Haworth Church - Main Street Haworth

Haworth is a village of northern England not far from Bradford. The Brontë sisters (famous today as writers) Charlotte, Emily, and Anne lived with their father and brother in the parsonage, which now houses a library and museum devoted to family memorabilia.

The church shown above St Michael's and All Angels' Church is at the heart of Haworth village. Patrick Brontë father of the Brontë sisters became curate of this church in 1820 and the family lived in the now famous parsonage.

Endangered - Traffic Warden - Skipton, North Yorkshire

I was in Skipton this week and chatted to the lady who features in my photo posted today. I asked if I could take her photo and as you can see she said yes.

Turns out she and a colleague based in Ripon are the last 2 traffic wardens in North Yorkshire. Now I know why I never see them on the streets any more.

Bentley Convertible - Unusual Taxi - Shipley

I spotted this Bentley convertible parked in Shipley on Kirkgate, it was parked in a Taxi only bay. I guess either it is a very upmarket taxi service or most likely they are indifferent to any fine they might get for illegal parking.

Parish Church of Saint Peter-at-Leeds - Cafe Create

Todays photo is of the cafe inside Leeds Parish Church in the centre of Leeds. If you are visiting Leeds and want to eat somewhere unusual and inexpensive I would recommend this cafe.

The cafe is a project by Café Create part of St. George’s Crypt Create which is a Community Interest Company that provides the link between homelessness and joblessness, re-integrating ex rough sleepers back into the community and getting them back to work by offering skills training, work experience and employment opportunities.

Radley The Dog

Some of you may recognise this dog as being from a Radley hand bag. One of my good friends was bought a Radley bag for a present, a short while later she discovered that the dog had gone AWOL. She was determined that she must get the dog back, several calls to Radley later, she now has 2 different coloured dogs, but still not the correct one. Personally I really do not get the minor colouration problem, but then it is not my bag.

Martins Bank - Eastgate, Leeds

The above sculpture can be seen on the wall outside the Barclays bank branch on Eastgate in Leeds city centre. It belongs to a time before 1969 when Martins bank was taken over by Barclays bank. The symbol of the grasshopper was used by Martins bank from its earliest days and is said to come from the family crest of Sir Thomas Gresham.

It holds significance for me because as a boy I had an account with Martins and was given a grasshopper moneybox. I was very upset to learn of the banks demise and no I did not want an account with Barclays!

In early episodes of the BBC comedy serial Dad's Army, Captain Mainwaring, Sergeant Wilson and young Pike work at the Walmington-on-Sea branch of Martins Bank. In later episodes, this was changed to the fictional Swallow Bank. However, in the film version (1971), the cast are seen working in a branch of Martins Bank

Lloyds Black Horse Sculpture - Park Row, Leeds

The photo today is of a sculpture of the Lloyds bank black horse outside Lloyds TSB offices on Park Row in the centre of Leeds. This is perhaps the best known piece of commercial art in Leeds, I think almost everyone in Leeds would know where in the city centre it was.

Shared Earth Shop - Woodhouse Lane, Leeds

My post today is unusual, I try to avoid photographs of the chain stores found in any high street. I am sure they all in some way have merit, I personally try to give my business where I can to small enterprise. I feel it is no good us bemoaning the look of our towns and cities, action is the only answer.

When I took the above photo of the shop Shared Earth on Woodhouse Lane in Leeds, I thought it was the only one. I was wrong, on further look there are 7 more across England and one in Cardiff, Wales. Not that any of this matters, Shared Earth is the kind of store I would be happy to deal with.

Its policy is to provide quality, design-led products, not just to those who are already aware of Fair Trade principles. With Fair Trade sales showing no sign of slowing, more and more employment is being provided for artisans in developing countries, many of who would otherwise be out of work. At a time when global conflict seems also on the increase, Shared Earth's partnerships with producers are an invaluable way of building bridges, showing that people can work together for mutual benefit, no matter what their race, religion or culture.

Patisserie Forty 4 The Calls, Leeds

I was strolling along The Calls down towards the Armouries, away from Leeds city centre, when I saw a smart cake shop. The above photo is of a decoration Carol had just made for a cake for the going away party for a member of the cast of a well known TV show based in Yorkshire.

Below you can see Carol in her shop, on the rear door there is a poster of Donny Osmond in a very loud tartan outfit that Carol saved from Jackie magazine some years back. The patisserie is located at 44 The Calls, Leeds.



A few doors away from the patisserie is the Leeds Design Innovation Centre art gallery.

St John the Evangelist Church - New Briggate Leeds

The above photo is of St John the Evangelist church in the very heart of Leeds city centre. Many people would not realise this church is here, it is very much overshadowed by a large shopping centre.

St John’s church was built in 1632-34 and is the oldest church in Leeds city centre. The main access to Saint John's is on New Briggate, being just off the Headrow.

The day I took the photograph from the churchyard was very cold, icy and bleak. Oddly the only colour around the church was blossom on a few small trees and I took the photo below of this.



You can see a photograph of a sundial on the exterior of St Johns church, Briggate in Leeds here.

Leeds Train Station - Ticket Barrier

This photo of Leeds rail station is from the platform side of the barrier.

I commuted through here daily for many years. They installed an automatic ticket barrier some months ago, this being a new development at this train station. Whenever I go through the barrier there is usually someone struggling to get through it. I have my ticket ready and just sail on through.

Bike PCSO - Albion Place, Leeds

I was walking along Albion Place in the heart of Leeds when I saw these 2 on bikes.

I have no idea of their names, after I had approached them and asked if I could take the photo they agreed but then declined to be named. This I do not understand, my uncle Eric was a policeman, although in his day he would have been quite happy to say he was a copper, I know he would have been happy to have been named in a photo such as this.

Methodist Church - Oxford Place Centre, Leeds

Oxford Place Methodist Church is the home of the Leeds Methodist Mission and is the only church in the Leeds Mission Circuit and belongs to the Leeds District of the Methodist Church. The building in the heart of Leeds is next to the Town Hall.

In 1896 work began on the curent church shown above. The architects Danby and Thorpe of Leeds designed the present building with its cupola, campanile and Baroque façade.

Ice-Skating in Millenium Square, Leeds

Ice Cube Leeds is the largest outdoor ice-skating rink in the UK, with over 1200 square metres of ice. From Saturday 17th January – Sunday 8th March 2009 you can ice skate in Millenium Square, in the centre of Leeds.  

The building behind the skaters is The LGI (Leeds General Infirmary) and the building on the RH side with the columns is the civic hall.

Saint Valentine's Day 14 February - Dortmund Square , St John's Centre, Leeds

The photo above is of Caroline who works for the National Blood Service and today is signing up people to become blood donors in Leeds. In honour of Valentines Day in return you will get a flower. Caroline is stood in Dortmund Square in front of the St John's Centre in central Leeds.

Photograph of Leeds blood donor centre.





Ok, now we all know today is Saint Valentine's Day 14 February. Of the saint nothing is known but that he was buried on the Via Flaminia in Rome on the 14 February.

In the West we celebrate this day as Valentine's Day and it is a day for lovers to express their devotion with a gift of perhaps a card, flowers or some chocolates.

What I am really saying is, if you love someone, let them know.

This is my first attempt at art rather than straight photography. No photoshop.

Leeds Railway Station

This is the view on leaving the main exit from Leeds rail station, looking towards City Square. On the left you can see the back of The Queens Hotel, the entrance of which is on city square. The tall white and grey building is The Park Plaza Hotel, also in City Square.

Bon Bon's - Thorntons Arcade Leeds

I took this photo after visiting this really nice shop in Thorntons Arcade in the heart of Leeds.

Bon Bon's sells handmade Belgian chocolates and I can tell you they looked great, as nice as any I have seen anywhere.



It is owned by someone called Rowntree and one of the assistants said that yes they were related to that family well known in England for producing Smarties (these are now produced by Nestlé)



Do not forget what day the 14th is...

Katie and Charlotte - Briggate, Leeds

I was walking down Briggate, Leeds looking for things to photograph and I spotted these 2 girls, what I really noticied was the little angels wings they were wearing.

Katie and Charlotte were promoting a Valentines bash at Tiger Tiger, Leeds.

Wall Post Office Box - Bingley, West Yorkshire

I love these small post office boxes that are embedded into walls around the UK. They are not as common as they used to be in days gone by. This one is in a wall on Primrose Bank, Bingley, Yorkshire.

Here in England you can get an idea of how old a post box is from the use of the Royal Cypher on post boxes, this one you can see has EIIR. This cypher is the one used by our current monarch Queen Elizabeth II, the Royal Cyper is the sovereign's monogram or the initials of their name and title, usually surmounted by a crown.

There are still some post boxes with the VR Cypher for Queen Victoria who reigned 20 June 1837– 22 January 1901.

Royal Mail is responsible for universal mail collection and delivery in the UK. Letters are deposited in a pillar or wall box, taken to a post office, or collected in bulk from businesses. Deliveries are made at least once every day except Sundays and Bank Holidays at uniform charges for all destinations within the UK. Today it is struggling to make a profit, I personally see the mail as a service and not a profit operation. In the effort to become profitable they have shut many post offices and intend to close many more.

Whats in a name? Caroline St , Saltaire, Yorkshire

This sign is for Caroline Street in Saltaire, Yorkshire.

Saltaire streets take their name from members of the Salt family and from Queen Victoria and Albert, the Prince Consort. Caroline Whitlam became the wife of Sir Titus Salt in 1830 and they had 11 children all of whom had streets named after them in the village that he built to hold his workforce.

Salts Mill - Saltaire near Bradford 1853

This building is Salts Mill built by Sir Titus Salt in 1853 beside the river Aire and Leeds and the Liverpool canal near Shipley, not far from Bradford in Yorkshire.

The building which was built in sandstone in the Italianate style was opened in 1853, on Titus Salts 50th birthday. The building was on completion the largest industrial building in the world by floor area.

Today Salts Mill houses a wonderful free art gallery named the 1853 Gallery displays many paintings by local artist David Hockney. The mill building also houses the offices of Pace plc.

Salts Mill Saltaire nr Bradford

I saw the sky and thought yes have to photograph this.

Another photograph from the village of Saltaire this shows Mill Chimney disguised as an Italian campanile above the main office block.

Saltaire Victorian Street

This street in the village of Saltaire, near bradford is perhaps one of the least changed over the last 150 years. Apart from the yellow parking lines, it is I guess pretty much as it would have been in 1850. Behind the railings lies the railway station and in the distance is a chimney from Salts mill.

In truth it took me a while to get this photo with no car in it, Saltaire today is quite urban and the people that live here mostly own cars and so do the many visitors.

Saltaire - World Heritage Site

The whole snow thing has rather outlived its welcome now so here is something different.

This sign is at the railway station in Saltaire, Near Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. Saltaire is 2 stops from Leeds city station, around 20 minutes journey time into the heart of the city of Leeds. It is cheaper to take the train, than to pay to park your car in Leeds. Also you can read, look out the window or just doze.

Saltaire was designated a World heritage Site by UNESCO in 2001. Built by the victorian industrialist Sir Titus Salt, this model village lies on the Leeds - Liverpool canal and the aire river and the Bradford/Leeds - Skipton railway line runs through it.

In 1853 Sir Titus Salt moved his business from Bradford to a new greenfield site near Shipley and called his village Saltaire, a combination of his name and the river aire on which it stands. He built sturdy houses out of local stone for the workers in his mill, with running water, a hospital, almshouses, an institute for education an recreation, a park, boathouse, allotments and also a magnificent church which is now the United Reformed Church.

Some today use the word philanthropist, I would say it was a mixture of that and self interest. Workers not living in unhealthy slums most likely were more productive. However you look at it his workers had a much better and healthier life than many people at that time.

Play Area in Snow - Lister Park Bradford

This is part of the kids play area in Lister Park, Bradford. No kids though, I think perhaps the snow put off the parents. Pity I am now middle-aged, I would quite like to have played on something like this when I was small.

Trees in Snow - Lister Park, Bradford

Today like nearly everybody in England I looked out of the window yesterday morning and thought "Wow, Snow!" Now for thos of you reading this in somewhere where you get quite a bit of snow you have to know that here in England when there is around a few inches of snow everything comes to a grinding stop. So it did. England has not had this much snow in years, around where I live there must 4-6 inches.

Not all bad news though, I did get out and take some photos of the snow whilst it was still really white and pristine which I really like.

These trees are in the heart of Lister Park, Bradford you can see the lake on the right of the photo.

The park was almost deserted, normally you would expect to see quite a few people on their way to work, college or just walking around the park. Today I saw in total 9 people, mostly moms with a child checking out perhaps the first real snow they had ever encountered.

IMAX Poster National Media Museum - Bradford

Originally most of the films made in IMAX were like National Geographic movies. They were quite educational, with fun being perhaps a secondary aspect. I have seen many of them and I would recommend the space films like Space Staion 3D, also earth based films like Everest. I saw a screening of Everest with a talk by the director of the film Greg MacGillivray who spoke about the experience of making an IMAX film in he hostile environment like Everest.

Since 2002 IMAX has used an IMAX proprietary "DMR" (Digital Remastering) process that allowed conventional films to be upconverted into IMAX format thereby allowing blockbuster films not filmed in IMAX to be processed and then show on the IMAX screens.  The first film to be shown was Appolo 13.   I saw the The Matrix Reloaded on IMAX and I think I may have been the only person there that had not seen the first film in the series, it was really good.  The latest blockbuster to get the IMAX treatment is The Dark Knight.  IMAX Bradford is showing a double bill Batman Begins and The Dark Knight in February.

National Media Museum - Bradford

This is the National Media Museum, in the city centre of Bradford it used to be called The National Museum of Photography, Film and Television shortened to NMPFT. Now I guess it should be NMM, however if you Google that term you get National Maritime Museum, which is a very different animal housed at Greenwich, London. You cannot have two national institutions with the same acronym.

All of the above does not really matter this is a fine museum, housing as it does national collections of Photography, Cinematography, Television and New Media.

The National Media Museum also houses 2 fine cinema screens, Pictureville and the Cubby Broccoli the regularly screen the best contemporary and classic films, and frequently welcome guests from the cinema industry to talk about their work.

Lastly but not least The National Media Museum also houses an IMAX cinema which when it opened in 1983 was the very first IMAX cinema in Europe. IMAX films are like no other, IMAX (short for Image MAXimum) is a film format by which 70mm film is run sideways through the camera.