20th Century Yorkshire: Art & Architecture | April 2024

The historic county of Yorkshire has a long and rich heritage dating back many centuries, but is also notable for being home to some fine examples of 20th century art and architecture. This brand new tour, developed with ACE Tour Director Alan Powers, a leading expert in modern art and design, explores this fascinating aspect of Yorkshire’s heritage from a base in the delightful spa town of Harrogate.

From Harrogate, where we will explore sites including the Grade I listed Church of St Wilfrid, consecrated in 1914 and designed by Temple Lushington Moore, we will enjoy a number of excursions into the surrounding area.

The Yorkshire landscape famously influenced the work of Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth, and its geological forms have continued to inspire a contemporary generation of sculptors. The Yorkshire Sculpture Park boasts a permanent collection including works by Moore, Hepworth, David Nash, Anthony Gormley and Andy Goldsworthy amongst others. Here, we will see highlights from the collection and enjoy the spectacular 18th century park.

We also look forward to visiting Bradford as it gears up to taking on the accolade of UK City of Culture in 2025. Bradford’s suburbs are home to several fascinating 20th century churches, including the first church built fully in the round, designed in the 1930s by local architect Jack Langtry-Langton, and churches built by Temple Moore (1910s) and George Pace (1960s).

A particular highlight of our tour will be an exclusive visit to a privately owned 1950s house near Huddersfield, considered amongst the finest of its type. Farnley Hey is a timber-framed architect-designed house where the extensive use of glazing makes the most of the property’s beautiful position overlooking a wooded valley. The first work of architect Peter Womersley, a mock-up of the house was constructed for the British Pavilion at the Brussels 1958 International Exhibition, and today the house remains remarkably unchanged. It was originally designed with entertaining in mind, and we will be privileged to be the guests of its current owners.

The city of Leeds is known for its vibrant cultural scene, and we will explore the city’s art gallery as well as the Henry Moore Institute and the Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery, part of the University of Leeds. Here, our focus will be on the Leeds Art Club and the patronage of Sir Michael Sadler, Vice-Chancellor of the university and a notable figure in the history of modern art in Britain.

Whilst in Leeds, we will also have the opportunity to glimpse university buildings designed in the 1960s and 1970s as part of the campus expansion masterplan by Chamberlin, Powell and Bon, one of the most important modernist architectural firms in post-war England, whose other work includes the Barbican Estate in the City of London. Meanwhile, St Aidan’s Church contains a major mosaic by Frank Brangwyn made during the First World War.

Our tour concludes with a visit to Salt’s Mill, a converted mill in the model village of Saltaire, where we will explore the 1853 Gallery, containing a collection of works by David Hockney amassed by his friend Jonathan Silver.

This tour will be based at the four-star White Hart Hotel, a comfortable property centrally located in Harrogate in the city’s stylish Montpellier Quarter, close to the Royal Hall.

This tour will be led by Alan Powers, PhD, one of the UK’s leading architectural historians and an expert in all aspects of 20th century architecture and design. A longstanding ACE Tour Director, Alan has lectured at New York University in London and was Professor at the University of Greenwich School. He has written extensively on modern art and architecture, and his publications include the books Modern: The Modern Movement in Britain and Bauhaus Goes West: Modern Art & Design in Britain & America. He has developed this brand new itinerary in collaboration with ACE to shine a light on some of the very best 20th century art and architectural design to be found in Yorkshire.

Included: accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, five breakfasts, four dinners with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes.

Not Included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £295.