Determination

Saltaire Village, W Yorks.


She seems determined as she strides up the hill under one of four lions sculpted by Thomas Milnes. He was originally commissioned to create lions for the Nelson's Column site but the commission was suddenly taken out of his hands ( reason not known) and given to a Sir Edwin Landseer.

Sir Titus Salt saw the lion models in Milnes's London studio and had them sculpted at Pateley Bridge in Nidderdale and put in front of the Village School in Saltaire in 1869. (Saltaire is named after Titus Salt and the river Aire on which it stands). In two pairs, the lions represent Vigilence and Determination. Milnes's lions are regarded as being more lifelike, natural, characterful and expressive than Landseers.

I use the river Aire on my Blip name but I still need to save up a bit more before I can build my village - 'Davidaire'.