Jonathan Silver
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Silver was an entrepreneur from Bradford
who was responsible for restoring Salts Mill
as a thriving cultural, retail and commercial centre.
, Yorkshire
, England in 1949. He was a pupil at Bradford Grammar School
where he at first did not shine academically but enjoyed working on the school's magazine. His interest in David Hockney
's talent as an artist began to blossom and after they met at Silver's father's burger bar, Hockney agreed to design a cover for the school magazine. Silver then went on to study Art History and Textiles at Leeds University.
As a young man Silver exhibited entrepreneurial skills and spent his school lunch breaks at the local auction rooms buying and selling furniture. He married in 1972 and by 1979 had 13 menswear shops across the country. Throughout the 70s and 80s Silver started many other businesses.
There then followed a change of direction: Silver sold everything and travelled the world with his wife, Maggie, and two young daughters. Once they returned to England
, Silver, looking for a new challenge, bought Salts Mill
in 1987. The mill was in a dilapidated state but Silver could see the building's potential, and transformed it into retail and commercial units and an art gallery.
Silver realized that the mill would be the perfect venue for David Hockney
to exhibit his work, which brought into being the 1853 gallery.
Jonathan Silver died of cancer in 1997.
In December 2001, Salts Mill
in the model village
of Saltaire
became a UNESCO
World Heritage Site
. Without doubt Jonathan Silver's vision for the mill played a massive part in that outcome.
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
who was responsible for restoring Salts Mill
Salts Mill
Salt's Mill is an art gallery, shopping and restaurant complex located in Saltaire, Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. It is inside a former mill, built by Sir Titus Salt. The 1853 gallery takes its name from the date of the building in which it is housed...
as a thriving cultural, retail and commercial centre.
Life
Silver was born in BradfordBradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, England in 1949. He was a pupil at Bradford Grammar School
Bradford Grammar School
Bradford Grammar School is a co-educational, independent school in Frizinghall, Bradford, West Yorkshire. Headmaster, Stephen Davidson is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference . The school was founded in 1548 and granted its Charter by King Charles II in 1662...
where he at first did not shine academically but enjoyed working on the school's magazine. His interest in David Hockney
David Hockney
David Hockney, CH, RA, is an English painter, draughtsman, printmaker, stage designer and photographer, who is based in Bridlington, Yorkshire and Kensington, London....
's talent as an artist began to blossom and after they met at Silver's father's burger bar, Hockney agreed to design a cover for the school magazine. Silver then went on to study Art History and Textiles at Leeds University.
As a young man Silver exhibited entrepreneurial skills and spent his school lunch breaks at the local auction rooms buying and selling furniture. He married in 1972 and by 1979 had 13 menswear shops across the country. Throughout the 70s and 80s Silver started many other businesses.
There then followed a change of direction: Silver sold everything and travelled the world with his wife, Maggie, and two young daughters. Once they returned to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Silver, looking for a new challenge, bought Salts Mill
Salts Mill
Salt's Mill is an art gallery, shopping and restaurant complex located in Saltaire, Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. It is inside a former mill, built by Sir Titus Salt. The 1853 gallery takes its name from the date of the building in which it is housed...
in 1987. The mill was in a dilapidated state but Silver could see the building's potential, and transformed it into retail and commercial units and an art gallery.
Silver realized that the mill would be the perfect venue for David Hockney
David Hockney
David Hockney, CH, RA, is an English painter, draughtsman, printmaker, stage designer and photographer, who is based in Bridlington, Yorkshire and Kensington, London....
to exhibit his work, which brought into being the 1853 gallery.
Jonathan Silver died of cancer in 1997.
In December 2001, Salts Mill
Salts Mill
Salt's Mill is an art gallery, shopping and restaurant complex located in Saltaire, Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. It is inside a former mill, built by Sir Titus Salt. The 1853 gallery takes its name from the date of the building in which it is housed...
in the model village
Model village
A model village is a type of mostly self-contained community, in most cases built from the late eighteenth century onwards by industrialists to house their workers...
of Saltaire
Saltaire
Saltaire is a Victorian model village within the City of Bradford Metropolitan District, West Yorkshire, England, by the River Aire and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal...
became a UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
. Without doubt Jonathan Silver's vision for the mill played a massive part in that outcome.