Katherine Street, Saltaire

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Katherine Street takes its name from the third of Sir Titus Salt’s daughters–in–law, the wife of his son Titus Jr. In fact her name was Catherine, as her birth certificate testifies, but the use of the letter “K” is found from the very early years of the street’s existence.  Catherine was the second daughter of Joseph Crossley, one of the three famous Crossley brothers of Halifax, who developed the family business of carpet production started by an earlier generation.

Following their marriage in 1866, and a period spent at Baildon Lodge, Catherine and Titus Jr set up home at Milner Field. It was under Catherine’s direction that much of the planning of the two Royal visits to Milner Field in the 1880s was done.

The unexpected death of Titus Jr in 1887 left Catherine (41) a widow. She continued to live at Milner Field for some years, playing her part in the local community (she opened Shipley’s Crowghyll Park in 1890), before selling the estate to James Roberts in 1903. Catherine’s later years were spent first at Denton Hall, Ben Rhydding, and then at Thorp Arch, near Wetherby. She eventually died, aged 84, in a Harrogate nursing home, in 1930. After cremation her ashes were interred in the family mausoleum in Saltaire.

Many records from Catherine’s days at Milner Field have been preserved, and are accessible in Shipley College’s archives. Much of the grandeur and style which Catherine and Titus Jr brought to the mansion are reflected in items of family furniture on display at Lotherton Hall, 13 miles NE of Leeds.

© Barlo & Shaw