Our nearest and dearest

We at Roman Blinds Direct are really rather spoiled when it comes to our location. Our 40,000 sq ft factory stands proudly atop of Grange Moor in the West Yorkshire countryside, which means we are surrounded by rolling hills and an unbelievable amount of rich heritage buildings.

Naturally, we are far too busy locking ourselves away, ensuring that we are producing the best quality blinds in the business, to ever really appreciate the majestic buildings and architecture around us, so here is a blog dedicated to some of the most gorgeous buildings local to us, as well as one or two with some serious historical importance.

Emley Moor transmitting tower

Emley Moor Transmitting Tower

Bet you didn’t know that our premises stand adjacent to the tallest freestanding structure in the UK, did you? It’s an astonishing sight to see from an office window, every day, and this giant of a structure has been standing on Emley Moor since 1971.

However, there has been a television mast on the site since 1956, with Arqiva Tower being the third mast to occupy the space. Few local residents who were around at the time will forget the collapse of the second tower in March 1969, when strong winds and ice forced it to fall to the ground, scattering debris all across the surrounding countryside.

Miraculously, nobody was hurt, but it did mean that its replacement, the tower that now stands there, was made from reinforced concrete. Aside from being the largest structure in the UK, it is, in fact, the 23rd tallest tower in the world and also a Grade II listed building. As you can see, it is even more breathtaking on a clear evening.

Harewood House, Leeds

Harewood House

This enormous estate took a full 12 years to complete. Designed by architects Robert Adam and John Carr, Harewood House was finally completed in 1771. It is a Grade I listed building, and the grounds and courtyard are also listed. This country house in Harewood, near Leeds, remains one of the most popular tourist attractions in the area, boasting over 100 acres of garden in one of the most unspoiled settings in the country. Elton John once performed in the gardens, and since 1998 a purpose-built set on the estate has been used to film the ITV soap opera, Emmerdale .

Church of St Paul, Mirfield

Source: Flickr

The town of Mirfield is just down the road to us, and many of our staff members live there, or at least drive through the quaint and peaceful roads on their way home. St Paul’s celebrated 130 years since its consecration in 2011, and continues to be a key part of the local community. With the foundation stone being laid on January 25 1881, the anniversary of the Feast of the Conversion by St. Paul, the church’s title was, quite literally, set in stone. With various architectural wonders, including beautiful stained glass windows, a pipe organ and a font carved out of black marble, St Paul’s is still a magnificent sight to behold, and remains a well-used resource for Mirfield residents, hosting various community events, as well as the regular Sunday services.

Storthes Hall, Kirkburton

The old Administration Building of Storthes Psychiatric Hospital, lying in disrepair.

Certainly the eeriest building in our selection, Storthes Hall has a fascinating history behind it. For the best part of a century, this structure acted as the administration department for a psychiatric hospital. Storthes Hall was part of the infamous West Riding Pauper Lunatic Asylum group – a series of four hospitals around West Yorkshire. Storthes Hall was the fourth and final hospital to be opened. The hospital stood and operated between 1904 and 1991, when it was closed (the second of the four to be shut down).

The rest of the buildings, which made a sizable complex, were reduced to rubble long ago, but the original admin dept still stands, derelict and abandoned. Although it is fenced off, it is still accessible but very unsafe. The land has been owned by the likes of Huddersfield Town and the University of Huddersfield, who have built a halls of residence close to the site.

The Storthes Hall mansion, situated on its own a little distance away from the hospital, lay derelict for decades, until it was finally renovated and restored to its former glory. It was bought for nearly £3m in 2011.

East Riddlesden Hall, Keighley

East Riddlesden Hall

Located in Keighley, East Riddlesden Hall is not exactly just down the road from us here at Roman Blinds Direct, but its beauty is far too great for us not to give it a mention. Protected by the National Trust, this manor house was built in 1642 by a wealthy Halifax clothier. Overlooking the picturesque River Aire, it is still a popular tourist attraction and brings throngs of visitors every year to marvel at the stunning building and wander in the well-kept grounds.