April Inspiration
The Yorkshire Post & Vintage News
I’ve just returned from the beautiful English county of Yorkshire and couldn’t resist coming back without a few antique finds and traditional Yorkshire treats. So for this post I’ve written about my visit to the Victorian village of Saltaire and David Hockney galleries as well as vintage inspiration and events to look out for this month. Welcome to Love Vintage Etc.
A visit to Saltaire
Last week I visited Saltaire, one of Yorkshire’s prettiest villages and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. I’d wanted to see the David Hockney 1853 Gallery at Saltaire Mill for some time but hadn’t realised how much else there was to discover of “Bradford’s suburban jewel.”*
The preserved Victorian village and textile mill was originally built by philanthropic Sir Titus Salt in the 1850s. The architect designed, Italianate style mill is an imposing 545 feet long (166 metres), the same length apparently as London’s St Paul’s Cathedral and reaches 6 storeys high with lofty views towards rural west Yorkshire.
Saltaire village surrounds the mill but don’t be fooled by its charming workers’ cottages and ornate stone fronted houses - this isn’t a chocolate-boxy museum piece. The houses are all lived in and there are plenty of cafes, a deli, music school, an antiques centre and the popular Salts Village Bakery for delicious Yorkshire curd tarts.
Saltaire Mill
The ground floor is home to the 1853 Gallery and the world’s largest permanent display of David Hockney artworks. The Bradford born artist’s work includes his large scale iPad drawings, paintings from A Bigger Splash swimming pool series and watercolours Midsummer: East Yorkshire depicting hedgerows, combine harvesters and verdant fields. Large scale portraits from Hockney’s computer drawn series are also on permanent display as well as ceramics, paintings of Celia Birtwell and a red Cubist post box designed by the artist.
Take the lift or walk up the original factory stairs for more of Hockney’s work on the third floor including Bigger Pictures, 20 Flowers For 2025 and murals.
Salts Mill Restaurants, Cafes & Antiques Centre
Salts Diner, a bustling and spacious bistro style restaurant located on the second floor serves lunch, homemade pizzas and more. There’s also the Espresso Bar if you’re in need of a caffeine pit-stop.
Cafe in to the Opera, on the third floor, features David Hockney's Punchinello mural with many other original works specially painted for the cafe by the artist. Stop for a delicious brunch, sandwiches and salads, cake, tea and coffee. For the restaurant and cafe opening times check the website for details.
Carlton Fine Art & Antiques Centre, on the third floor, is a treasure trove of vintage and decorative antiques at reasonable prices. Collections from over forty dealers range from Early Victorian to mid-century and much more in between including vintage clothes, jewellery, furniture, prints, ceramics and glassware.
Getting there: trains to Saltaire run from Leeds, Bradford and Skipton. By car: Saltaire is just four miles north of Bradford, 15 minutes from the M606. Free parking is available. Entry to the mill is free, there’s no need to pre-book. Visit the website for more details and opening times.
Salts Mill, Victoria Road, Saltaire, West Yorkshire, BD18 3LA.
*The Telegraph: voted one of Britain’s 30 greatest villages.
More to See…
Bradford is the UK City of Culture for 2025. If you’re heading to Yorkshire this year check their website for a year full of cultural events, programmes and festivals.
Want to read more about Yorkshire and the Brontë Country?…
February Edition: A Visit to Brontë Country
Hello and welcome to the February newsletter. For this month’s edition I travelled north to Brontë Country and the Yorkshire village of Haworth. And from Sloane Square to Sheffield to talk cutlery and craft in an exclusive interview with designer Corin Mellor.
On my radar this week
John Derian’s new collection of antique Ottoman carpets and custom made cushions, crafted from carpet fabric, caught my eye this week. Derian has a fantastic eye for style when it comes to putting stock together for his New York shop, image below. Vintage and repurposed pieces play a large part in the collections and these antique rugs and ottomans on castors will add warmth and colour to any room.
Calling all foodies
Celebrating the brightest ideas and voices in food and hospitality, Food Season returns to the British Library with a series of in-person and online events and includes some of the most influential names in food and drink culture, history, politics, literature and science. The 2025 season also recognises food heroes and the value of narrative cookery writing and storytelling through archives, museums and exhibitions. Join panel speakers including Olia Hercules, Jeremey Lee, Jimi Famurewa and Pru Leith to name just a few food and cookery experts. Visit the British Library website for details.
Book of the week
I’ve just finished reading Orbital by Samantha Harvey (the Booker prize winning novel, 2024) which I enjoyed for its descriptions of views of the earth from space and the thoughts and daily lives of the six astronauts on board an International Space Station. Has anyone else read it, what are your thoughts on space travel?
Leigh Bowery at Tate Modern
I caught up with friends this week at Tate Modern’s newest show: Leigh Bowery! Bowery (1961-1994) was an artist, performer, model, TV personality, club promoter, fashion designer, musician and artist’s muse - all the while refusing to be limited by convention.
From his emergence in the nightclubs of the 1980s, club promoter at London’s famous venue Taboo, to his daring no holds barred performances in galleries and theatres, Bowery always followed his own creative path. His influence is wide reaching from the likes of Lady Gaga to Alexander McQueen and the artist Lucian Freud. The exhibition is not only a tribute to Bowery and his wide circle of creative friends it looks at his ability to challenge the norms of aesthetics, sexuality and gender. Until 31 August 2025. Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG.
Thank you so much for reading, it’s always great to see you here and your support means a great deal. I’ll leave you with these spring table ideas and an image snapped in Yorkshire of the allotments and cutting gardens at the back of my sister’s house. Wishing you a very happy Easter weekend, love Michelle x
….And finally our week long pop-up vintage shop opens on 29th April. Don’t worry if you can’t visit in person - we can ship most pieces worldwide. Details below.
