Should Sir Titus Salt monument move to Bradford city centre?

The monument celebrating the businessman who founded Saltaire is currently based in Lister Park in Manningham – but Bradford Civic Society has previously made calls for it to be moved back to its original home in the city centre.

This week, it was revealed that plans are underway to install a newly created monument in the city centre as part of Bradford’s City of Culture celebrations.

Dubbed the Tower of Now, the eye catching, 15m sculpture will be commissioned by Bradford City of Culture and be based in a new “pocket park” area on the former site of the Hall Ings car park.

Created by artist Saad Qureshi, it will be based in the city centre from February 2025 to March 2026.

In response to the news, the Civic Society ran an online poll asking if people would rather see a new sculpture in the city centre, or the return of the Titus monument.

The Titus Salt monument in Lister Park (Mark Davis, Telegraph & Argus Camera Club) (Image: Camera Club)

100 people responded to the poll on X, formerly known as Twitter, with 74 per cent preferring of a return of Sir Titus and his elaborate plinth.

One member of the Society said the move would be a “great way to help tell the story of Bradford's industrial history.”

Major changes are currently underway in Bradford city centre, with areas that were once busy roads being replaced with pedestrianised plazas.

Hall Ings is being transformed into a park area – an extension of the small Norfolk Gardens next to Bradford City Hall.

There will be new green spaces, cycle and walking routes and a new open space on the former NCP car park site.

The work was first announced in 2020, and was awarded millions in funding from the then Conservative Government.

The Civic Society believes that the recently announced Heritage Action Zone, which will see areas of the city centre awarded up to £2m from Historic England to restore heritage buildings and features, means that it is now the ideal time to look at returning the Titus Salt statue to the centre.

The monument was commissioned while the philanthropist, and former Mayor of Bradford, was still alive.

Created by acclaimed architects Lockwood and Mawson in the early 1880s, it was paid for by donations from the public.

Originally it was based in what is now Centenary Square, allowing as many members of the public to see it as possible and be inspired by the businessman, former Mayor and founder of Saltaire.

But Bradford Council decided to move the statue after a tram line was built around the monument. It was moved to Lister Park in 1896, and then moved again within the park to its current location in 1904, where it has remained since.

It became a Grade II listed structure in 1983.

The Civic Society first discussed whether the monument should be moved at a meeting in 2018. At the time member Dave Pendleton argued its current site in Lister Park meant it was not very visible to the majority of Bradfordians.

Bradford Civic Society member Dave Pendleton (Image: Bradford Civic Society)

He said: “It was designed to be seen from all four sides. It was hoped people would be inspired by Titus Salt who was a successful businessman who at the same time fought for the common man. That was the idea of putting this monument in the city centre.”

Responding to the results of the latest poll, Mr Pendleton said: "There's always a place for new public art in any modern city, although Bradford does not have a great recent track record with larger modern pieces, notably with the controversial 'Baby of the North' sculpture (outside Margaret Macmillan Tower) being critically panned.

“There does appear to be an overwhelming appetite among the general public for more to be made of Bradford's world-renowned 19th century heritage.

“Giving very serious consideration to the return of Sir Titus Salt to its original home would be a great way to help tell the story of Bradford's industrial history, while also strengthening links with the outlying towns like Shipley and Saltaire.

“It's also a striking piece of architecture in its own right."