Roger Clarke's Tourist Tips

Model Villages - Other Places of Interest

If you've enjoyed Saltaire and want to continue the model village theme, here are a few ideas which you might like to consider:

THE MORAVIAN SETTLEMENT IN FULNECK
There is an older community at Fulneck, at Pudsey in Leeds. It is a Moravian settlement, founded in 1742.  It’s interesting to see the buildings and find out about its history. There’s a museum and a shop, but check beforehand for opening times, because the museum is not open every day.If you are interested in graveyards, it’s instructive to see how all the gravestones in Fulneck are the same size, and all lie flat on the ground, reflecting Moravian belief that in the eyes of God we are all equal. In contrast to this, combine this visit with a trip to Undercliffe Cemetery in Bradford, where the wealth of Victorian Bradford is displayed. Graves and tombs compete with each other in their size, decoration, and grandeur. There’s no equality here! In addition, there’s the best panoramic view of Bradford from the end of the main drive. Free parking but no facilities.

GLASSHOUSES
At Glasshouses, near Pateley Bridge in Nidderdale, is another model village. Its centre was a flax mill built by the Metcalf family in 1835 – much smaller scale than Saltaire.  There’s a school, chapel and worker’s houses. The mill is now home to a business which produces fruit wines, and you can buy them from there. Combine this with a visit to Pateley Bridge, just 2 miles away, and to Brimham Rocks, amazingly sculpted by the wind. Here there’s a café and toilets. You can climb on the rocks, but take care!
Email: info@yorkshirecountrywines.co.uk

HALIFAX: COPLEY, AKROYDEN and WEST HILL PARK
In Halifax there are actually 3 model villages, which receive surprisingly little publicity. Copley and Akroyden were built by Edward Akroyd, and West Hill Park built by the Crossley family. Akroyden is the most accessible, and in addition to a very imposing Square, around which worker’s houses are built, there’s also the Bankfield Museum. There’s a Heritage Trail, self guided walk around the area, with a booklet describing it to be purchased from the Museum. This is part of Calderdale Council.
Email: bankfield.museum@calderdale.gov.uk.