victoria Hall or you can download trails before your visit. Public exhibitions are held as often as possible, and SWHEA have developed permanent exhibition panels in each college building to chart the histories of each building.From September 2023 until late 2024/early 2025, the collection is closed to visitors as all its items are prepared for a move.

The Collection offers a wide range of subjects for schools, resources are available on our website, and SWHEA'S trustees and volunteers are working more closely with the staff of Shipley College to use the collection as a resource for students.

There is an exciting plan to move into a new building with a more accessible heritage hub and permanent displays for visitors by 2024/2025.

– The Saltaire Collection, 2023