West Air
West Air is situated in Pye Nest, Halifax, and was formerly, the home of John Edward Wainhouse. The building was completed in 1877 and Wainhouse lived here until his death in 1883. The building is typical of Wainhouse, displaying his eccentricities via the buildings' architecture. West Air was designed by Richard Swarbrick Dugdale, the same architect who designed the upper sections of Wainhouse Tower. West Air is an interesting building, no two window bays in the house are the same and there are small windows in the chimney breast. There were also a number of cottages also originally attached to the building.
West Air - 2007
The building displays further characteristics of Wainhouse where one can see various mottoes inscribed into the stonework. Most notably, is the Latin inscription 'Parcere subjectis et debellare superbos' which translates, Spare the lowly and make war upon the proud. This is in reference to Wainhouse's feud with Sir Henry Edwards. Wainhouse's estate bordered that of Edwards and in a provocative move, it is thought that Wainhouse purposely situated West Air as close to Sir Henry's boundary as he could get.
West Air -side entrance porches - 2007
'Crede Colori' is also displayed on the front of the building, this translates "Believe in Colour" which is thought to be in reference to Wainhouse's dyeing business on nearby Washer Lane.
West Air is now a public house (The Royal) run by Thwaites brewery.
Crede Colori (Believe in Colour)