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Albert Road, Saltaire
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Albert Road was named after Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert.
Albert (1819-1861) was the younger son of Ernst, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Born at Schloss Rosenau, he was educated in Brussels and Bonn, and in 1839 was introduced to the young Queen Victoria (his cousin) in a visit to London. The couple subsequently married, in February 1840.
Prince Albert took an active interest in the arts, science, trade and industry, doing so at a time when Britain’s imperial power was in the ascendancy. The venture for which he is best remembered was the Great Exhibition of 1851.
To fully appreciate the marking of respect for the Royal family, it is worth understanding the close links that Saltaire’s founder had with Albert’s brainchild, the Great Exhibition. At this time Titus Salt, as well as operating his several mills in Bradford and having embarked on the construction of Salts Mill, was also heavily involved in exhibiting his products at the Great Exhibition. With the latter’s closure at the end of 1851, its glass buildings were put up for sale, and Salt even considered purchasing part of the structure as a weaving shed, but inspection found it unsuitable.
Albert Road, completed in 1868, marks the township’s western boundary, and consists of 39 rather grand executive and ‘improved overlooker’ houses. No.1 Albert Road – the largest house in the village – had, in 1870, an estimated annual rent of £18.
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