Discovering the Past

Our WI walk took us in a new direction today and we went to seek out the ruins of Milner Field, the house commissioned by Titus Salt Jr and build in 1869. Milner Field was a large mansion set within its own parkland grounds on the northern slope of the Aire valley one mile to the north west of the Salts Mill. Although Titus Jnr had only enjoyed the house for 18 years it is perhaps better that he did not live to see its fate.

The once grand property was now used as a source of spare roofing and building materials for the mill during the first and second world wars. In the 1950s an attempt was made to flatten the house by dynamite. This failed, a testament to the quality of the original builders. It was subsequently razed to the ground by demolition gangs.

The mosaic tiles seen on the picture were once part of the conservatory. These and a few piles of rubble are all that remain of the house now and nature is reclaiming the land.

Our walk continued back down to the canal and then on to the Five Rise Café for brunch.