Titus Salt lived at Crow Nest from 1848 to 1854 as a tenant but in 1867 he returned as Sir Titus and the new owner having purchased Crow Nest Mansion and the 88 acres of land that went with it for £26,500. This was a private transaction with it not reaching the reserve price in the auction that Evan Charles Sutherland Walker had hoped for.

On September 20, 1856, he held the first of two special birthday parties. This one was to celebrate his 50th birthday when he invited 3000 of his friends and work people to attend. Held in the grounds of Crow Nest special trains from Saltaire into Bradford and then from Bradford to Lightcliffe were put on especially for the occasion.

At this monumental event the guests consumed vast amounts of food and drink - that is to say drinks of tea. The estimates of the quantities amounted to 1,380lbs of beef, 520lbs of tongue and pies, over 6000 currant and plain teacakes, 200lbs of butter, 50lbs of tea and 42 gallons of cream.

What a day that must have been particularly for all his workpeople who travelled over specially to attend. You might be thinking that just one event of that magnitude would be enough in a person's lifetime. But not for a man who was born in 1803 and was reputed to be a multi-millionaire by the time of his death.

His second party was to celebrate his 70th birthday in 1873, when he once again invited his friends and work people to attend what was an even bigger event in the grounds of his home at Crow Nest.

It was estimated that over 4,200 people attended with most of them arriving on three special trains he booked to bring his guests from Saltaire. I am sure many readers will remember the small Lightcliffe railway station which was where the Park Close (in Wakefield Road opposite the Lightcliffe tea rooms) housing development is now. Trying to visualise all those people pouring onto the platform and then all making their way up Wakefield Road and then either down the Coach Road or the main entrance to Crow Nest above St Matthews Church to get down to the birthday treat.

Top of Coach Road c1910

Just a few numbers from what was estimated to have been consumed on this occasion are truly mind-boggling: 2,400lbs of beef with one baron of beef weighing in at 195lbs and took three carvers, 140 pork pies, 4500 plain buns, 4500 tarts, 4000 currant buns, 3000 seed buns. 896lbs of sugar, 60 gallons of milk, 140lbs of tea, 300lbs of butter, 100 stones of apples and 2146lbs of ham. What a day that must have been for all concerned.

Sir Titus Salt died aged 76 on 29 December 1876 and was interred at the Saltaire mausoleum. The funeral took place on January 5, 1877, and family mourners gathered at Crow Nest for the long procession to Bradford. It was said that the streets were lined from Lightcliffe to Saltaire as a mark of respect. The hearse was drawn by four horses followed by carriages carrying the mourners to Saltaire.

Six years before his death he had called a meeting which led to the building of Lightcliffe Congregational Church and he headed the subscription list and was joint treasurer of the building fund. On the day of his death, the occasion was marked by the toll of the church bell.   His family later installed a magnificent stained-glass window in his memory and a second window was paid for by public subscription.

Congregational Church, Lightcliffe and not a vehicle in sight. 

Returning to our last featured photograph. This is the scene of another event at Crow Nest. There is certainly no comparison in terms of numbers but those attending this 1932 fete organised by St Matthew's Church at Lightcliffe would have been just as enjoyable.

A great day out in 1932, when the grounds of Crow Nest mansion were made available for the St ,Matthew's Church summer fete. Here some of the vistors are enjoying time rowing round the lake. Note the boat house in ther distance.