Richard Lee Van Den Daele

An interesting, well-researched history of Milner Field, Baildon, one of the many 'brass castles' built by wealthy Victorian industrialists but lost to the community a century later. Titus Salt Jnr's father built the West Yorkshire mill village of Saltaire, now a world heritage site, but his sons could afford to commission and fund magnificent country houses like Milner Field, The Knoll and Ferniehurst. Titus Jnr. was a hardworking man, who enjoyed gardening and woodwork, but preferred to keep busy - unfortunately for his beautiful wife Catherine and their children, Titus died relatively young, aged forty-four, in the billiard room of his grand home. Catherine eventually had to let Milner Field go, and other families took over, but the new owners always seemed dogged by tragedy.

I could be biased, but I found this a fascinating account of a house, a family and the Industrial heyday of the north. Illustrated with many jaw-dropping photographs of the house and its oppulent interior - contrasted with images of ruined masonry and overgrown grounds - Richard Lee-Van den Daele's history of Milner Field is a poignant look at the gilded past. Locals and country-house enthusiasts alike will love this brief but detailed account of a mill owner's mansion.… (altro)