Collection donated by Denys Salt who was the great-great grandson of Sir Titus Salt. The collection is different to the Isabel Salt collection as it a family archive of items passed to Denys. It includes orginal documents and plates from the family dinner services used during the Royal visits.
2018.3.17: The Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition, Saltaire 1887, Programme of the Proceedings on the opening of the Exhibition Programme by the Royal Highness the Princess Beatrice in the Queens Name and by her Majesties command.
2018.3.20: Birth Certificate of Titus Salt Jr.
2018.3.21: Marriage Certificate of Titus Salt Jr. & Catherine Crossley
2018.3.22: Death Certificate of Titus Salt Junior
2018.3.23: Certificate of Registry of Death
2018.3.28: Probate papers for the estate of Grace Salt
2018.3.29: Probate of the Will of Grace Salt
2018.3.30: Annual Conversazione and Ball at Saltaire
2018.3.16.1: Triumphal Arch in Victoria Road for the Opening of the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition
Triumphal Arch in Victoria Road for the Opening of the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition
Saltaire, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Saltaire, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom: Plan of Saltaire
Photograph of the Triumphal Arch in Victoria Road for the Opening of the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition. The Arch is covered in foliage, with 'Welcome to Saltaire' and the arch is topped with Angora Goats. This was part of the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition in 1887, which was opened by Princess Beatrice.
Technical and Art School: Prospectus for 1927-1928
Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition: Welcome arch on Victoria Road
2018.3.16.2: Inside a building of the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee exhibition 1887
Inside a building of the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee exhibition 1887
Bradford, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Bradford, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom: Coat of arms
Portrait photograph of inside one of the exhibition buildings, the room is open to the ceiling with windows reminiscent of the top floor of Salts Mill. The exhibit includes a clock and ceramics. This was part of the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition in 1887, which was opened by Princess Beatrice.
Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition site, Saltaire, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Early plan of the Royal Jubilee Exhibition main grounds
2018.3.16.3: Exhibit of Angora Goats, for the top of the Triumphal Arch
Exhibit of Angora Goats, for the top of the Triumphal Arch
Photograph of the Angora Goat used on the top of the Archway, welcoming visitors to Saltaire on Victoria Road. The Arch was for the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition in 1887, which was opened by Princess Beatrice. Possibly purchased by Denys Salt from C.H. Wood. [The C.H. Wood Collection is now owned by Bradford Industrial Museum Collection]
2018.3.16.4.1: The arrival of Princess Beatrice for the opening of Shipley Technical College
The arrival of Princess Beatrice for the opening of Shipley Technical College
Photograph of the arrival of Princess Beatrice for the opening of Shipley Art and Technical College. The mount card has a typed label 'Official opening of the Shipley Art and Techinical Institute in 1887, Sir George Chubb (Chubb safes) presented the key which he handed to Mrs Titus Salt (Dauguter-in-law of Sir Tutus) who in turn handed it to HRH Princes Beatrice who then performed the opening ceremony'.
Exhibition Building, Saltaire, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
2018.3.16.4.2: The arrival of Princess Beatrice for the opening of new School of Art and Science
The arrival of Princess Beatrice for the opening of new School of Art and Science
Photographic print of the arrival of Princess Beatrice for the opening of Shipley Art and Technical College. The photograph shows a small party on the steps of what is now known as the Exhibition building and is part of Shipley College. The streets are lined with Police, holding swords, by the building, a carriage in the street and Royal Horse Guards facing the building.
The Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition, Saltaire 1887, Programme of the Proceedings on the opening of the Exhibition Programme by the Royal Highness the Princess Beatrice in the Queens Name and by her Majesties command.
Original Programme for the opening of the Royal Jubilee Exhibition. The programme includes a short history of the exhibition and the words to a song, 'Great Britain's Sons and Daughters, by Joseph C Bridge.
Signed photograph of Princess Beatrice dressed in a fur-trimmed coat over an embroidered dress with a train. She is stood with one glove off lent on a chair. This was given to the Salt Family during the royal visit.
Milner Field, Bingley, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
2018.36.6: Princess Beatrice, and her husband Prince Henry of Batenburg planting a tree.
Princess Beatrice, and her husband Prince Henry of Batenburg planting a tree.
Black and white tinted large framed photograph of Princess Beatrice, and her husband Prince Henry of Battenburg planting a tree. The tree planting may have been at either Milner Field or in what is now Roberts Park. The tree planting was part of the Royal visit to open the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition in 1887 to celebrate the opening of the new School of Art and Science in Saltaire.
2018.2: 1887 Jubilee Exhibition medallion
On the front: picture of Victoria Hall, surrounded by the words 'The Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition' with '1887' at the base. On the reverse: Head of Queen Victoria.
Victoria Hall, Saltaire, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
1887 Jubilee Exhibition medallion: Front view
1887 Jubilee Exhibition medallion: Rear view
2018.45.1: Shipley Technical School, Textile Department, student book, Spinning
Shipley Technical School, Textile Department, student book, Spinning
The book is a student work book, which has been beautifully written in Copper plate writing. It has been used to record the lesson on Spinning, detailing the process with images, that the student learnt at Shipley Technical School, which later became Shipley College. Many students at the college went to work in the Mill and then attended classes in the evening.
2018.5: Saltaire 1887 Exhibition tin box
Souvenir tin of the Saltaire Exhibition in 1887. There is no information in regards to what the contents of the tin was. Both the top and bottom are decorated, the paper label on top has become faded.
1887 Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition Souvenir cup decorated with a view of Roberts Park.
Roberts Park, Saltaire, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Roberts Park, Saltaire, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom: Promenade with bandstand
1887 Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition Souvenir glass. Engraved 'Moses Thompson - Present from Saltaire Exhibition 1887'.
1887 Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition Souvenir glass tankard. Engraved 'Elizabeth'.
1887 Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition Souvenir glass tankard. Engraved 'Sam Noble'.
1887 Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition Souvenir cup decorated with a view of Salts Mill.
Salts Mill, Saltaire, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
1887 Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition Souvenir tankard. Gold details and floral design. Bird on handle of the tankard.
1887 Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition Souvenir hinged wooden box, decorated with an image of Salts Mill on the lid.
Souvenir wooden box: view of lid and inside of box
1887 Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition Souvenir letter opener with image of Salts High School
Salt High School building, Saltaire, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Souvenir letter opener: salt school detail
1887 Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition Souvenir glass. Engraved 'Uncle - present from Saltaire Exhibition 1887'.
1887 Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition Souvenir glass. Engraved 'Mother - present from Saltaire Exhibiton 1887'.
1887 Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition Souvenir glass. Engraved 'Ada - present from Saltaire Exhibiton 1887'. On the reverse 'The Grand Old Man', with an image of Sir Titus Salt.
1887 Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition Souvenir glass. Engraved 'Present from Saltaire Exhibition 1887'. On the reverse 'Her Majesty', with an image of Queen Victoria.
Attendant badge for the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition.
Ticket for the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition. Red coloured book cloth cover with gold detailed saltaire crest and the words 'Exhibitor. Saltaire 1887.' The bottom of the inside of the ticket includes the signature of the secretary, name of the holder, and a signature of the holder.
Exhibition medals from the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition one with an image of Queen Victoria and another with the Saltaire Crest. Stored in a purple box with signs of wear. One medal has an image of Queen Victoria bordered by a floral wreath pattern and includes the text 'The Royal Yorkshire Jubilee - Exhibition - Saltaire 1887' around the edge. The other medal has an image of the Saltaire crest with the text 'Registered common seal of the governors of the salt schools shipley' around the edge of the medal.
Exhibition medals: front view of both medals
Exhibition medals: front view of medal 1
Book mark advertising the opening of the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition.
Black & White Photograph of the unveiling of a plaque commemorating the Shipley College Centenary - 5th May 1987 by Lord Mayor Councillor W.A. (Bill) Nunn. Photograph includes bust of Sir Titus Salt in the foreground. Photograph taken in Shipley College Exhibition Building. Shipley College label on the reverse, including lion logo.
Shipley College Centenary: Souvenir Progaramme front cover
A double-page spread from a newspaper celebrating the Royal Jubilee Exhibition in Saltaire in 1887. Has a drawing of the exhibiotn site in the centre surrounded by portrait of notable people (all men) associated with teh exhibition, and also depictions of alpacas, the Japanese garden from the exhibition.
An advertising poster for an exhibition called 'Hidden Histories' held in Saltaire in September 2919 by the Saltaire Collection. The exhibition was held as part of the national open Heritage Weekend and as part of Saltaire Festival. It provided information on several less-well known people linked to Saltaire.
Plan of Shipley College Exhibition Building - Proposed plan-First Floor - December 1994
Plan of Shipley College Exhibition Building - Proposed plan-Second Floor - December 1994
Plan of Exhibition Building, Shipley College Proposed plans Ground Floor - December 1994
Shipley Technical School - Textile Department note book. With 'Students Name' 'Harold Kendall' handwritten in ink. This exercise book was used by Harold Kendall while a student at the Technical School, now Shipley College. The book includes notes from his 'Woollen, Worsted and Spinning' classes. In depth notes on: Spinning different wools, yarns and how different breedsof sheep produce different wools. At the end of the book are notes on the personal expenses of Harold Kendall including his expenses on his poultry keeping and his private bank account expenses for April/My 1918.
Probably made at Shipley Technical School - Textile Department by Harold Kendall. The notes handwritten in ink on the first page are in the same handwritting as other Harold Kendall notebooks. First page: 'Woollen and Worsted Spinning Notes . Commernced to write these notes Sept 8th 1914. Completed same'. The notes are on 'wool and hair', softness, fineness and length. principles of spinning, spinning frame, twisting and winding yarn, spinning formulae etc.
Only viewable in the Saltaire Collection
2020.2.16: School exercise book for Textile department for 1912-1913 session
School exercise book for Textile department for 1912-1913 session
Shipley Technical School - Textile Department note book. With'Students Name' 'Harold Kendall' 'Session 1912-1913' 'Subject: 3rd Year Woollen and Worsted Spinning' handwritten in ink. This exercise book was used by Harold Kendall while a student at the Technical School, now Shipley College. The book includes notes from his 'Woollen, Worsted and Spinning' classes. The exercise book icludes notes on: Textile Fabrics, Mineral Fibres, Sketches of rollers, physical properties of wool and other materials, Sketches of machines to clean and wash wool. How different countries climates etc. produce different wools. The quality and use of wools. Sketch maps of the different sheep in different countries, and the different yarns from sheep. Trade terms and names, wool values. 'Gret details for anyone studying the history of wool textile production.'
2020.2.17: School exercise book for Textile department for 1913-1914 session
School exercise book for Textile department for 1913-1914 session
Shipley Technical School - Textile Department note book. With 'Students Name' 'Harold Kendall' 'Session 1913-1914' 'Subject: 4th Year Woollen and Worsted Spinning' handwritten in ink. This exercise book was used by Harold Kendall while a student at the Technical School, now Shipley College. The book includes notes from his 'Woollen, Worsted and Spinning' classes. The exercise book icludes notes on: Woollen and Worsted Threads, Carding, Diagrams of spindles and cards in machines, Worsted carding engine details, How to prepare machines to put wool in, How to wash and clean machines, Types of combs to use in machines, Sketch drawings of different textile equipment. 'Great details for anyone studying the history of wool textile production'.
2020.2.18: School exercise book for Textile department 1914-15 session
School exercise book for Textile department 1914-15 session
Shipley Technical School - Textile Department note book. With 'Students Name' 'Harold Kendall' 'Session 1914-1915' 'Subject: Woollen and Worsted Spinning' handwritten in ink. This exercise book was used by Harold Kendall while a student at the Technical School, now Shipley College. The book includes notes from his 'Woollen, Worsted and Spinning' classes. The exercise book icludes notes on: Drawing, afirst operation after Combing, Extensive notes and drawings of textile machines and parts, Details of production of fine mohair, alpaca and camel hair, and cashmire yarns. 'Great details for anyone studying the history of wool textile production'.
2020.2.19: Certificate for excellence in horticulture
Certificate for excellence in horticulture
Certificate awarded to Harold Kendall. 'For Excellence in Horticulture - Award of Merit' Presented by Amateur Gardening. For an 'Exhibition of Flowers Class 41', at Saltaire on September 3rd 1960.
2020.2.20: Certificate for excellence in horticulture
Certificate awarded to Harold Kendall. 'For Excellence in Horticulture' 'Award of Merit' Presented by Amateur Gardening. For an 'Exhibition of Flowers Class 55', at Saltaire on September 3rdf 1960.
'Award of Merit' presented by 'Amatuer Gardening' dated Sept. 1st 1945. With text: 'This Diploma was Won in the competition at the Shipley District Gardening Show by Harold Kendall for an Exhibition of flowers'.
2020.2.9: Useful Tables and Formulae for Technical Students
Useful Tables and Formulae for Technical Students
This 'Useful Tables and Formulae for Technical Students' book consist of: English weights ad measures; Mathematical formulae, Trigonometry; Temperature conversion charts; Definitions of screw threads and Toothed gearing definitions. The booklet was used by Harold Kendall during his time at Shipley Technical School 1913-1915, while he was learning Worsted Spinning.
2020.6.2: Saltaire Overlookers 1830-1914
'Saltaire Overlookers 1830-1914' by Roger Clarke, with contributions by Colin Coates: Includes items relating to individual overlookers and the social life of overlookers
Content available under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA licence
Saltaire Overlookers 1830 to 1914 By Roger Clarke in collaboration with Colin Coates 1 Acknowledgements I gratefully acknowledge the contribution of Colin Coates, whose ability to use his computer skills to access information from census returns, newspaper stories, and many other sources has provided me with detailed material which would otherwise have been unavailable, especially in the biographies of Saltaire residents. His research is much appreciated. I have used Jack Reynold’s ‘The Great Paternalist’, published 1983 extensively in researching information about Saltaire in Victorian times. Part one Setting the scene th At the end of the 18 century the time was right for change, and for a different attitude towards work and employment. Calvin preached that hard work, thrift, and efficiency in one’s worldly calling were keys to eternal salvation. Profit is an end in itself, and the pursuit of profit is virtuous. Early capitalists needed a skilled and unskilled workforce disciplined to accept long hours and harsh conditions for as small a wage as possible to maximise profits. The organisation of labour in textile mills was dependent on the nature of the machinery involved, which determined the need for huge galleries and a large workforce to service the machines. Examples of early mills are:- • In 1776, Richard Arkwright, built his cotton mill at New Lanark. There were 9 rooms in the mill for preparing the raw cotton, carding drawing and roving, bobbin winding, throstle spinning, mule spinning, warping and beaming, drawing and weaving, and each was under the control of an overlooker. • In 1840, Brunswick cotton spinning mill, Ancoats, Manchester was built by David Bellhouse who employed William Fairburn to design a 7 storey block which housed 276 carding machines, 77,000 mule spindles, 20 drawing frames, 50 slubbing frames, and 81 roving frames. Overlookers The typical structure of the mill was to have a department manager and an overlooker for each of the mechanised processes involved from combing to dyeing. The following list outlines the generic role of the overlooker in all departments:- • Middle management between workers and bosses. • Maintenance of machines – regular oiling and checking, often before workers arrived. Undertake basic repairs, bringing in specialist mechanics if 2 necessary. Salts had their own specialists. Some overlookers were so good that they could tell if a machine was about to break down before it did. • Checking attendance. Workers were only allowed in at specific times and if you missed the time you might be allowed in after paying a fine. Overlookers had to make sure they had enough workers to operate the machines in their department, which included breaks and lunchtime when the machines continued to run. • Making sure that workers operated the machines efficiently and reliably. • Inspected the quality of the pieces before they left the department. • Hiring and firing. In some mills managers insisted on interviewing the overlooker’s choice. Workers could appeal to management if they felt unfairly dismissed. • Reporting accidents. • Checking use of toilets, ensuring that only one person used them at a time to prevent time wasting and gossiping. • The effectiveness of overlookers depended on their personalities and their ability to motivate workers as well as keeping control. • Training on the job. Observing the overlooker, but then had to attend evening classes 3 nights a week for a year. Then had one day a week day release and one evening a week for classes. The process could take 4 to 6 years. Bradford Mechanics Institute (between 1832 and 1882) and then Bradford Technical College offered other business classes which they could choose from. All funded by Mill. Apprentice overlookers could find that they were earning less money than mill juniors because the mill was paying for their training. Overlookers played their greatest role in spinning and weaving. In spinning they repaired machinery, inspected the final product and supervised both drawing and spinning room operatives. Each spinning room overlooker supervised about 40 workers. Weaving overlookers performed similar tasks but in addition they inspected the warps for weaving and determined the quality of the completed pieces. They were in charge of 50 to 100 looms. Overlookers were paid more than ordinary workers. They received 28/- to 30/- a week, compared with 14/- to 28/- for male workers, 9/- for female workers and 8/- to 10/- for children. Which raises the interesting question of how this payment was worked out for the most demanding overlooker role - in the weaving department. There had to be an element of technical skill here because overlookers would not only maintain the looms, they would often tune them and set up the patterns which were to be woven. But how do you calculate, in cash terms, for their exercise of authority over the workers? They were responsible for the flow of production and therefore controlled the distribution of work, the speed at which snags were overcome and the immediate discipline of the floor. One way was to put a value on the product of the worker’s labour i.e. the pieces of cloth produced – their length, complexity and density of the weave. In which case 3 their wages would vary from week to week according to piecework. Mills varied in the amount allowed for piecework and that allowed for the overlooker’s contribution. There was a ratio of 1 overlooker per 30 to 40 workers. Overlookers were invariably male in contrast to a largely female and child workforce. The complexity of the overlooker’s role is obvious from one of the few surviving examples of an overlooker’s notebook which can be found in the West Yorkshire Archive. It was the property of Fred Shackleton, an overlooker in Salts Mill in 1919. He was responsible for twisting, warping, winding and reeling. His notebook contains long handwritten lists of information about wages for a wide range of workers including takers-off, doffers, setters, jobbers, reelers, warpers, winders and hankers, and the prices of materials, all of which changed regularly and had to be updated. Overlookers had to be literate and numerate which many workers were not. Discipline of the workforce. In supervising the workers, especially children, overlookers often resorted to physical punishment. • “The overlooker gave us all a bit of the alley strap. It used to knock all the bits of wool, you know all the waste, it used to send it under the frames, so when the walking boss came round it were all tidy you see. Oh it were a big alley strap and it were all leather, and if they didn’t behave themselves they got a bit of this alley strap”. (From ‘Textile Voices’ by Tim Smith and Olive Howarth – Bradford Heritage Recording Unit. Published by Bradford Museums, Galleries and Heritage). • “Newspapers carried reports of continued violence in the work place, such as the 10 year old who died in March,1857, a week after a beating by an overlooker at Garnett’s Mill. The frequency of such violence led the ‘Textile Manufacturer’ to remark in December, 1875, that overlookers seemed to believe that they could treat children as they pleased. It recommended that notices be posted telling overlookers that they could not strike children.” • Evidence provided to the Factory Commissioners in 1832 stated “Discipline was the responsibility of the overlooker and was invariably maintained using a strap. In some mills it was not unknown for the overlooker to use a spindle from one of the machines to discipline children; particularly boys, who seem to have been dealt with more harshly than girls. One overlooker said that he had occasionally seen girls of 15 or 16 strapped, and on one occasion a woman of 20, although he had not strapped any girl over the age of 14. The same man said that he had sometimes seen parents of boys come to the mill to complain about excessive beatings. He also said that he thought that many parents did not complain about excessive beatings because they were afraid that it would encourage the overlooker concerned to find a reason to dismiss the child as quickly as possible. Interestingly, the majority of children giving evidence did not appear to feel aggrieved at having been beaten.” 4 • Sutcliffe Rhodes, frequent commentator in the local Press in the 1860s, cites “the sight of an emaciated form of a spinning girl rendered helpless by the scandalous abuse of an overlooker. And the dying spinner boy who said ‘Ellis Brook (overlooker) has pawsed me right hard”. There are many descriptions of the condition of children in mills in literature, including Disraelis ‘Sybil’ or ‘The Two Nations’ (1845) Dickens ‘Hard Times’ Charlotte Bronte ‘Shirley’ (1849) Frances Trollop ‘Michael Armstrong’ (1876) Gaskells ‘Mary Barton’ and ‘North and South’ (1854) Mrs Tonna ‘Helen Fleetwood’ (1839) I could find little evidence of extreme sexual abuse, such as that demonstrated in the 2015 film ‘Suffragette’ starring Meryl Streep as Emmaline Pankhurst and Cory Milligan as Maud Watts a laundry worker. A male supervisor has been sexually abusing girls in the laundry for years, including Maud and currently a friend’s young daughter. It may be that even when sexual abuse was known about it remained covert and was not publicised - certainly not in courts or newspapers. For example, between 1870 and 1914, 39 cases of sexual abuse came before Hamstead magistrates. Only a quarter were committed for trial. Three quarters were dealt with summarily. 60% of these received a conviction for common assault or indecent exposure and 40% were dismissed. As in other areas of the country, cases of sexual abuse were either acquitted or trivialised as minor public order offences. And from the Office of National Statistics we have • “In excess of 500 people were dealt with by the courts per year during the 1920s, rising incrementally to over 5,000 by the 1960s. • Throughout, however, this represented merely the tip of an iceberg. It is likely that the ten-fold increase was a result of changes in police and criminal justice procedure (enabling more cases to be reported and recorded) rather than an increase in prevalence. • Whilst the number of cases reported to the police increased incrementally across the period, evidence suggests there was a significant decline in the proportion that resulted in guilty verdicts. The law had been constructed as a reaction to Victorian moral anxieties – including concerns about homosexuality - rather than the need to protect and safeguard children. This means that children (as those against whom offences were committed) were only partially visible within the criminal justice statistics. In sum, the British state did not effectively monitor abuse of children. Ultimately it is only possible to conclude that the law and criminal justice system were woefully inadequate in dealing with child sexual abuse.” 5 However, there are examples of sexual harassment such as:- “There were one fellow, and we used to call him ‘Touchy’ because every time he come reckoning to look at the box he’d touch your behind. I remember one time I were on the box, and we used to warn each other when he was coming. They all used to say ‘watch him with Hilda’. And of course this day I didn’t know he were on and I was doing something with my machine and he come and put his hand right across my bottom. So I turned round, picked up a bobbin and hit him with it. So they took me to the office for it. The gentleman that was over the overlookers asked me what I hit him for. I said, ‘when he stops touching my arse I’ll stop hitting him with bobbins.” (Textile Voices) Women’s rights were very limited in the Nineteenth Century. The following is a reminder of what they were:- “1857 Matrimonial Causes Act – a man could divorce his wife for adultery, but she had to prove his adultery and also an additional ‘matrimonial offence’ such as cruelty, desertion, bigamy or incest. The reason was that a wife’s adultery ‘might introduce a spurious child into the family whereas a man’s promiscuity would have no such deleterious effects’. Under common law a married woman’s independent identity was totally subsumed in that of her husband under the doctrine of ‘coverture’. She was not able to enter into legal contacts and had no rights in her own property. All she had earned or inherited belonged to her husband. The 1870 Married Women’s Property Act was passed but inadequately gave women further rights. Husbands could gamble or drink away their wife’s earnings. Wives could not even have custody of their own children since the father was deemed to be the ‘natural’ guardian regardless of his faults. In 1878 the Matrimonial Causes Act enabled brutalised wives to obtain a Protection Order with the force of a judicial separation in the Magistrates Court to receive custody of their children and be awarded maintenance. However this did not constitute divorce and the woman could not remarry.” (From Sex, Gender and Social Change In Britain since 1880 by Lesley A Hall) Fortunately there are also examples of overlookers motivating their workers using more easy going methods. For example:- “We made a parcel up. We put orange peel, mucky bobbins, sweepings up, and made a lovely parcel and wrote on it ‘To our beloved overlooker from his doffers’. Well he got hold of it and looked at it you know, he’s looking right slyly around him, and he crept out and went into the men’s toilet. When he came out he shied the bobbins at us, orange peel, apple cores, banana skins. Anyhow he were a lovely overlooker and we loved him.” (Textile Voices) But there are other ideas about discipline and control in mills When Robert Owen took over control of the New Lanark Mill in the early 1800s he devised a new way for overlookers to control his workers in the workplace. He introduced the silent monitor. This was a four-sided piece of wood 2 inches long and one inch wide, each side coloured – one side black, one blue, one yellow and 6 one white, with a hook on top to hang it near to every person employed. The colour to the front told of the conduct of the person on the preceding day. Books of character were provided for each Department with the names of employees listed and monitor readings were noted in the book. The books were changed six times a year and were preserved. This system was similar to Jeremy Bentham’s Panoptican, a model prison featuring a central tower with several wings radiating out from it. The prisoner can always see the tower but never knows when or from where he is being observed. Prisoners self police their own behaviour because the guard may be watching, Each individual is seen but cannot communicate with the warders or other prisoners. The panopticon induces a sense of permanent visibility that ensures the functioning of power. Surveillance is permanent in its effects even if it is discontinuous in its action. Michelle Foucault was a French philosopher who had well formulated ideas about the nature of power in various social settings. He looked at diamond mines, prisons, schools, hospitals and the military, and saw common features in the way in which they impose disciplinary power in order to create ‘docile, obedient bodies’. That is, discipline must come about without excessive force through careful observation. Individual personal differences are not acknowledged unless they are related to skill, promotion or production. The Mill is divided into discrete departments and workers are classified in this way. The disciplinary power of the Mill is that it controls this system, and individuals become workers (or ‘operatives’). In Saltaire, this system of discipline is extended because the houses which the workers rented are owned by the Mill and linked with their employment . There are two local examples of this form of disciplinary surveillance. Saltaire Primary School has a balcony extending all the way around a central hall below which classrooms are situated, each with glass windows which enable a headteacher to observe the classroom from above without being seen. Salts Mill has huge open galleries (especially ‘The Lobby’) within which the textile machines were situated, enabling overlookers to observe a number of machines without actually approaching them. In a Bradford Mill Rachel Bellerby (‘Chasing the Sixpence – the lives of Bradford Mill Folk’ published by Fort Publishing Ltd) describes an overlooker who “had his own small office at the end of the weaving shed, which had glass sides so that he could always see what was happening on the floor”. Part Two The local scene in Saltaire 7 Titus Salt had mills in Bradford before starting to build Saltaire in 1851. Between 1851 and 1853 Salts Mill was built, and in 1853 house building began. Jack Reynolds notes that Saltaire had a selected population – key workers from Salt’s Bradford mills. Overlookers were amongst the first to go to Saltaire. Groups of workers were influenced by overlooker choices and followed them to the village. Warp dressers whose work was crucial at an early stage in the textile process were treated in the same way. Other groups moved more slowly. Overlookers and other senior workers formed an element in the so called workers committee which was responsible for allocating tenancies in the village. Titus Salt had seen Saltaire as being a place where the mistakes of Bradford could be rectified and a model industrial community could be created meeting his workers spiritual, moral, educational, housing, environmental and social needs – very different to the Bradford which his workers had left behind. The original plans for Saltaire specified two types of housing – workers and overlookers houses. This distinction has never narrowly determined their actual occupancy. The overlookers houses were larger and more expensive to rent and therefore more likely to be occupied by people in Jack Reynold’s ‘executive’ group of employees which includes wool buyers, designers, engineers, chief cashiers, managers, foremen and overlookers. Their size also means that they are more suitable for large families or for use of two families which wanted to live together and share the rent whatever their social position. These houses were initially on William Henry St, and George St, followed by ‘improved’ overlooker houses on Victoria Rd, Albert Rd and on Gordon Terrace and Myrtle Place. House building continued uphill towards Bradford Rd, with the improved housing of later build appealing to overlooker choices and there was a lot of tenant mobility. Reynolds says “Removals within the village were a persistent feature of village life. Of those who stayed between 1861 and 1871, over 50% moved to better or newer houses as they were completed and left older property to newcomers”. The following table shows overlooker choices over time according to Census returns. Overlookers Choice of Houses by street Street 1861 1871 1881 1891 1901 1911 Ada St 6 4 1 1 2 Albert Rd 6 4 3 4 5 Albert Ter 1 1 3 Almshouses 4 Amelia St 5 2 2 Bath Buildings 1 Caroline St 2 4 1 6 2 Constance St 1 2 5 2 2 Daisy Place 1 8 Dove St 1 2 4 2 7 Edward St 2 1 1 1 2 1 Fanny St 4 1 1 Fern Place 1 1 Garden 1 1 1 1 Cottage George St 11 10 10 9 7 11 Gordon Ter 4 4 2 3 Harold Place 1 1 1 1 1 Helen St 4 2 1 3 3 1 Herbert St 4 4 3 1 2 3 Higher School 1 1 St Jane St 2 1 6 3 Katherine St 1 1 Lockwood St 1 1 2 2 3 Lower School 1 5 2 2 St Mary St 6 3 1 1 1 3 Mawson St 3 4 4 2 2 Myrtle Place 1 1 Shirley St 2 1 8 1 1 3 Titus St 8 13 12 7 6 3 Victoria Rd 1 7 7 4 4 4 Whitlam St 4 3 4 2 1 William Henry 3 2 3 1 2 2 St This table shows one thing very clearly – that in the Mill the overlookers were part of the management structure but at home they lived on the same streets as fellow workers and were regarded as working men. I looked in detail at both overlooker and ordinary worker’s families and found very little difference in terms of number of children or lifestyle. One difference is that overlookers tended to be better educated than the ordinary workers. They had to have a better level of literacy to embark on an apprenticeship, and to follow their overlooker training. They also arranged for their children to remain in education for as long as possible, recognising that this was necessary to enter a skilled trade on leaving school. However, education was expensive at secondary level, and it is suggested that a foreman earning less than £100 per year could not afford to send their children to school beyond 13 or 14 years. The children of ordinary workers left school earlier, as soon as possible to begin work in the mill and earn a wage. Many were half-timers. Overlookers wives and families were closely involved in village life, living alongside the families of ordinary workers. Married women and their children, whatever their husband’s occupation, shared the everyday life of the village. It might not be 9 possible to know all 4,300 inhabitants of the village in 1906, but gossip was a common commodity , and Edward Stanners remarked at a later date that the women on the factory floor would often get to work half an hour early in order to ‘cal’ and catch up with the latest events in the village. The fact that Saltaire village had clear boundaries and was widely publicised as a model village gave workers of all kinds a sense of pride, belonging and a shared commitment to each other. Many employees and their families had known each other for many years working for the same firm even before moving to Saltaire and there were often kinship links. Some overlookers had worked as ordinary workers in the past. My hypothesis Overlookers were in a position to take the lead in contributing to community initiatives “Skilled men played a greater part than others in the administration of village facilities” (Reynolds) The following is a look at the evidence that this was the case. In Parliament The Nine Hours Movement. “Began with engineers and craft unions nationally, and only became a real issue when taken up by textile workers, led by overlookers. It was headed by Mundella, MP for Sheffield who consulted with the Overlookers’ Short Time Committees in Bradford and Leeds and brought a Bill before the House in 1872 to limit the working hours of women and children in factories to nine hours a day. A group of employers opposed the Bill, suggesting that although they worked longer hours than most craftsmen they did not work as hard in ten hours as the men did in nine. A deputation including Edward Salt presented their views to the Home Office. They claimed that there was no widespread desire among workers for a reduction of hours, for many textile workers were on piece rates and the prospect only faced them with diminished earnings. They claimed that the overlookers who had brought the agitation did so to bring their own hours into line with mill craftsmen who had obtained the reduction through their unions. Mundella’s Bill did not pass the House but a less generous Bill, the Ten Hour Bill was passed by the Disraeli administration.” (Reynolds) and “Working men were beginning to demand a more real political authority, either through a Radical/Labour wing of the Liberal Party or in a new Independent Labour Movement. In 1892, Saltaire men joined with Shipley working men to indicate that they were no longer willing to accept the political leadership of the local mill owners, and in particular the special authority of Salts. They produced their own Liberal/Labour candidate for the general election of 1892 – WP Byles had backed the strikers at Manningham Mills in 1890/91. He won the seat, leading to the resignation of Charles Stead as chairman of the Shipley Liberal Executive. Seth 10 Bentley, manager of Saltaire Baths, and a regular critic of the Salt authority, took Stead’s place. Among the men who supported him on the Executive were vice presidents Alex George, J Cryer, and Isaac Sanctuary. Isaac Sanctuary later joined the Bradford Independent Labour Party in 1893 when a branch was formed in Shipley, and his place on the Liberal Executive was taken by his brother Jacob.” (Reynolds) There were two political organisations in Shipley Shipley Liberal Club. Charles St, off Briggate, Shipley. Opened 1887. 400 members. Shipley Conservative Club. Atkinson St, off Westgate, Shipley with 300 members. Plus Saltaire Manhood Suffrage Association. “By 1866 there was a powerful branch of the National Reform League in Saltaire with secretary Robert Power, ‘an uncompromising radical’, son of Edward Power who had been imprisoned in 1848 in Bradford for Chartist activity. In 1866 and Easter Tuesday in 1887 the Manhood Suffrage Association turned out in force with the blessing of the firm which closed for the 1866 occasion since it was not a public holiday. The Saltaire Brass Band played the accompaniment to the march from Saltaire to Leeds. The National Reform League was a working class movement which asserted the intrinsic dignity and worth of working men as individuals and as members of a class. Unlike Chartism it did not demand social reform – it was a franchise for men who were properly ‘residential and registered”. (Jack Reynolds) In Saltaire Let’s begin by looking at organisations which provided safeguards against death and sickness. Saltaire Funeral Brief Society Open to anyone over 7 years old living in Saltaire and in good health pay 1.5d under 21, and over 21 they pay 3d as an entrance fee. Then a levy of 2d is made on those over 21 and 1d under that age. They receive £5 on death if over 21 and £4 under that age. The Society was formed in 1857 and by 1879 it had nearly 3,000 members. Originally Thomas Greenwood of 22, George St, an overlooker, was the secretary. Like the savings bank it was run by senior workers. In 1879, James Rushton was President, James Paley, (spinning overlooker) secretary, and the committee of 15 was made up of overlookers, specialist mechanics and warehouse men with only one ordinary ‘millhand’. Among the committee were men who were constantly active in the affairs of the village – Sharp Varley (weaving overlooker), Samuel Baldwin (overlooker), Edwin Cox and John Lambert. Saltaire Men’s Society 11 For relief of the sick. John Wood of 9. Mawson St, Secretary. Members above 18 and under 25 pay 6d per month, and above 25 but under 50 pay 8d per month. During sickness they are entitled to 8s per week for the first six months, 4s for the next six weeks and 2s per week after that. In addition to payments from members, Sir Titus Salt pays the Society 4d per month for each member enrolled. Saltaire Women’s Society For relief of the sick. Thomas Greenwood (overlooker), 22, George St, Secretary. Members over 16 pay 4d per month. They are then entitled to 5s for the first six months of sickness, and 3s per week afterwards. Sir Titus Salt pays the Society 6d per month for every member enrolled. Other organisations which encouraged saving to meet times of need included:- Saltaire Penny Savings Bank. Formed in 1857 by a number of senior workmen with Joseph Dawson, foreman of the wool warehouse as secretary. Post Office Savings Bank Opened in 1861 enabling the GPO to provide a simple savings scheme for ordinary wage earners. By 1914 it had more than 8.5 million accounts, almost 80% of which were under £25. Bingley, Shipley and Keighley Building Society. Established 1851. Opens in Shipley at Yorkshire Bank Chambers, Otley Rd twice a week to collect subscriptions. Branch of Bradford Old Bank. Open daily on Market Place, Shipley. Friendly Societies To ward off the effect of sickness, injury or death amongst working men. The three largest Friendly Societies were the Oddfellows, the Foresters and the Royal and Ancient Order of Buffaloes. 8% of the population in 1815 were in Friendly Societies. Legislation to encourage the formation of Friendly Societies came as early as 1793. This was consolidated in 1850 with an Act of Parliament and a government department was established to administer the Act. By the early 1830s the Oddfellows had 30,000 members and 561 lodges, increasing to 90,000 members and 3,500 lodges by 1842. There were lodges in every county of England. By 1874 there were 489,237 members and 1908 there were 868,190. The Bradford branch of the Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows was the richest in the West Riding and had 27 lodges, 3,382 members and paid out over £3,000 a year in death, sickness and medical benefits in 1850.’ Royal Antedeluvian Order of Buffaloes (The Buffs). Formed in 1822 as a Fraternal organisation who’s mission was Justice, Truth and Philanthropy. They aided members and their families in times of need and supported local charities. Branches were called Lodges, in imitation of Freemasons. Overlookers in Bradford had the Power Loom Overlookers Society and the Amalgamated Overlookers. They had a motto of ‘United to help, not combined to injure’. They had no connection with strikes or trade unions. Their object was to benefit each other in employment and to assist each other in sickness and death. 12 They were originally Friendly Societies. The first was in 1827, Bradford No 1 Overlookers Provident Society; the second in 1833, Bradford No 2 Managers and Overlookers Society; the third in 1862, Bradford No 3 Overlookers Provident Society. All three merged in 1911 to become Bradford and District Managers and Overlookers Society. Some Mills required apprentices to join them. But help still came mainly from relatives or the pawnshop. The peak year for pawn shops came in 1914 when there were 5087 shops operating under licence in Britain. The number declined after this point. Co-ops In the 1830s/40s chandler’s shops were popular. They advanced goods on credit but often the goods were adulterated, over priced and of poor quality – and the same with firms operating the truck system. The Rochdale Pioneers bought good quality food at wholesale prices, cutting out the middle man and avoiding adulteration. Then in 1862 the Co-operative Wholesale Society was formed with similar ideas. This also provided a dividend (a payment Society profits once a year in proportion to the buyers expenditure). It had 400,000 members in 1883, reaching 2.3 million in 1913, 3.2 million in 1923 and 6 million in 1937. Saltaire Industrial Coal Society – Formed in 1864 when W Tiffany (wool sorter) was Secretary. Offices were at 13, Victoria Rd. Members received dividends and bonuses dependant on the amount of coal sold and profits made. In 1871 it had 600 to 800 members. In 1876 and 1877 there were newspaper advertisements under the heading ‘Coal! Coal! Coal!!!’ listing all the types of coal stocked and profits made. Orders received by W Tiffany of 30, Albert Rd. Jabez Copley of 20 George St was then Secretary. With Isaac Constantine they were the organisers of the Society. Independent Co-operative and Industrial Society Ltd – 6, Victoria Rd. Michael Holdsworth of 4, Gordon Terrace (overlooker and later weft room manager) was secretary. Closed in Saltaire in 1881. Leeds Co-operative Society. 8, Victoria Rd. James Wilkinson, storekeeper – Isaac Constantine, President of 33, Victoria Rd. Closed in Saltaire in September, 1885. Windhill Co-operative Society opened a branch at 30/31 Caroline St in May,1881. Abraham Barras was a director. Religion Saltaire Congregational Church. Opened for divine worship in 1859, and by 1860 had a regular weekly congregation of 400, plus a Sunday School with 110 on register. It was the elite church in Saltaire with Titus Junior as a member and principal benefactor and George Morrell and Frederick Wood, Chief Cashier, among the deacons. A number of well-to-do Shipley people also formed part of the communicant membership. Saltaire Wesleyan Methodist Chapel drew its leaders from a wider social circle than the Congregational Church, and included the manager of the wool warehouse, 13 the mill engineer, several of the overlookers and woolsorters and four or five woolcombers. Low Lane Primitive Methodist Church, off Saltaire Rd, Shipley. Opened in 1840 and closed in 1960 when it was demolished. St Paul’s Parish Church, Kirkgate, Shipley Built in 1826 St Walburger’s Catholic Church (Parish of St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross). Built 1878. Saltaire Society of the New Church (Swedenborgians) In his history of this Church, Bernard Leather describes that in 1870 a group of men (many of whom were Salts Mill workers), looking for rooms to rent where religious services could be held. They first used 13, Victoria Rd but in 1882/3 they “took the tenancy of two small rooms in Saltaire Rd, Saltaire which were part of the group of almshouses”. This was also known as Chapel House which held Sunday services for the Congregational Church. It was No 6, Alexandra Square (later renumbered as 29, Victoria Rd). Services were held there until 1924 and Leather describes the rooms in detail. Isaac and Jacob Sanctuary, Albert Cawthra, Robert Power, John Preston (an artist), Ben Preston (writer and poet), Abraham Holroyd (bookseller and stationer), Jonathan Mitchell (warp twister), Richard Barker (warp twister), Seth Bentley (manager Saltaire Bath-house), and James Mattack of Baildon (shopkeeper of various wares and street trader) were the founders. They were articulate, strong minded men with firm political and religious ideas. I understand that Swedenborgianism is an interpretation of the Bible which can be incorporated into other religious beliefs and so the members came from a number of religious backgrounds. In 1901, the group bought land in Park St from the Trustees of Sir Titus’ will and Sir Titus Salt Bart. Sons and Co Ltd, but never built a church there. In 1924 the Saltaire group amalgamated with the Bradford Society of the New Church and opened a New Church at Ashfield Avenue, Frizinghall. Apart from all these formal organisations, there were many societies for Saltarians to join in their leisure time. Fire Brigade – S Shackleton, Foreman, 29, Victoria Rd. Floral and Horticultural Society – Founded 1861. Renamed the Horticultural, Pig and Dog Society in 1873 and then the Horticultural, Pig, Dog, Poultry and Pigeon Society in 1876. W Tiffany, 30 Albert Rd, Secretary. “It had about 100 members, most prominent among them were long serving and skilled employees such as Eli Lambert, Isaac Constantine, John Hanson, James Ellis, Sam Baldwin and James Rushton. Men of this type were most likely to be allocated and to keep the allotments which the firm provided, though they could not establish a total monopoly since there were 100 allotments and 38 piggeries along the canal-side. It had an annual show and exhibition which was a highlight of the village social life. In addition to a produce competition (judged by the Head 14 Gardener from Methley Park) there were athletic events attracting a nationwide field and games were arranged for the children”. (Reynolds) In 1869 there were also horses jumping hurdles and a velocipede race. From 1867 to 1876 it was “held in a field owned by Mr Titus Salt situated on the Baildon side of the River Aire – the entrance to which was rather difficult and inconvenient owing to the fact that the construction of a new bridge is going on just now” (Bradford Observer). This presumably was what, since 1871, was Saltaire Park (later Roberts Park). There were no shows between 1877 and 1881, but in 1882 it was held on a recreation ground on Albert Rd. Cricket Club – William Parker, Secretary. It was destined, like the gymnastics club and the brass band, to achieve national fame. It was founded in 1865 with 140 members and promise by Salt to provide a playing area. It was reorganised in 1871 when the firm began to take a more positive interest in its affairs. The managing director, Charles Stead became President and Titus Salt was on the committee. The firm (under Sir James Roberts) provided a ground in the new park and generous financial help. The Half Moon Café was built for the Club. (There is a book by Patsy Quinn called ‘Run of the Mill’ which describes the history of the Club but which unfortunately concentrates on professional players like Sidney Banks and doesn’t mention the ordinary members at all. It does however have a photo of the Veterans team which is worth looking at). String and Reed Band – Anthony Hill of Caroline St was bandmaster. Saltaire Brass band. Challenged the already famous Black Dyke Mills band for pre-eminence in national competitions. It was originally founded in 1855 and called the Saltaire Brass Band, supported financially by Titus with £1,000 per year. There were two bands originally – a drum and fife band for the boys and a brass band for the men of the village, all of whom worked in the Mill. It began to enter national competitions, gaining first prize at the Crystal Palace in London in 1861, and second prize at the Belle Vue September Contest in 1872. There were numerous prizes at more local contests, but from the early 1870’s it was no longer entering national competitions. In 1894 it was disbanded, and the instruments were called in by the Company. Then there was a time gap until 1932 when it reformed as Salts Silver under the tuition of Mr HB Hawley, and they used to practice in the Royal Café (Salt’s old dining hall on Victoria Road). It changed its name to Salts (Saltaire) Band and was very successful on the national scene. Mr Hawley continued as its sponsor, but in 1946 he decided to form a new junior band and link this with his thriving business – he was managing director of Hammond’s Sauce Company. Some of the original senior band members transferred to this new band and Hammond’s Sauce Works Band was born, to go on to national fame and recognition. Hawley died in 1981, leading to changes in the management at Hammonds, and sponsorship was finally withdrawn in the early 1990s. Fortunately Yorkshire Building Society came in with a new offer to sponsor, and the name changed to the Yorkshire Building Society Band, and then to the YBS Band. 15 In January, 2009, the band was renamed the Hammond’s Saltaire Band. Gymnastics Club. Housed at the Institute it became a leading club in the north of England. Glee and Madrigal Society – John Johnson, Secretary. In 1869 J Giles of 47, George St was secretary. Saltaire Prize Choir Formed in 1877 as the Saltaire Wesleyan Choir, this choral group went on to achieve huge successes on the national musical scene. All over Britain, competitions were held with cash prizes, encouraging groups to form in order to win substantial rewards. The Wesleyan Choir became the Saltaire Prize Choir in 1889, and here are a few of their most notable achievements:- • Held at Hawes, the Hardraw Scar Brass Band and Choral Contest was set in an natural outdoor amphitheatre. Saltaire Prize Choir won first prize in 1890, and went on to compete here with the same success for many years. • In 1891, they performed at the Welsh National Eisteddfod in Swansea and picked up a second prize. They endured a 10 hour train ride to get there, performing before 30,000 people in a canvas tent in the rain. • At Tanfield, near Newcastle, they were invited to the mansion of Sir Frederick Milbank, Bart, there they sang and were given the freedom to explore the house and gardens. • After winning first prize at Morecambe in 1896, they returned home by train at 1-30am on Sunday morning to be greeted on the station by hundreds of supporters to welcome them back. In the pouring rain the crowd demanded a short concert on the railway bridge where the choir sang “The Sea Hath its Pearls” by Pinsuti and “Great God of Love” a madrigal in 8 parts by Pearsall – all without copies and under umbrella canopies. But perhaps the best know of their achievements was their performance at the Second Annual International Music Traders’ Exhibition, Royal Agricultural Hall, London in July, 1896, where they were awarded first prize of a Gebruder Knake white grand piano, worth 100 guineas. Angling Association – GH Bayley of 12 Victoria Rd and J Hall of Market St, Bradford were agents. Jack Reynolds notes that “There was a fishing club with one of there woolsorters as secretary which provided sport for about 100 men. It was supported by Titus Junior who established a trout farm at Milner Field and kept a stretch of the River Aire inside the Park stocked with fish”. Thirty-ninth West Riding Rifle Volunteers – J Crowther, Captain. Established in summer 1859. Edward Salt, George Salt and Titus Junior Salt held commissions in it for short periods and 90 young men in the village joined the ranks. Its armoury was located in Victoria Hall. Sir Titus provided beer for the men on manoeuvres. Shipley Musical Union Club. Wainman St. Established 1880. Gentlemen only. 16 Shipley Temperance Union. General Committee meets at Rosse St School. Established 1892, for the promotion of temperance and general moral well-being of the community, by efforts of an educational, remedial and preventative character. In 1906 the Shipley Temperance Union was located at The People's Hall, Otley Road, between Dale Street and Cross Banks. (thanks to David King for this information). President Mr George Morrell. There follows extracts from overlooker biographies, with their involvement in local organisations highlighted Baldwin, Samuel 1815 – 25 July 1888 Samuel Baldwin was born c1814 in Guiseley. He married Sarah Greenbough 2 February 1840 at Christ Church Bradford. They had five children. By 1861 they were living at 34 (renumbered 60) George Street in Saltaire with Samuel working as an overlooker. In August 1864 Samuel won a prize at the Saltaire Horticultural Show for his roses. By 1871 Samuel and his family had moved to 28 Victoria Road (renumbered 45 in 1880 then renumbered 71 in 1898) in Saltaire. In March 1879 Samuel was elected as an officer of the Saltaire Funeral Brief Society. Samuel died 25 July 1888 at 6 Mawson Street in Saltaire Barras, Abraham c1846 – 20 January 1925 Abraham married Sarah Horne 1 June 1868 at St Wilfrid’s Calverley. They had six children, with one dying as an infant. They lived all their lives in Windhill. In March 1885 Abraham was appointed to represent Windhill on the Central Committee of the Shipley Liberal Party. In February 1895 he was elected onto the Shipley School Board. He began work as a boy at Saltaire Mills in the spinning department and was a spinning overlooker for many years. On leaving Saltaire Mill he took up the insurance business for upwards of 20 years. In his early manhood was a prominent member of the Windhill Young Men's Institute. Later he became associated with the Windhill Wesleyan Mission, and for nearly 60 years was a well-known local preacher. He was also actively identified with the local cooperative movement and was a director of the Windhill Co- operative Society for 23 years. He was for many years a member of the Shipley Veterans Association, and during the absence of Mr. Hulme (chaplain) conducted the weekly services. Boddy, John 1843 – January 1915 John worked at Saltaire Mill for fifty four years in various jobs; warehouseman, weft man, worsted overlooker and clerk. He was an active member of the Saltaire Wesleyan Church and at one time or another held practically all the offices open to a layman. Amos Brear 17 Amos died 14 March 1919. Report from the Shipley Times 21 March 1919 as follows: - Originally a worker in Saltaire Mills, at which he became a spinning overlooker, he commenced in 1866, along with his brother, the drapery business in Saltaire Road. Mr. Brear was held in great respect and esteem by the tradesmen of Shipley, and this feeling found expression in 1906 when he was elected President the Tradesmen's Association. His connection with the Association dated from its formation. At the time of his death Mr. Brear was the senior deacon of the Saltaire Congregational Church, and he had served on the deaconate for 37 years. For over 20 years he was also treasurer of the church. With the church and Sunday school at Saltaire he had indeed been closely connected for over 65 years, Mr. Brear was a director for the last 15 years of the Bingley Building Society, a meeting of which he attended a fortnight before his death. A lifelong Liberal, and a member of the West Ward Liberal Club, he unsuccessfully contested two Urban Council elections in 1899 and 1913. After he was 50 years of age, he became a keen and enthusiastic cyclist, and rode many thousands of miles, Carr, John Francis 1896 – 26 October 1917 John was born c1896 in Saltaire. In 1911 he was living with his parents at 60 George Street in Saltaire. John Francis was employed as a worsted piece overlooker in Saltaire Mill. He was well known as the scorer for the Saltaire Cricket Club Second X1. He was also connected with Saltaire’s Men Own and the Saltaire Horticultural Society. Carr, Henry 1855 – 1924 During WW1 Henry served as secretary of the Shipley & District Ambulance Corps. Mr. Carr was one of the founders and the first secretary of the Shipley Gala Committee when it was formed in 1885, and up to these last few years had always taken an active part in the annual gala. He was also for several years’ secretary of the Yorkshire Voluntary Charitable Association, having to resign owing ill-health. As an ambulance worker. Mr. Carr had gained several honours for long and valued service. Constantine, Isaac 15 November 1827 – 5 November 1898 Isaac was a wool sorter, which was his occupation throughout his life. Isaac was a keen gardener. Living in Saltaire he won first prize for his potatoes at the Airedale Floral & Poultry Show 19 August 1856. This was the first of numerous awards he won for his vegetables. In the 1861 census Isaac and his family were living at 5 (renumbered 10) Edward Street in Saltaire. Isaac was active in politics and in local affairs. In April, 1866 he chaired a meeting to consider the Government’s Franchise Bill as part of the National Reform League In March, 1871 he chaired a meeting celebrating the Saltaire Branch of the Leeds Industrial Co-operative Society Limited and the Saltaire Industrial Coal Society 18 Limited. Isaac was director of the Saltaire branch of the Leeds Co-Operative Society. By 1871 Isaac and his family had moved to 33 (renumbered 76) Victoria Road in Saltaire, where they remained the rest of their lives. In April 1874 at the annual meeting of the Saltaire Club and Institute Isaac was elected as one of sixteen committee members. At the funeral of Sir Titus Salt (5 January 1877) Isaac was one of twelve foremen of the works invited to officiate as a bearer, to carry the coffin into the Saltaire Congregational Church from the hearse. In July 1882 Isaac was reported as presiding at a meeting of the Saltaire Coal Society. In January 1886 Isaac was elected to and appointed auditor for the Shipley Liberal Hundred. Throughout his life Isaac was involved with Saltaire Cricket Club and in 1893 was vice chairman. Frank Dickinson Report from the Shipley Times 3 June 1953 as follows: - The award of the 0.B.E. to Mr Dickinson, of 58 Marlborough Road, Shipley in the birthday honours announced on Monday will be welcome news to many of Mr. Dickinson’s friends and business associates. He became the first full-time secretary of the Bradford and District Power-Loom Overlookers' Society in 1915. and in 1949 he was appointed a director of U.K. Wool Disposals, Ltd. Mr. Dickinson has been secretary of the Yorkshire Association of Power-Loom Overlookers ever since its inception in 1921. He was one of the founder members of the National Association of Unions in the Textile Trade 1916, was its chairman from 1943-46 and is still an Executive member. Mr. Dickinson served the Wool Control Board in both world wars; He was connected with the formation of the Wool Textile Industrial Council and has been a member of the management committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions since 1936. He has been a member of Bradford Employment Committee since 1920 and a member the Appellant Tribunal, for conscientious objectors' appeals since 1940. In Shipley Mr. Dickinson is a vice - president of Northcliffe Amateur Bowling Association and a member of Shipley Musical Union. He was born in Saltaire and commenced work at Saltaire Mills when he was 10 years of age. Frank died in 1962. Doyle, Thomas Francis c1855 – 6 March 1933 Mr Doyle lived in Shipley for well over thirty years and was a departmental manager at the firm of Messrs. Salt’s (Saltaire) Ltd. He was perhaps best known for his political activities. In 1913 he contested the West Ward as a Labour candidate and was elected a member of the Shipley Urban Council, but on four subsequent occasions he was returned unopposed as an Independent candidate for the same ward. In all he served on the Council for 14 years, and rendered valuable service as chairman of the Baths, Public Health, and Promenade Concert Committees, and vice-chairman of the Education Committee. During the war he was a member of the Military Service Tribunal. 19 A very keen musician. Mr. Doyle was a past president of the Shipley Musical Festival, with which he was associated for many years. He was also a member of the committee of the old Saltaire Institute Society, and a past president of the Mills Male Voice Choir. Mr. Doyle was also a former chairman the Shipley I.L.P, a past president of the Saltaire Mills Bowling Club: member of Laycock’s Debating Society, Bradford: a speaker on political economy; a member of the Astronomical Society; and a member of the old Shipley Operatic Society. As a young man he was an enthusiastic Rugby Union player and played wing three-quarter for the Buttershaw Club. His brother, Eddie Doyle, was the famous Bradford and Yorkshire full back. Ellis, Fred 19 Mar 1853 – 1947 He began work at eight in the Saltaire Mills and became a combing overlooker ten years later. He retired on a pension in 1927, after 66 years’ service without a break. In his younger days he was a notable cricketer. He assisted in the formation of the Saltaire Cricket Club and played with the first team as batsman and wicketkeeper until he retired from the game in 1887. In those days the club consisted largely of employees of the Saltaire Mills, and the team was known as the “Millboys in white.” In 1877 he played with the Saltaire and district “XV.,” which defeated the full Notts County team, and he scored nearly 100 runs against the bowling of Billy Barnes, Morley, and Flowers. Two years later he was selected by the M.C.C. to play with a team of All-England colts at Lord’s and scored an outstanding success. Ellis, Edwin 27 April 1855 – 19 September 1940 Edwin Ellis was the son of Joseph Ellis a wool warehouseman. In 1871 & 1881 they were living at 21 Victoria Road with Edwin working as a piece hooker then a weaving overlooker. In 1891 they lived at 14 Almshouses (renumbered 37 Victoria Road). In 1901 & 1911 Edwin was a weaving manager living with his family at 34 Albert Road (renumbered 67). Around 1914 they moved to 29 Avondale Road in Shipley where Edwin would spend the rest of his life. Report from the Shipley Times 28 May 1920 as follows: - “In the year 1864, before he was nine years of age, young “Ted” came to work in the mills as a half-timer and attended the school for half-timers held by the firm in the building now known as the Royal Café in Victoria Road. At this tender age he worked in the drawing room of the spinning department, but after a few months, and before he attained the solemnity of ten years, he became a jobber, which occupation he followed for some four years. At thirteen he was transferred to the weft room of the weaving department and was employed there in pegging bobbins. From the weft room he advanced to piece- hooking and weavers wages clerk, and at sixteen years of age, some 49 years ago, he took up the practical side of weaving. At that time the workers were employed on the noted Donskoi wool, when three pieces per day were turned off the loom. This employment lasted some six months, 20 and in 1873 his future was definitely decided, when, on Sir Titus Salt’s 70th birthday, young Ted became an apprentice weaving overlooker. For nine years, including his apprenticeship, he worked on ladies’ goods in the Dresses Department, and subsequently for eleven years was employed on men’s wear in the Coatings Department. A further period was spent in charge of the Pattern Weaving, and on December 13th, 1894, a few months after the advent of Mr. James Roberts and his co-directors, Ellis was promoted to be the manager of the whole of the Weaving Departments, which position he has held up to the present time, making a total length of service of 55 years. Natural capacity and determination resulted in a very wide and thorough technical knowledge, and this was recognised by the local authorities when, at the inception of the Shipley Technical School in 1887, Mr Ellis was placed in charge of the textile Department, and he held this position for five years. He is a well-known character in old Saltaire, and in his younger days played in the first eleven with the Saltaire Cricket Club. He was in the team on the memorable occasion when they put out Scarborough for eleven runs. Mr. Edwin Ellis is leaving with the tale of fifty-five years to his credit, and his brother, He was presented with a gold watch. Excell, John (Jack) 1 May 1879 – 6 March 1959 Mr John Excell, of 10 Springcliffe Street, Green Lane, Baildon, who died on Friday at the age of 79, retired last July after 69 years unbroken service at Saltaire Mills. He came of a family with a remarkable record of service, even at a firm where there is a tradition for generation to follow generation. His father, who lived to be 95, actually helped to build houses in Saltaire. and worked at the mill for more than 73 years. Mr. Excell’s sister worked there for 47 years, and his son, Mr. Harold Excell, has been at the mill for 50 years. Mr. John Excell was at Delph Hill, Baildon, and started working in the drawing department at the mill when only ten years old. For more than 40 years he was a carding overlooker. In his youth, Mr. Excell played cricket with Baildon Green. He was a member of the New Prosperity Lodge of the Shipley District. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Manchester Unity, and of the Wood bottom Veterans’ Association. Ferrand, William c1821 – 27 February 1903 In 1861 William was a spinning overlooker living with his family at 46 George Street (renumbered 72) in Saltaire. From 1881 they lived at The Green in Baildon where William was a wool buyer and merchant. William died 27 February 1903. Report in the Shipley Times 6 March 1903 as follows: - Mr Ferrand was well known and respected among all classes in the village, having held various public offices. He was throughout his life a sterling Liberal, and his death awakens memories of political struggles in the days before the household franchise was given to the counties, in which he took an active part. Born at Cottingley, he had early in life to begin to earn his own livelihood, which he did first in a humble way as weaver, then as hand comber in Bradford. He was 21 employed at Messrs Forster Fison’s when that firm removed from Bradford to Greenholme, Burley in Wharfedale. He graduated from one position of trust to another until about the year 1860, when he obtained the appointment of wool buyer at Saltaire Mills, a position which he held for many years, ultimately retiring from the firm to commence a business as a woolstapler on his own account in Bradford. Mr Ferrand was a member of the Baildon Local Board for about twelve years and was a district representative on the Wharfedale Board of Guardians over nine years. He was also on the executive committee of the old East Division of the West Riding Liberal Association and of the Otley Division Liberal Executive Committee, and for many years a prominent member of the Otley and Baildon Liberal Clubs. George, Alexander c1840 – 28 March 1910 Alexander was a clothier with a shop on Commercial St, Shipley. By 1874 Alexander and his family were living in Saltaire. He was very active politically and felt strongly about a number of issues. He was a staunch Liberal He was prosecuted and fined for refusing to have his children vaccinated against smallpox. In August, 1903, he presided at a mass meeting of 7,000 people welcoming home two men who had been imprisoned for refusing to have their children vaccinated. He was president of Saltaire Industrial Co-operative Society He objected to half-timer children being compelled to attend Albert Rd Board School. He presided at the Sunday Lectures held at the Temperance Hall He spoke at the meeting held at Wellcroft Field involving 2,000 attendees objecting to the House of Lords refusal to pass the Franchise Bill. He presided at a meeting of the Shipley Liberal Association to elect members of the Liberal Hundred. In January 1900 Alexander was elected President of the Shipley Tradesmen Association at their annual meeting. He supported the candidature of Tom Townsend for re-election as the Liberal representative for the West Shipley Division on the County Council. Gilbert, George 24 March 1857 – 24 August 1927 Report from Shipley Times 6 December 1901 as follows: - Employees of Saltaire Mills met at the Victoria Hotel to bid farewell to two of their older overlookers, Mr. Arthur Nutter and Mr George Gilbert who had been employed at the mill forty and thirty-six years respectively. Mr Nutter left to take charge of the weaving department at Buttershaw Mills and Mr Gilbert to an appointment at Yorkshire College. Hanson, John 1833 – 21 January 1919 John Hanson born in 1833 in Keighley. Aged just eight he worked for Daniel Salt (father of Sir Titus) in Bradford and subsequently he worked for Sir Titus too. When Saltaire Mills opened in 1853, John was the first overlooker in the spinning department. Later he would become an overlooker in drawing and combing. 22 In 1861 they were living at 6 Titus Street in Saltaire, in 1871 at 6 George Street. John was the oldest member of the Overlookers’ Union in the Bradford when he died 21 January 1919. Edwin Holdsworth c1839 – 8 April 1920 Report from the Shipley Times 16 April 1920 as follows: - Death of a Shipley Veteran. At the advanced age of 81 years, Mr. Edwin Holdsworth, 40 Victoria Road, Saltaire, died at his residence on Thursday in last week. For 46 years he was employed as a weaving overlooker at Saltaire Mills. Mr. Holdsworth was connected with the Rosse Street Baptist Church, Shipley, ever since its erection in 1866, and he was a life deacon of the church and one of the first trustees. When the Sunday School was opened, he took charge of the infants’ class, with which he kept up his connection for the long period of a quarter of century. For some years he was teacher and superintendent. In November 1878, he was appointed superintendent of the Sunday School, a position which he held until November 1906. The deceased was one the oldest members of the Shipley Veterans’ Association, member of the Tree of Life Lodge, of the Shipley District 1.0.0. F. (M.U.), and of the Saltaire Liberal Club. Holdsworth, Michael c1822 – 1896 In 1871 Michael was living with his family at 4 Gordon Terrace (renumbered 57 Bingley Road), Saltaire. In 1871 he was an overlooker; 1881 a weft room manager, and by 1891 he had retired. Chaired a public meeting of the Liberation Society in March, 1864 President of the Saltaire Band of Hope in May, 1866 President of the Saltaire Branch of National Reform League in February, 1867 which advocated residential registered manhood suffrage protected by ballot, and that the position taken by the government was vague, indefinite and unsatisfactory. Gave a lecture to the British Temperance League in February 1867. Chaired a meeting of the Shipley and District Temperance Society in July, 1868 Addressed a meeting of the Shipley and District Temperance Society which set up a Band of Hope at a tea meeting in September 1868 Was secretary of the Saltaire Independent Co-Operative and Industrial Society Limited – 6 Victoria Road; Michael Holdsworth, 4 Gordon Terrace Michael & Martha lost their son, Alfred aged 24, in May 1878. His body was found in a canal in Birmingham. He was a cabinet maker and he had found employment. At the inquest into his death an “open verdict” was recorded. Ince, John 19 December 1862 – 18 May 1926 In 1891 John was a spinning overlooker, in 1901 a worsted foreman spinner, and 1911 was spinning manager. He is active in Saltaire Wesleyan Church. Lamb, Joseph 23 27 August 1877 – 1939 His father, John, played cricket for Baildon Green, then he was a “pro” for Manningham, and he was subsequently coach to Oxford University. John died in 1918 and Harriet in 1929. In 1911 they were living at 48 George Street in Saltaire. By 1914 they had moved to 3 Myrtle Place in Saltaire, where they remained until 1934. From 1935 they lived at 13 Albert Road. Joseph worked at Salt’s Mill for over 50 years. He started as a doffer aged just 10 in 1883. He was a spinner overlooker for over 40 years. Like his father Joseph was a keen cricketer. He played for Saltaire when Sydney Barnes was captain of the club. Mansfield, Alfred c1839 – 11 September 1915 In 1871 the family were living at 19 Amelia Street in Saltaire with Alfred working as a worsted spinning overlooker. By 1881 they had moved to 4 Lockwood Street where they remained the rest of their lives. Alfred was a faithful member of the Rosse Street Baptist Chapel for many years and he was secretary of the Shipley Veterans Association. Minakin, Fred 1860 – 21 March 1903 Fred died 21 March 1903. He was a twisting overlooker at Salts Mill. As a sportsman he was on several occasions well to the front and was at one time first in the averages of the Saltaire cricket team, that being during the time of the membership of Harry Mosley and other well-known cracks. He was also owner of several prizes and medals which he had won in the sports at Saltaire Park, but his supremacy in any branch sport was only short-lived, though when he was at his best in any particular branch of athletics he was looked upon as a hero at Saltaire. At the formation the Saltaire Football Club be was installed as secretary and held that position throughout the whole career of that now defunct club, and although he did not take any part in the working of the affairs the club, he was referee in the Yorkshire Rugby Union. Joining the Shipley & District Working Men's Club as assistant secretary, which be held for 3 or years, afterwards taking over the office of secretary, which he held at the time of his death, having been 7 years in that office. He was also a member of the Shipley Brass Band Social Club and was for many years’ auditor for the Baildon Working Men’s Club. He leaves a widow and two children. Mosley, Henry (Harry) 8 March 1850 – 1 June 1922 Local cricketers who can recall the Saltaire Club in the eighties will learn with regret of the death of Mr. Harry Mosley, who about 30 years ago was a professional for Saltaire, and was regarded one of the best left-arm bowlers that time, he being associated with Dickie Barlow, who also was one of Saltaire’s professionals. Mr. Mosley was a native of Shipley, and was employed as a drawing overlooker at Saltaire Mills, and about 30 years ago he emigrated to Sanford, Maine, U.S.A., 24 where was employed a similar capacity for an American firm, where eventually he became manager over the drawing department, and retired pension some time ago. He was succeeded as manager by his son. Regarding his cricketing career, a local enthusiast informs that Mosley played as a professional for 17 seasons—from 1874 to 1890 inclusive. He was considered the most destructive left arm bowler in the whole of the Aire Valley. In 1881 he was tried for Yorkshire County, for his bowling. Pearson, Robert Crowther Wilkinson 5 April 1841 – 15 November 1897 Mr Pearson, who was 58 years of age, had followed the employment of spinning overlooker at Saltaire Mills for about twenty years. About three or four years ago he went to Manningham Mills as a sweeper out. The deceased only arrived back on Wednesday last from London, where he had been spending a month with his son. In his younger days Mr Pearson was a vigorous Radical, the interests of which party he consistently advocated and promoted up to the time of his death. He was member of the Working Men's Club Redman, Ogden 1847 – 12 October 1890 Ogden was not an overlooker. He was employed as a wool sorter at Salts Mill. His only involvement in village life was in the Saltaire Industrial Co-operative Society. He was appointed a compounder (along with Holdsworth and Stell) when a motion was put forward to wind up the Society in August 1876 he moved to Dalry in Scotland, where he was involved in the Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Society in 1888. Rushton, James Wilkinson 15 August 1825 – 22 September 1893 James married Sarah Whiteoak 18 January 1846 at St Wilfrid’s Calverley. They had a daughter, Ellen Elizabeth, born 23 September 1847. In 1851 they were living at One Street in Bradford with James working as an alpaca sorter. In 1861 they were living at 28 (re-numbered 54) George Street in Saltaire. Sarah, James’s wife, died in 1869. She was buried 1 September. In 1871 widowed James was a wool sorting manager living at 19 Victoria Road, Saltaire. James married widow Amelia Smith (nee Ellison) 28 March 1872 in Bradford Cathedral. They had a son, Charles, born in 1875. Amelia died in 1877. In 1881 & 1891 James was living at 74 Victoria Road in Saltaire. James married Sarah Drake 11 January 1882 at St Paul’s Shipley. Report from the Wharfedale & Airedale Observer - Friday 30 September 1887: - Presentation of a portrait on the occasion of his retirement after 53 years service in Salts Mill as foreman woolsorter. He had joined the firm before Sir Titus created Saltaire - in fact be was the oldest employer about the premises. James died 22 September 1893 aged 68 years. He lived at 32 Moorhead Crescent, Shipley (formerly of George Street, Saltaire), Sanctuary, George 1857 – 12 October 1932 25 Spinning overlooker with 60 years employment at Salts Mill. Secretary of the Prize Choir and member of Congregational Church choir. He was a staunch Liberal and his wife was one of the founder members of Shipley Women’s Liberal Association. Stell, John c1850 – November 1917 John’s father George had been a spinning overlooker, and John was a spinner in 1861. He had a varied career. He then worked as a merchant’s clerk, before becoming cashier in a worsted factory in 1891; in 1901 he was a manager in a braid factory and in 1911, he was an electrical cable manufacturer. In 1878 he was involved in Saltaire Industrial Co-op, and was appointed one of the auditors when it was decided not to close the Society. For many years he was churchwarden at St Paul’s Church in Shipley and a teacher in the Sunday School. At the annual vestry meeting of St Paul’s Shipley in April 1885, John was nominated as one of twelve sidesmen. At the annual meeting of the Shipley Conservative Association in January 1889 Edward Salt was elected as President and John Stell was elected as one of two auditors. By 1897 John was living with his family at Wellington Crescent, Shipley. At a special meeting of the Shipley District Council in May 1897 John was part of a three-man deputation who addressed the council about the condition of the back street of Wellington Crescent. In 1914 he was elected as secretary of South Ward Unionist Polling District Association William Tiffany rd th (3 October, 1835 to 27 June, 1899) Secretary of Saltaire Floral and Horticultural Society and Saltaire Industrial Coal Society. 1851 William was a spinner aged 16. 1861he was a wool sorter aged 26. 1869 he lived at 31, Helen St 1871 Census he was working as a wool sorter and living at 30, Albert Rd (renumbered 59). He was the eldest of 3 children who were employed as factory operatives. He marries Susannah Airey and they had 10 children – Joseph (1858); Susannah (1859); Emily (1862); Fred (1864); Martha (1866); George (1868); Mary Ann (1870); William Arthur (1872); Elizabeth (1874); Lavinia (1877); Edith (1879 died Dec 1879). Wife died 1884 and he remarried Sarah Locker 1881 census William still a wool sorter and living at 68, George St. Varley, Sharp c1836 – 1881 Sharp Varley was born c1836 in Bingley as Sharp Cowgill, son of Mary Cowgill, father unknown. Mary married William Varley 2 October 1836 at St Michael’s Haworth. Sharp then took the Varley name. 26 In 1851 they lived in Wilsden with William working as a labourer and Sharp as a power loom weaver. By 1861 they had moved to 1 (re-numbered 27) George Street in Saltaire with William working as a farm labourer and Sharp as a weaver. Sharp married Elizabeth Illingworth in 1866. They had four children. In 1871 & 1881 they lived at 57 Titus Street with Sharp working as a weaving overlooker. In May 1875 Sharp was reported as being a past provincial grand master of the Bingley branch of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows. In March 1879 Sharp was elected as an officer of the Saltaire Funeral Brief Society. Sharp was associated with Saltaire Cricket Club in a non-playing capacity. th Sharp died 4 Qtr. 1881. Others Bentley, Seth 28 October 1833 – 23 June 1897 Seth Bentley was the son of James Bentley. James was born c1793 in Baildon. He married Sarah Robinson 19 May 1912. Seth, the youngest of 10 children, was born 28 October 1833 in Baildon. He was baptised 10 November 1833 in Otley. Seth married Hannah Pollard in 1862. They had two children: Fred born c1864 and Sarah b c1869. In 1871 & 1881 they lived at 26 Caroline Street in Saltaire. By 1891 they had moved to 5 Bingley Road in Shipley. By 1897 the family has moved to 29 Bradford in Shipley. Seth died 23 June 1897. He was buried in Nab Wood Cemetery in Shipley. The following article was published in the Shipley Times 26 June 1897: - ‘For some years he was a worker in the Saltaire Mills, under the late Sir Titus Salt, who had a high regard for him, and who selected him for post of manager of the public baths and wash house built by the late firm. For over twenty yean Mr Bentley filled this position, which brought him in contact (often friend and helper) with nearly every family in the place. Seven or eight years ago, when the baths were closed, he went into business on his own account as a laundry proprietor. Mr Bentley was man of strong religious convictions. Many years ago, he became follower of Swedenborg, and was one of the founders of the New Jerusalem Church at Saltaire. He remained an active supporter of that church to the end, and he will be much missed by the community which meets there. In politics he was a staunch Radical, a strong anti-vaccination, and land reformer. Early in 1891 he headed an important deputation of influential working men from Shipley and district to invite Mr Byles to become a candidate for the Shipley Division, on the retirement of Joseph Craven. He was at the same time, and for the express purpose of advocating this candidate, elected a member of the Executive of the Shipley Division Liberal Association, of which he was afterwards for several year the president. Mr Bentley, who enjoyed good health during the whole his life until his last illness, left behind him widow and one daughter. His only son was killed in America in 1891’. 27 Rhodes, Sutcliffe 26 March 1837 – 19 September 1916 Sutcliffe married Alicia Ann Wallace 13 January 1862 at St Paul’s Shipley. They had five children. In 1851 he was a woolcomber. Letter in the Bradford Observer Thursday 04 April 1867: - Sutcliffe makes a plea for woolsorters who are laid off when demand is poor and re- employed when it picks up again. He was living at Ada St. Letter in the Bradford Observer Thursday 25 July 1867: - Sutcliffe wants investigation into anthrax – ‘clouds of dust and keenly penetrating hairs’ which cause woolsorter deaths. th And on 30 January, 1868, he reports that a philanthropic gentleman and an eminent physician are interesting themselves in the problem. Then on 12 March, 1868, he writes to praise the discussion taking place to look for solutions to this problem, albeit with the rejection of a mask. Report in the Leeds Times Saturday 26 December 1874 of a meeting at the Temperance Hall devoted to discussion of the woolsorter’s disease, at which detailed medical evidence was advanced. Sutcliffe was one of the main speakers. Letter in the Bradford Observer Thursday 05 March 1868: - A plea for the creation of a place in Shipley for young men to meet for self improvement, similar to the Saltaire Literary Institute. Writing from Baildon. In 1871 Sutcliffe was a wool sorter living with his family at 14 Wycliffe Place in Shipley. Letter in the Bradford Observer Thursday 25 November 1875 entitled ‘Slavery in the Spinning room’. Sutcliffe deplores the practice of overworking child spinners and physically abusing them. He cites the sight of an emaciated form of a spinning girl rendered helpless by the scandalous abuse of an overlooker. And the dying spinner boy who said the ‘Ellis Brook has pawsed me right hard’. Sutcliffe is living at Mildred St, Bradford in 1875. In 1881 Sutcliffe was a commercial traveller living at 10 Orchard Street in Bradford. Alicia, Sutcliffe’s wife, died 3rd Qtr. 1890. In 1891 Sutcliffe was living alone at 130 Mildred Street, Bradford. He married Harriet Lord 9 May 1891 at All Saints, Bingley. Report from the Bradford Daily Telegraph Saturday 19 March 1892, that Sutcliffe was before the Bankruptcy Court for public examination and was allowed to pass. He admitted having appropriated money belonging to the Liverpool, Yorkshire and Lancashire Tea Company but was re-engaged by them at less salary, the difference going to pay off his defalcations. In 1901 Sutcliffe was living alone at 19 Moorhead Lane in Shipley. Sutcliffe married his third wife, Charlotte Squires, in 1910. In 1911 he was living with her family at Sibsey in Lincolnshire. (Sibsey is a village 4m north of Boston. In 1911 it had a population of 1,004). Sutcliffe died 19 September 1916 aged 79 years In conclusion There is ample evidence that overlookers performed essential management roles in Salts Mill. 28 Without their innovative and organisational skills in the community, life for Saltaire residents would have been much less rich and rewarding. They are the unsung heroes of the Saltaire story. We shouldn’t forget the broader picture too. Bringing large numbers of workers together in factories stimulated an awareness of their shared condition. It encouraged their involvement in the political process, in the growth of trade unions, in manhood suffrage and the National Reform League, and ultimately in the Independent Labour Party in 1893. The more radical and active Saltaire overlookers played a role in this journey, as their biographies reveal. Roger Clarke February, 2020 29
Silk scarf printed with 'Yorkshire Royal Exhibition 1887 plus the Salt coat of arms
2022.1: Royal Yorkshire Exhibition 'Saltaire 1887' silk scarf
Royal Yorkshire Exhibition 'Saltaire 1887' silk scarf
Silk scarf printed with 'Royal Yorkshire Exhibition 'Saltaire 1887' surrounding the Salt Coat of Arms, multiple times
Royal Yorkshire Exhibition 'Saltaire 1887' silk scarf: Close up of one panel of the scarf
Gold edged menu card for Milner Field dinner 5th May 1887, held during the visit of Princess Beatrice. The meal was 7 seperate courses with several items per course.
A2-107: Salt Family Residences: Milner Field
Framed photograph of Princess Beatrice planting a tree in the grounds of Milner Field 1887
A3-004: Arrangements for 1887 Royal Exhibition
Extract from Report dated June, 1886 by William Fry regarding arrangements for the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition in 1887
Letter from local school teacher at Bingley School to Mrs Salt (plus laminated copies of: 1 transcript + 2 part copies + 1 envelope)
Photograph of Princess Beatrice (signed)
Copy Poster advertising Royal Yorkshire Jubille Exhibition, Saltaire
A3-011: Medal commemorating the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition
Medal commemorating the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition
Detail photograph of medal with view of Saltaire Institute commemorating Jubilee Exhibition May 1887.
Photograph of silk picture woven for 1887 Exhibition (plus 2 laminated/enlarged copies)
2 mounted copies of cover of Official Catalogue (4th Ed.), Royal Yorkshire Jubille Exhibition, Saltaire
Laminated copy of a bookmark from Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition, Saltaire [on display within glass cabinet]
Binders containing photostats of newscuttings of Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition, Saltaire (3 x green Binders)
Photograph of coins commemorating the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition, Saltaire
A3-019a: A History of the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition, Saltaire
A History of the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition, Saltaire
'A History of the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition, Saltaire' - extracts compiled from work by Ian Watson & Dorothy Sharp
A3-019b-c: A History of the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition, Saltaire
2 sheets of items taken from: 'A History of the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition, Saltaire' - extracts compiled from work by Ian Watson & Dorothy Sharp
A3-027a-b: Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibtion correspondance
Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibtion correspondance
Copies of Official Correspondence regarding the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition 1885-1888
A3-028: The Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition 1887
The Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition 1887
'The Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition 1887' by Letitia Lawson
A3-030: Official Programme of the visit to the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibiton
Official Programme of the visit to the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibiton
Photocopy of 'Official Programme of the visit to the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition by Princess Beatrice'
4 photocopies of Exibitors tickets for the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibiton
Laminated Photocopy of donation Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibiton Exhibitors ticket
Laminated Photocopy of sales notice of the catalogue for the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibiton
Laminated Photocopy of details of a medal commemorating the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition of 1887
2 Laminated copies of the layout of the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibiton gardens
Laminated copy of a birds-eye view of the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibiton gardens
Laminated copy of pages from 'The Graphic' of the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibiton
Laminated copy of a drawing of a room in the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibiton
Photocopy of the 'Official Catalogue of The Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition 1887'
Gift: Bradford Historical And Antiquarian Society
Copy of a photograph of the Main Avenue of the Royal Jubilee Exhibition 1887
A3-040.1: 2 Commemorative Programme to Celebrate the Opening of the Refurbished Exhibition Building by HRH The Princess Royal January 11th 1996
2 Commemorative Programme to Celebrate the Opening of the Refurbished Exhibition Building by HRH The Princess Royal January 11th 1996
A copy of a, 'Commemorative Programme to Celebrate the Opening of the Refurbished Exhibition Building by HRH The Princess Royal (Princess Anne) January 11th 1996'. The booklet includes a Forward (Jean McAllister, Principle), A History of the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition at Saltaire -1887 (by Ian Watson and Dorothy Sharpe), A Chronology of the planning of the Exhibition, Titus Salt Junior, Adaptations to the Art and Science Schools; The Developing College and the college today.
Opening of refurbished Exhibition Building
Commemorative Programme to Celebrate the Opening of the Refurbished Exhibition Building by HRH The Princess Royal January 11th 1996
A3-040.2: Commemorative Programme to Celebrate the Opening of the Refurbished Exhibition Building by HRH The Princess Royal January 11th 1996
A copy of a, 'Commemorative Programme to Celebrate the Opening of the Refurbished Exhibition Building by HRH The Princess Royal Princess Anne) January 11th 1996'. The booklet includes a Forward (Jean McAllister, Principle), A History of the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition at Saltaire -1887 (by Ian Watson and Dorothy Sharpe), A Chronology of the planning of the Exhibition, Titus Salt Junior, Adaptations to the Art and Science Schools; The Developing College and the college today.
A collection of photographs of the visit of Princess Anne to Shipley College January 11th 1996
Laminated card of 'The Saltaire Band' programme for May 5th 1887
Photocopy of autographs of Princess Beatrice & Prince Henry of Battenberg
Photocopy of photos of Princess Alexander and Henry and Beatrice of Battenberg
Hand-written menu for dinner (5th May 1887), by Catherine Salt planning for the Royal Visit of Princess Beatrice.
2 letters from Lord Ripon to Mr Salt re.visit of Princess Beatrice to Saltaire
Letter from Mr? Houghton? Confirming visit to Milner Field by Princess Beatrice
Letter from Sir Henry Ponsonby to Mrs Salt re. royal visit by Princess Beatrice
Laminated Photocopy of a photograph of Princess Beatrice & Prince Henry of Battenberg
Card with photograph of 'Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition' Medal + printed detail of medal
A3-121: Arrangements for the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition
Arrangements for the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition
Mounted card with details of 'Extracts from William Fry's Arrangements for the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition' (June 1886)
Large mounted board of: 'A Palace of Delight's (Layout of the grounds of the Exhibition of 1886)
A3-123a-c: Photograph of the Chinese sculpture
Photographs of the Chinese sculpture from the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition of 1887
3 copies of a photograph of the 'Chinese Carving' from the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition of 1987
Folder of cuttings & photocopies of items re. Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition
Photograph of Royal Jubilee Exhibition 1887: 'Attendants Badge'
A folder of photocopies of items on the Royal Jubilee Exhibition of 1887
A folder of cuttings of items on the Royal Jubilee Exhibition of 1888
A packet of 5 small photographs of Princess Beatrice
Photocopy of booklet: 'Internationl Exhibition of Art-Science & Industry - Saltaire 1887
Handwritten menu for 5th May 1887 by Catherine Salt, planning for the printed menu's. This dinner was to be held during the Royal Visit of Princess Beatrice.
Handwritten menu for 6th May 1887 by Catherine Salt, planning for the Royal Visit of Princess Beatrice.
5 gold embossed menus for dinner at Milner Field 5th May 1887, held during the visit of Princess Beatrice. The menu included 7 courses, ending with ice-cream.
1 gold embossed menu for lunch at Milner Field 6th May 1887, during the Royal visit of Princess Beatrice.
A3-169g: Letter to Catherine Salt about the visit of Princess Beatrice
Letter to Catherine Salt about the visit of Princess Beatrice
Letter (and envelope) from Sir Henry Ponsonby regarding Princess Beatrice's visit to Milner Field for the opening of the new School of Art and Science in Saltaire.
Letter to Catherine Salt about the visit of Princess Beatrice: Envelope
Letter to Catherine Salt about the visit of Princess Beatrice: Page 1
Letter to Catherine Salt about the visit of Princess Beatrice: Page 2
Letter from H. Ponsonby re. Princess Beatrice visit to Milner Field + envelope
B1-375f: Salts Mill. A Collection of photocopies of items relating to Saltaire from the 'Engineers' magazine 1859-1909
Salts Mill. A Collection of photocopies of items relating to Saltaire from the 'Engineers' magazine 1859-1909
B1-375g: Salts Mill. A Collection of photocopies of items relating to Saltaire from the 'Engineers' magazine 1859-1910
Salts Mill. A Collection of photocopies of items relating to Saltaire from the 'Engineers' magazine 1859-1910
B1-375k: Salts Mill. A Collection of photocopies of items relating to Saltaire from the 'Engineers' magazine 1859-1914
Salts Mill. A Collection of photocopies of items relating to Saltaire from the 'Engineers' magazine 1859-1914
The Bradford Exhibition (Fancy Woollen Looms)
C2a-130: Saltaire village - Images (People)
Photograph of 2 ladies and a boy at an exhibition of Saltaire photographs (c.1980s)
C2a-163: Two 'Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition' commemorative bookmarks
Two 'Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition' commemorative bookmarks
Two 'Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition' commemorative bookmarks - May 8th 1887 by Princess Beatrice. Portrait of Titus Salt on the front and print of Salt's Mill on the rear
C2b-006: Saltaire Village; Images (People)
Mounted Laminated copy of a photograph of the building of the tramshed in Exhibition Road
Mounted photograph of Exhibition Building
Photograph of building new tram shed in Exhibition Road, Saltaire
1887 exhibition site. One of a collection of Slides relating to Saltaire compiled by Albert Bowtell.
Opening of the exhibition. One of a collection of Slides relating to Saltaire compiled by Albert Bowtell.
Exhibition medals. One of a collection of Slides relating to Saltaire compiled by Albert Bowtell.
C2b-102/14/6: Princess Beatrice & Prince Henry
Princess Beatrice & Prince Henry. One of a collection of Slides relating to Saltaire compiled by Albert Bowtell.
C2b-102/19/20: Saltaire stand Paris exhibition 1867
Saltaire stand Paris exhibition 1867. One of a collection of Slides relating to Saltaire compiled by Albert Bowtell.
Sir Titus Salt Bart. Sons & Co Limited: Front of Silver Jubillee booklet
C2b-300b: Saltaire village Images (Places)
1 card-mounted copy of the partially constructed tram shed in Exhibition Road, for the Mid-Yorkshire Tramway Company - Showing man leaning on post
C2b-301b: Saltaire village Images (Places)
1 Photocopy of a partially constructed tram shed in Exhibition Road, for the Mid-Yorkshire Tramway Company, with large group of men
C2b-367: Saltaire village Images (Places)
C2b-368: Saltaire village Images (Places)
Exhibition Road Tramshed with men in front of trams
D3-118.1: Letter regarding the Chinese Scuplture
Letter from J.G. Ayers the Deputy Keeper of Ceramics at the Victoria & Albert Museum to A Taylor from Shipley Intitute of Further Education. regarding the Chinese sculpture from the Royal Yorkshire Jubillee Exhibition of 1987. The sculpture had been discovered during building works. Information was being sought from the Victoria & Albert Museum about its origins.
C3b-020: Saltaire village, Documents (Places)
D3-118.2: Photograph sent with the letter regarding the Chinese Scuplture
Photograph sent with the letter regarding the Chinese Scuplture
Photograph of the Chinese Sculpture sent with the letter from J.G. Ayers the Deputy Keeper of Ceramics at the Victoria & Albert Museum to A Taylor from Shipley Institute of Further Education, regarding the Chinese sculpture from the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition. On the reverse of the photograph is the stamp of the photographer and a quote from the Shipley Times about the Exhibition.
C3b-038: Saltaire village, Documents (Places)
Photocopy of official programme for the visit of Princess Beatrice to Saltaire
C3b-061a-c: Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Medal
3 photocopies of Saltaire's Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Medal
C3b-250: Saltaire village, Documents (Places)
Die for printing notepaper heading showing Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition Medal (1887)
C3b-270a-b: Saltaire village, Documents (Places)
2 copies of Booklet: 'The Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition at Saltaire 1887' by Ian Watson
C3b-272a-b: The Land Acquisitions of Titus Salt in Shipley & Baildon
The Land Acquisitions of Titus Salt in Shipley & Baildon
2 copies of booklet: 'The Land Acquisitions of Titus Salt in Shipley & Baildon' by Ian Watson
Salt, Titus, Sir: Portrait photograph of Titus Salt in later life
THE LAND ACQUISITIONS OF TITUS SALT by Ian Watson 1 Ian Watson (2011) 2 3 INTRODUCTION The basic story of Titus Salt building up his textile empire in Bradford, and then, at the point when he might have been expected to retire, deciding to start a whole new project, developing a gigantic mill and model village, is well known. What does not seem to have been covered within the general literature on Salt and his mill, is the story of his property purchases in this area. In particular, there is little reference to his, quite substantial acquisitions in Baildon; which, as I will show, were not only on a larger scale than his purchases in Shipley, but in one instance pre-dated them. Also, few of the authors who have covered the story of Saltaire mention Dixon Mill Lane. Neither Balgarnie nor Cudworth refer to it at all, and those authors who do mention it, do so only in passing. There is also an assumption, by some authors, that the old lane, seen in the first edition of the Ordnance Survey map, was upgraded and widened and became Victoria Rd. The evidence presented below disproves that assumption. It details the chronological developments relating to Dixon Mill Lane and Victoria Rd, and the bridging of the River Aire. This occurred between the survey for the first edition Ordnance Survey map, published in 1852 and the next series, surveyed in the 1880s, by which time the building of Saltaire had been completed. This report concentrates on previously unpublished information on the development of the village and tries to avoid repeating those well-known aspects of its history. Most of the information regarding Titus Salt’s purchases in Shipley and Baildon comes from the collection of deed copies held in the Registry of Deeds at the West Yorkshire Archive Service Office based at the West Yorkshire History Centre in Wakefield. The Registry is the place where property owners could have details of their freehold property and mortgage transactions recorded and covers the years between 1704 and 1970. One of the problems with these deed copies is that it is very unusual for the early ones to have any maps or plans attached, as do some of the later ones. This means that, in some cases, the precise boundaries of the purchases are not always easy to determine. 4 The description of the properties transferred in the deeds tend to be lists of field names, so I have tried to relate the information in the deeds to the details shown on the tithe maps of Shipley and Baildon, which date from the mid-1840s. However, some of the boundaries of the acquisitions that I identify may not be a hundred percent accurate, as it is not always possible to make a perfect match between the two sets of documents. A second source of information comes from the collection of Shipley and Baildon papers that can be found within the West Riding Quarter Session records, also held at Wakefield. These Quarter Sessions courts were the main system of county administration before the introduction of County Councils in 1888. Among the many issues considered by these courts were the applications to approve the transfers of public rights of way from old roads to new ones. The information contained in these records has proved particularly informative. The papers relating to Baildon [the QT series] are part of the Quarter Session papers for the Liberty of Cawood, Wistow and Otley. As the parish of Otley, of which Baildon was a part, was a ‘Peculiar’ of the Archbishopric of York, their Quarter Session records were administered separately from rest of the West Riding until 1864, when the ‘Liberty’ was brought within the West Riding. As a result, on their arrival at Wakefield, these records were recorded separately. They are now searchable via the West Yorkshire Archive Service web-site (http://www.wyjs.org.uk). The files relating to Shipley [the QS1 series] can only be accessed on- site at the Wakefield office. Many of the plans used as source material for this study have been in storage for over a 150 years. As such, they are often creased and dirty. Consequently, the illustrations used below reflect the non-pristine condition of these plans. The plans reference to the Quarter Session papers [the QS and QT series] are reproduced here by the kind permission of the West Yorkshire Joint Archive Service, who own the copyright. In addition, I would like to thank the following people and organisations: The archivist and volunteers of the Midland Railway Study Centre, Derby, and Julie Woodward and the management of Shipley College for permission to copy and reproduce documents held with the Saltaire Archive Collection. Ian Watson 2011 5 THE SHIPLEY PURCHASES The full extent of Titus Salt’s land purchases in Shipley is highlighted with this aerial view. Salt’s Shipley Acquisitions (taken from Google Map) The area within the purple border, which extends from Hirst Mill and Hirst Lane in the west, to part way down Saltaire Road in the east, shows the whole of Titus Salts acquisitions in Shipley. The northern boundary is the River Aire, while the southern boundary is Bingley Road. This can be compared to the area occupied by the mill and village, which is shown in orange. Here, then, is evidence that Salt bought well over twice as much land as he needed for the village. The orange border also marks the boundary of the Saltaire World Heritage site, on the Shipley side of the river. Though Roberts/Saltaire Park, across the river in Baildon, is also included within the SWH boundary. The yellow oblong marks the one piece of quarry land, situated behind the Alms Houses at the top of Victoria Road, that was bought by his sons after Titus Salt’s death . 6 The original owners The above plan identifies all the individual blocks of land that Titus Salt bought in Shipley. The land now occupied by the mill and village was originally owned by 8 different land owners. In addition to these purchases, Salt bought land on both the east and west side of the future village from a further 6 individuals. Making a total of 14 separate purchases between 1850 and 1874. All of the fields shown in the plan, with the exception of the land between Saltaire Road and Bingley Road, consisted of conventional farmland at the time of the purchases, and contained a range of arable, pasture and grass-meadow. The fields between Saltaire Road and Bingley Road, though, had been created out of rough moorland by the Shipley Enclosure Act (1815-1825). This land contained good quality sandstone, which was suitable for quarrying. It is almost certain that, having obtained permission for quarrying from the Lord of the Manor, stone from this site, and quarries in other parts of Shipley and the surrounding area were used in the construction of the mill and village. 7 First Shipley Purchase 1850 According to the information in the deed of sale, the first purchase in Shipley appears to have been in late December 1850 when Titus Salt bought around 22 acres of land from William Crompton Stansfield of Esholt Hall, for £12,000. There appears to have been no public notice of this land being placed on sale, so it may have taken place through a private contact. This land ran between the Shipley to Bramley Turnpike Road, later Saltaire Road, and the river. This purchase, highlighted in red in the above plan, included most of the fields on either side of an ancient track called Dixon Mill Lane, along with the old corn and fulling mill down by the river. It also included a tiny piece of land on the Baildon side of the river. There had been a mill at the bottom of Dixon Mill Lane since 1635, when William Dixon had bought or leased the land on the south bank of the Aire, along with the small plot on the north bank in Baildon. This, I presume, would have been a standard requirement when someone needed to build a water-driven mill, as they would have needed control of at least some land on the opposite side of the river in order to build the weir. Following the purchase, Dixon built a water-powered corn mill and a fulling mill on the site, along with the weir and a goit. Fulling is one of the final processes in the manufacture of woollen cloth. Fulling stocks consisted of large wooden hammers, which were driven by the power from a water-wheel. They were used beat the woven cloth in order to blend the short woollen fibres together and produce a firm hard- wearing cloth. 8 The main part of Dixon’s Mill was built over the gap created by the cutting of a goit (a man-made cut) along the length of a gravel bank that lay roughly parallel to the south bank of the river. This goit allowed water to be drawn under the mill to power the water-wheels. It then ran out along the goit. A surviving plan of the complex (see page 11) shows that the mill complex consisted of relatively small buildings, and, as such, would only have employed a limited number of workers. th By the beginning of the 19 century there was a corn mill, a fulling mill and a woollen mill operating here. The whole complex was run through the power of three water-wheels; one running the corn-milling stones; one running four fulling stocks and one running the carding and scribbling, a processes involving the disentangling of the woollen fibres, prior to spinning. As the deed of purchase shows, however, at the time that Salt bought it, only the corn mill and the fulling mill were operating. The corn mill was being operated at that time by John and Joseph Knowles, and the fulling mill by James Davidson. Dixon’s Mill and the cottages 9 Just four years prior to Salt’s 1850 purchase, the new railway line from Shipley to Colne had been cut through Dixon Mill Lane. The plan above shows how the land on which the future mill and village would be constructed looked in the mid-1840s. The construction of the railway would have required some alteration to the lane as it approached the intersection with the line. It would seem that the levelling of the bed for the rail track as it passed this section had created a shallow embankment on the southern side of the line, and this would have needed to have been breached to allow the old road to descend to the track level. A level crossing was constructed at the intersection with the lane, and a cottage was built on the north side of the track for the crossing-keeper. In 1851, the crossing was manned by Joseph Goldsborough. Immediately to the north of the crossing-keeper’s cottage was a long row of cottages running parallel to the lane. It is likely that they were built sometime after 1837, following Crompton Stansfield’s purchase of the land on the west side of Dixon Mill Lane. Prior to this time the land had been owned by a wealthy Bramhope man, Christopher Driver. By 1837, it had passed into the hands of a John Morley of Dishforth, and it was Morley who sold it to Crompton Stansfield. Salt’s deed of purchase says that there were eight cottages in the row, though the census, taken in March 1851, shows that there were 11 families living in the houses. The heads of the households included a clothier, three wool combers, a cloth miller and a cloth fuller, all of whom, presumably, would have worked in the nearby mill. There was also a maltster, who might have worked in any of the many beer-houses in Shipley, two stone-quarrymen, who would probably have worked in the quarries off ‘Saltaire Rd’ and two coal miners, who may have worked in the pits of nearby Moorhead and Northcliffe. One of the cottages was occupied by a William Craven, who had nine children, which, along with his wife, meant that there were 11 people in that one small cottage. 10 Dixon’s Mill yard -The path to the stepping stones Beyond the cottages, a swing-bridge carried the old lane over the Leeds and Liverpool canal. (The base of this bridge can still be seen on the south bank of the canal, just to the east of the present canal bridge) Dixon Mill Lane, being, presumably, part of an ancient cross-valley route between Shipley, Baildon and Eldwick, was a public bridle way and public right of way. Once over the canal the public pathway led through Dixon’s Mill yard, and then towards the river bank, where a set of stepping stones allowed traveller to cross the river. (The public right-of- way is shown on the above plan by the black line) Once on the Baildon side, the traveller would then have had to wade through a shallow ford, before fully gaining the northern bank. The most famous user of these stepping-stones was the Airedale Poet, John Nicholson, who drowned at this spot in April 1843, while crossing the river, on his way to Eldwick. 11 The second Dixon Mill Lane A short time after Titus Salt had completed the purchase of this land he started the construction of a new road, that ran, more or less parallel to the old Dixon Mill Lane. In order to complete this new road, which initially became the second Dixon Mill Lane, Salt also built a set of bridges over the railway, the canal and the river. Prior to this he obtained permission from the Quarter Session Magistrates to close the public right of way on the old lane and stepping stones and transfer the rights to his new lane and bridges. (The above plan, incidentally, gives a slightly misleading impression of these roads, due to the fact that the original plan was folded and crumpled, and proved impossible to smooth out when taking the photograph of it). Salt must have recognised the necessity of constructing a new road and building bridges over both the canal and the railway, in order to facilitate the expected heavy traffic following the opening of the mill, and avoid the obvious problems of using the level crossing and a swing-bridge, 12 However, the cast-iron bridge over the railway line required the approval of two railway companies before it could be built: “We the Leeds and Bradford Railway Company being the owners and We the Midland Railway Company being the occupiers of land over and near which the Extension of the Leeds and Bradford Railway from Shipley to Colne passes, being part of the lands described in the plan hereunto annexed, through and over which part of a certain highway lying between the Shipley and Bramley Turnpike Road and the River Aire is intended to be diverted and turned, in consideration of Titus Salt of Crownest in the township of Hipperholme cum Brighouse in the Parish of Halifax in the West Riding of the County of York Esquire, his heirs or assignees, making and for ever hereafter maintaining such new Highway and the bridge by means of which the same is to cross the said railway, Do hereby consent to the making and continuing such new highway through and over the said Lands and Railway Given under our respective common seals this twenty eighth day of April One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two”. (QS1/191/10) The construction of the new road would have involved the demolition of the cottages lining the old lane, and the relocation of their tenants. It is not known what happened to the majority of these people. Census records show that by 1861 one of the hand wool-combers, Mr Else and his family, had moved to Briggate in Windhill; while Mr Goldsborough, the level-crossing keeper, had become a gardener, working at Holling Hall, at the top of Moorhead Lane. The corn miller, Mr Pickard, who had been living in Dixon Mill yard, was in the same occupation in 1861, though now living in Providence Rd, at nearby Dockfield. 13 In order for the new road to go over the railway, at the height required to allow rail traffic to pass safely under the bridge, an embankment had to be constructed to raise the road. This embankment appears to start just north of Caroline Street and increases in height as the road approaches the railway, while at the same time allowing the road to drop very gently, at the rate of seven feet between Caroline Street to the start of the bridge. The rear of the lower Victoria Road shops The extent of this ramp can best be seen by looking from Albert Terrace along the rear of the Victoria Rd shops, and noting the differing heights of the basements (see illustration above). The natural fall of the hill can be seen in the slope of the back lane. The road on the north side of the railway bridge is supported on a much shorter ramp, designed to carry the road down at a steeper angle to bring it down to the level of the mill yard within a short distance. The canal was then crossed by another new bridge, 68 feet long. (Evidence of the canal company’s approval for the canal bridge, which would have been required, has not, as yet, been located). 14 The First Bridge across the river Once across the canal, the new road was carried over the river by a new, 450 ft. long, bridge, which crossed the river at a 30-degree angle to the road. There appears to be no logical reason for the decision to build the bridge at an angle, as it would have been a much narrower span if the bridge had crossed the river in a straight line, and there is no doubt that by this time Salt owned the land directly opposite. The bridge was a type of tubular girder bridge. That is, a bridge that was not a fully enclosed box, but where the tubular element was in the sides of the bridge and consisted of narrow hollow sections locked together by a hollow box on top of each side. As can be seen in the illustration below, the box-type top sections of the two sides are a feature of the bridge. Although there is no evidence to prove it, it is possible that the bridge was designed by William Fairbairn, who had played an important part in the construction of the mill. It is known that Fairbairn had done much of the early research into the structural properties of wrought iron, the material used in the construction of the bridge. The only known fact about this first bridge is that it was constructed by Messrs. Butler of Stanningley, a firm of bridge builders. 15 First Bridge-print The print above is of that first bridge, though the angle of the view gives the appearance that the bridge is straight. We know that it is the first bridge because of its stone piers. (This print differs from the plan submitted to the Quarter Session Magistrates, shown on page15, in that it only shows four buttresses; one on the north bank of the canal, one on the south bank of the river, one in the middle of the river and one on the north bank of the river; while the plan suggests that there were as many as six, with a double pair on the north bank of the river, and an extra one between the canal bank and the river bank). Following Salt’s application to the county authorities, two West Riding magistrates, Benjamin Thompson and Richard Dyneley Chamberlain came to Shipley in May 1852, to survey the existing arrangements, and to assess the planned changes. They reported back to the Quarter Sessions on the improvements that the new road and bridges would bring compared to the old lane and stepping-stones. “ … and we certify that the said proposed intended new highway or part of a highway is nearer and more commodious to the public … as it crosses the said River Aire by a wide and permanent bridge, whereas the (existing) highway … crosses the said River Aire by a ford and stepping- stones, and is often attended with danger and is altogether impracticable 16 in consequence of the flooding of heavy rain during a considerable part of the winter months … and that the said proposed bridge is of the width th of 27 feet.” (5 May 1852: QT3/4/11) This was followed by: “It is ordered that so much of the said mentioned highway (which leads_ from the town of Shipley …. (over) the ford and stepping stones over The River Aire … (is to be) diverted and stopped up... And in its place a new highway is to be set out and made”. rd (3 July 1852: QT3/4/11) Approval for the stopping up of the old lane and the transfer of the public right of way onto the new road and bridge was sought and given at a sitting of the Quarter Session magistrates at Bradford in June 1852. Although the records show that the road and the bridge were not officially passed for public use until October 1855, it is almost certain that both were in use prior to this time. The first bridge across the river stood for about 12 years. It was then demolished, and a new bridge was built to replace it. There is little information concerning the demolition and re-building. One of the few newspaper references to the changes taking place is a newspaper report referring to an incident in May 1868, when a man, named Henry Wood, working on the demolition of the old bridge, was killed. The accident was witnessed by Titus Salt Jr, who happened to be observing the work at the time. Construction of the new bridge, 327 feet in length, and running straight across the river this time, commenced in 1867. It was completed in 1868. The new bridge was supported by cast-iron columns. The reason for the replacement of the stone buttresses with hollow, cast-iron tubes is not known. It is more than likely that the top section of the old bridge was used in the new bridge, as old photographs show that the new bridge was also a tubular girder bridge. These old photographs also imply that the caps of the supports were re-used, though they were removed some time before this second bridge was demolished. 17 Reconstruction of the two Dixon Mill Lanes relative to Victoria Road It is important to realise that the new road that Titus Salt constructed to replace the original Dixon Mill Lane was not the Victoria Road that exists today. Using the plans from the various Salt applications to the Quarter Sessions and an undated plan of the village by Lockwood and Mawson, showing the village superimposed onto the early field layout of the site, it is possible to make a reasonable calculation for the line of the two roads that preceded Victoria Road. In the plan above, the outline of the original Dixon Mill Lane is shown in purple, while Salt’s first road, which became the second Dixon Mill Lane is shown in green. The top part of the original Dixon Mill Lane is now covered by the first few dozen yards of Exhibition Rd. It then ran across the area now occupied by the end houses of Titus St and Mawson St, the rear of Victoria Hall, and the middle of Lockwood St, finally, it ran under the site of the later Congregational Church Sunday School, now the Caroline St car-park. 18 The second Dixon Mill Lane started at the end of Harold Place, then cut through the site now covered by Titus St, Mawson St and the middle of Victoria Hall, before straightening up about the end of Caroline St. The remaining part of the present-day Victoria Rd, from the junction with Caroline St, down to the river, is the surviving part of that second Dixon Mill Lane. The reason for the unusual line of this first road is not easy to interpret. It is possible that it was laid out simply as a temporary road, in order to allow heavy traffic to have easy access to the site during the construction of the new mill and village. Though why Salt did not have the road go straight up the hill from the start, given that he owned the land as far as the Shipley to Bramley Turnpike, now Saltaire Road, is something of a mystery. The terrace of shops between the railway line and Caroline St, fronting onto the present Victoria Rd, were built around 1854. At the time of the 1861 census they were described as being in ‘Victoria Street’, and they would have been the only buildings in the road south of the railway bridge. It would appear that the second Dixon Mill Lane was only in existence for around ten years. In August 1863, Titus Salt applied to the Shipley Local Board to have the southern portion of this 1853 road, between Caroline St and the turnpike road, closed, as he intended to integrate the northern portion into another new road that he had laid down. Having by this time purchased the land all the way up to the Bradford-Bingley Road. The Shipley Local Board were in favour of the scheme, though they had to get the formal approval of the West Riding Magistrates in order to confirm their decision. This was done in the Quarter Session meeting at Leeds in September of that year. The process of closing roads and transferring public rights of way allowed for public consultation and the right to object to the plans. The law required that notices of the intention of a change of use had to be posted at either end of the ‘old’ lane, and that duplicate notices were to be fixed to the door of Shipley Parish Church for four successive Sundays st after the 21 August. It was also required that notices be published in the local press. This had also occurred in 1852, in connection with the first road and bridge. The Bradford Observer ran the formal announcement about the changes in Saltaire for four weeks, from the last week in August through to the third week in September 1863. The records show that there were no objections from either Shipley or Baildon residents to any of the proposals that Salt had planned, and the transfer of rights to the new road went ahead as planned. 19 The new Victoria Road, showing its relationship to the second Dixon Mill Lane The new road was integrated into Dixon Mill Lane at Caroline Street. The legal closure of the southern section of the lane, (marked in blue on the above plan) allowed it to be eradicated and subsequently lost, by the development of the houses that constitute the eastern side of Victoria Rd, the building of which commenced in 1868, and the building of the Institute (later Victoria Hall), opened 1871. This same period also saw the development of the Alms houses and the hospital. 20 Shipley Purchase 1852 Towards the end of 1851, one year after the purchase of the Dixon Mill site, Titus Salt bought another set of fields running from the turnpike road down to the river, (shown in green on the above plan). He also bought two fields between the river and the canal at this time from Dr. John Outhwaite of Bradford. Now this situation is interesting, in that, as we can see, he now had two blocks of land, separated by another piece of land that he didn’t own. And it highlights another of the big questions regarding Saltaire. That is, why did Salt start building the mill and the village before he had bought all the land that he needed for the construction? We do know that house building for the village started in 1853. The first houses to be erected were in William Henry Street and the lower eastern side of George Street. Shortly after the first few houses had been built, work stopped for some time. There are various theories for this stoppage, though it did coincide with the period before he obtained the middle block of land, which he acquired from the Earl and Countess of Rosse, the lords of the manor of Shipley, in February 1854. Following the recommencement of the work, building then proceeded slowly, up, and across the hill, for the next 21 years, as and when the various blocks of land were purchased. The implication of this second purchase with a gap between it and the first block, is that either Salt must have been very confident about his future purchases, or he was very flexible concerning the final development of the village. It is known that there was an original plan for a much larger development than the one that took place, with the village stretching across both sides of the river. If this is evidence that Salt changed his mind at least once, 21 the implication is, therefore, that he could have changed his mind on several other occasions. Shipley Purchase 1854 - 1856 In the same year, 1854, Salt bought land on the south side of the Shipley to Bramley Turnpike Road from two members of the Denby family. This land would be used for the future development of Dove Street, Jane Street and part of Gordon Terrace. In 1857 Salt bought several plots of land between the railway and the canal from the Midland Railway Company. Shipley Purchase 1864 There was then a gap of a few years before he bought the next plot of land from a Thomas Chambers of Brighouse. This consisted of the land that lies to the east of the present Albert Road, (marked in yellow on the above plan). 22 But, even though by 1864 he now had virtually enough land for his village, he didn’t stop there. A couple of years later, in 1866, he bought the land on the south side of Saltaire Road, between the present Park Street and the rear of the top section of the present Victoria Road. Also, around this time he bought a large area of land to the east of his first acquisition from Matthew Wilson of Eshton Hall at Gargrave, one of the trustees of the estate of William Wainman of Cowling, whose family had owned Shipley Hall, now the Conservative Club in Otley Road. This new land stretched all the way down Saltaire Road to just beyond, what is now the Wycliffe Middle School, and included the site to the east of the school. Sir Titus sold the land for the school, following the 1870 Education Act. The school, which opened in 1876, was at first known as the Shipley Board School and later as Shipley Central School. In 1872, Sir Titus gave land to the east of the school to the Primitive Methodists, who built a large chapel on the site. Saltaire Road showing the Central School and the Primitive Methodist Church 23 Shipley Purchase 1871-74 That same year, 1872, Salt bought a large area of land to the east of Hirst Lane (coloured orange on the above plan), from the paper manufacturer, William Wright. The purchase also included Hirst Mill where Wright had had his manufactory. Much of this land was bought by Shipley Urban District Council in 1922 and used for the building of a new council estate. The land between the river and the railway was converted into playing fields and allotments around the same time. 24 In 1871, Salt had bought the very corner site at the junction of what later became Saltaire Road and Bingley Road. The buildings on the site, at the time of the purchase, consisted of a few cottages and a beer-house. These buildings may have included the old turnpike house, as this had been the junction of Shipley to Bramley Turnpike road and the Bradford to Keighley Turnpike, and there is some evidence of a chain bar being located in somewhere in this vicinity. But the absolute last piece in the jigsaw of Salts acquisitions of land required for the village, was the plot of land, on the eastern side of that corner plot. It had been owned by the Shipley Overseers ever since the enclosure in the 1820s and had been used for many years as a council yard, until Sir Titus obtained it from the Shipley Local Board in 1874. Corner Plot 1871-74 25 Gordon Terrace It was this final purchase that allowed Salt to complete the building of Gordon Terrace, Jane Street and Dove Street, the eastern sections of which had been built some 8 years earlier. This purchase marked the final stage in the building of the village of Saltaire, and indeed, the end of Salt’s land purchases in Shipley. In fact, Titus Salt died two years after this final purchase. The Salt’s mill company did acquire more land in Shipley after Titus Salt’s time, but that is another story. 26 BAILDON The origins of Titus Salt’s first purchase in Baildon lay in the decision of the Lord of the Manor, and the largest property owner in the township at this time, Miss Anna Jane Meek, to sell off the 750 acres of land, comprising her manor and farms in Baildon, in 1849. At the time of the sale, Miss Meek was in her seventies. In all probability, she had been born in Baildon Hall, but by this time she was not a Baildon resident. She lived in Kirk Hammerton, which lies between Harrogate and York, and so perhaps she had just lost interest in the area, or perhaps property prices were on the rise, and she decided to take advantage of the situation. Baildon Manor sale advert : Bradford Observer August 1849 27 In 1737, the lord of the manor of Baildon was Lt.Col. Francis Thompson. His Baildon lands included ‘Jowetts Farm’, now the eastern end of the Coach Road; ‘Hall Farm’, which spread from the banks of the River Aire and then up the hill between Cliffe Lane and Baildon or Barnsley Beck; ‘Brackenhall Farm’, on the Glen and the ‘Moor Farms’, better known now as Low Springs Farm, by the boundary with Hawksworth. The manor also included the possession of Baildon Hall and the Corn mill by Baildon Bridge. There were also a few isolated small farms and individual house properties scattered around the township. Thompson-Meeke-Meyer Family Tree Francis Thompson and his wife Nancy had one child Anna Jane, who had married a Paul Meyer of Pontefract in 1760. Following the death of Francis in 1741, in South America, at the battle of Cartagena, now in modern day Columbia, his widow, Nancy, married a William Meeke of Wighill Park, near York. They had a son also named William, who eventually inherited the Baildon manor and lands from his half-sister, Anna Jane, who was childless. But she left it to him, following her death in 1765, only on condition that he changed his name to that of her late husband, and he adopted the name of Meyer. th On the evening of the 18 October 1780, this same William Meeke, now William Meyer, shot dead a York court official named Joseph Spink. 28 It appears that earlier in the day Meyer had been arrested by the bailiffs of York for debt. The Sheriff of York had signed the warrant, as Meyer owed £82 in an unpaid debt to a James Beckwith, which suggests that, despite his apparent wealth, he was living beyond his means. Following the arrest, it was the intention of the officials to take Mr Meyer to the debtor’s prison on the Ouse Bridge. But he managed to persuade the bailiffs to let him remain in his lodgings in Micklegate, in order for him to try and arrange bail. So, the bailiffs left him in the care of two of their staff, one of whom was Joseph Spink. Sometime during the course of the evening, Meyer persuaded his wife to bring him his pistols from another room, and on acquiring them, he threatened his guards. As they were trying to run away, Meyer fired, and Spink was hit in the throat. (National Archives: ASSI 45/34/2) He died of his injuries the following day, and both Meyer and his wife were put on trial for murder. His wife was found not guilty, but William Meyer, who had claimed in his defence, that he had only meant to frighten the guards, and that the pistol had gone off by accident, was found guilty. He was sentenced to death, and subsequently executed at th the York Tyburn on the 6 April 1781. On his death William Meyer left a widow and two children, William and Anna Jane. William was only 9 years old when his father was executed, and it can be assumed that the family estates would have been held in trust for him until he reached legal maturity at twenty-one. What we do know is that practically the first thing he did when he finally came of age was to change his name, presumably to try and avoid the embarrassment of being connected to his notorious father. As the London Gazette for that month shows, on March 18th 1794 he legally adopted the name of Thompson. Although he had no blood connection to the Thompsons of Baildon, he claimed it was a means of honouring the old family whose lands he now possessed. On his death in 1839, he left everything to his sister, the second Anna Jane Meyer. Though by this time she had changed her name back to Meeke, in order to inherit from her Meeke grandfather. (London Gazette th 29 October 1839) And it was this Anna Jane Meeke who placed all her Baildon property up for sale in August 1849. 29 The auction, held in Bradford in October of that year, was not a complete success, and only part of the property was disposed of. The unsold land was then advertised for sale in the February 1850 issues of the Bradford Observer. And it was at this second sale that Titus Salt bought his first Baildon property, according to the date in the deed, in July of that year, 5 months before his first Shipley purchase of Dixon’s Mill. st 21 February 1850 Sales advert of Baildon property 30 Salt’s 1850 Purchase The first blocks of land that Salt bought in Baildon covered the area between Baildon Road and Cliffe Lane, as well as a large area of land between Otley Road and the river. While the block of land that Salt bought down by the river does not correspond precisely with the above sales notice, it is close enough in description and size to suggest that this is the land that was advertised in the auction notice. Now, it’s interesting to note that the February sales notice made specific reference to the riverside land being suitable for mill construction; and it raises the question of whether Salt might possibly have originally planned to build his mill and village on the Baildon side of the river. According to Balgarnie, Salt approached Lockwood and Mawson, the architects, in November of 1850, and told them that he had purchased land, ‘near Shipley’, and that he wanted them to do part of the work. He explained that the Shipley based architect and land agent, George Knowles was also to be involved in the project (p.91 Balgarnie’s Salt, Barlo and Shaw (Nemine Juvante (Saltaire Publications 2003). This story presents two problems. The evidence of the deeds suggests that Salt did not purchase the Dixon Mill site until the end of December, also, as far as I am aware, there is no evidence that George Knowles had any connection with the Dixon Mill purchase. He did, however, have some connection with at least some of the land that Salt purchased in Baildon, as he was a partner of Bailey Blackburn (see below). 31 There is, therefore, just a hint of suspicion that the land that Salt was referring to when he went to see Lockwood and Mawson, was this land in Baildon. If this was the case, then it is likely that Salt only changed his mind when the more suitable location of the Dixon Mill site in Shipley, with its closer proximity to the canal and railway, came up for sale later that year. Of course, the real problem is our lack of knowledge on Titus Salt’s thoughts at this time. And I have to say that this is simply a speculative idea on my part. Although, what else he might have wanted this land for, given that, subsequently, he did nothing with it within his own lifetime, suggests that the theory might be worth considering. Salts 1851-2-Purchase The year after his first purchase, Salt bought another large piece of land to the west of Otley Road. (This is the area marked in orange on the plan above. The area marked in black is the Midgeley Wood and Thompson Lane area, bought the following year from Richard Paul Amplett, the son in law of the Ferrands of Bingley, who had originally owned the land.) This riverside land had been part of Miss Meeke’s first sale, and had originally been bought by Bailey Blackburn, a Bradford chemist and land speculator, who lived in Baildon. George Knowles appears to have advertised this land for sale in June th 1850 (see Bradford Observer 27 June 1850), though Salt did not purchase the land until September 1851. According to Cudworth, Blackburn sold this land to Salt for £10,000, which was twice the amount he had paid for it a year earlier. 32 The new and old Green Lane 1851 A short time after buying the river-side land, Salt had a new road cut through from Otley Road up to the sharp right-hand corner of the old Green Lane. This new road replaced the old, narrow lane, that for some reason didn’t suit Mr Salt. The laying out of this new road, does suggest that Salt was planning something in the area, and it has been suggested that he had intended to build a house, and create a parkland along the riverside. The original Baildon Green Lane was a public right of way, and in 1852, Salt applied for permission to transfer that right onto his new road and eliminate the old lane. 33 Baildon-1856-Purchase In 1856, Salt bought the small wooded hill to the north-east of Green Lane, called Fairbank Wood, along with the associated farm. The Knoll In 1862 he sold this land to Charles Stead, a manager and later a director of the mill who built a house called ‘The Knoll’ at the highest point in the wood. 34 Baildon-1855-62-Purchase In 1855, Salt had bought a small group of cottages and orchards at the junction of Cliffe Lane and Otley Road. But in 1862 he transferred most of this land and the land to the north of it to his son Edward, who had the house he called ‘Ferniehurst’ built on the site. Ferniehurst 35 There are no known photographs of Ferniehurst, but as can be seen from the OS map above, it was a substantial house. It had formal gardens, several large glass-houses and from the lodge in Baildon Road, a long winding drive through a private wood. Even though Salt was buying a lot of land during this period, he also occasionally sold some. Throughout 1856 and ’57, he was selling off small plots of land around the area of Green Lane and Cliffe Lane, to various private individuals. Following these sales, several private houses, and terraces were constructed in the area. Green Lane junction It may be argued that whatever his original intentions regarding his Green Lane and Otley Road purchases, Salt had changed his mind, and he was getting rid of some of his surplus land. He did however, remain committed to most of the land lying to the west of Otley Road. A few years after laying out the new Green Lane, Salt started the construction of another brand-new road, leading from the corner of Green Lane to the bottom of Victoria Road. The plan above shows the first section of the new road, with the old riverside path highlighted in blue. And the plan below shows the continuation of the new road as far as the bridge. 36 Coach Road 2-1863 The plan above shows the continuation of the new road as far as the bridge. I also shows the relationship between Salt’s new mill and the old Dixon’s Mill. The junction of the road and bridge may look slightly strange, compared to the present Coach Road, but it’s only because there was a re-alignment of this western end of the road, when the new straight bridge was put across the river, and a new link to the bridge had to be made. It’s interesting to note that in all probability, this road, which was nearly 1 mile long, was built simply as a private carriage road to allow Salt’s son, Edward, and his manager, Charles Stead, to travel to the mill easily, rather than going around and through Shipley. And of course, he also built an extension to this road following the purchase of Milner Fields, for the benefit of Titus jnr., all of which seems to be an indication of the extravagance of Salt at this time. Having completed this eastern section of the Coach Road, Salt applied to have the ancient public right of way transferred from the river-side path up onto his new road. This meant that although the Coach Road was a private road, pedestrians and horse riders had the legal right to use it. 37 Gate house Old photographs show gates at the corner of Green Lane and the Coach Road, and there were also gates at the bottom of Victoria Road, But they were only there to stop the unauthorised entry of commercial vehicles, who needed permission to access the road and the bridge. However, various farmers and other property owners who lived within this area had certain legal rights of access, and they did have the right to use the new road and the Victoria Road bridge. The removal of the legal entitlement to use the old riverside path meant that it could now be closed, leaving the land free for some form of development, though we now know, this never happened in Salt’s lifetime. There are, of course, sections of this path still surviving on the side of the river between Otley Road and the Victoria Road bridge. Though it can be assumed that they are not officially public rights of way anymore, and their survival is presumably just a matter of luck. 38 Baildon-1865-6 purchase In 1865 Salt bought two fields just below Walker Wood, from the Dawson family of Baildon Green (marked in light green on the plan above). The following year, Richard Paul Amplett sold Salt the two Trench Farm properties. Their fields ran from the lower section of the future Saltaire Park, right up to the boundary with Bingley at Load Pit Beck (This land is marked in orange). Now these, at least as far as I have been able to identify, were the final acquisitions that Titus Salt made within Baildon. It is possible that I have missed some of the purchases while searching the indexes at Wakefield; and I should point out that, there is just one field in the centre of this picture that I have not been able to prove was bought during Titus Salt’s lifetime, though it almost certainly came into the possession of the family at some point in time. It’s also possible that his sons bought more land either before or after Titus’ death, but that is something that I have not gone into up to the present time. But what I have been able to show is that Titus Salt himself, bought at least 250 acres of land in Baildon, over a period of 16 years; and this compares with just over 100 acres that he bought in Shipley. 39 The western Coach road The western section of the Coach Road, was constructed sometime before 1870, following the purchase of the Milner Fields estate, which, of course, is in Bingley, and outside the scope of this study. The green-arrowed track on the above plan shows the line of this new road, cutting through the fields towards the eastern entrance to the Milner Fields estate. The closed lanes In March 1870, following the completion of this new road, Titus Salt applied to the Baildon Local Board of Health to close several old paths running between the bridge at Saltaire and Load Pit Beck. These are shown in green on this plan. And just as on the eastern section of the road, he wanted the old rights of way transferred onto his new road. 40 Interestingly, the public right of way on this side of the bridge was not on the river-side path, but on the lower of the two paths leading up to the Trench Farms. I can only assume that this change had been made when th the farms were built in the 18 century. After passing between the two farms, the public path then returned back down to the river-side path, which leads on towards the Seven Arches. For some reason, Salt decided to restrict access to the two Trench properties, and that section of the old way that ran between the two farms was closed to the public. Western Coach Road - New Trench Road It was replaced by a brand-new lane leading up to the junction with the ancient pack-horse route between Baildon and Bingley (marked in green on the above map). Following the construction of the new lane, the top section of the old lane was removed. Approval for all these changes was given at the Quarter Sessions held in th Bradford on the 27 June 1870. 41 Saltaire Park It would have been about this time that Salt started to develop Saltaire Park, which was opened in July 1871. Interestingly, the park was laid out across part of the old lane leading from the stepping stones to the Trench farms. And that section of the old lane survives to this day (marked in green on the above map) in the form of the path that divides the cricket field from the higher terrace and formal gardens. 42 Green Lane junction-with houses As I mentioned earlier, much of the land on the top side of Green Lane and at the bottom of Cliff Lane, had been sold off in the late 1850s. These small-scale sell-offs continued, and in the early 1870s Salt sold most of the land, fronting Otley Road, between the bridge and Green Lane, and a terrace of houses were built on the site. The corner plot, though, was not sold until 1887, by Salt’s sons. BAILDON POSTSCRIPT As far as the land on the other side of Otley Road is concerned, with the exception of a few sales, Salt did practically nothing with the bulk of this site, and it was left to later generations to dispose of it. He had sold a large plot of land (A) (see below), at the south-western end to C.F.Taylor in 1862, and Taylor built a new mill on the site. While at the other end, he sold, or maybe he gave, the land for Charlestown cemetery,(E) which was opened in 1863. Though, for some reason the deed of transfer from Salt to the Airedale Cemetery Company, does not seem to have been made until 1871. The land for the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel had been sold to the Trustees in 1870. While the Midland Railway Company had bought the land required for the viaduct, in November 1874. Nothing much then seemed to happen to this area during the remainder of the Salt’s family involvement with the mill. 43 I have not been able to determine the sequence of events regarding the one field on top side of Otley Road (F), that had been part of Salt’s original purchase, and which is now covered by the bottom of Midland Road. In 1895, the Salt’s mill company tried to sell off all their undeveloped land in both Shipley and Baildon. But the planned disposal appears to have been a failure, because most of the land advertised in the sale notice of that year was left unsold. In 1898, though, William Butterfield bought one plot on this Charlestown site (B), on which he later built a galvanising works. Nine years later, he bought the neighbouring plot (C) in order to extend his business. The remainder of the land between Butterfields and the railway viaduct (D) was bought from the mill company by Bertram Roberts, the son of Sir James Roberts, in 1910. He gave the land to the people of Baildon for recreation purposes, and it came to be known as Roberts Park. The land then seems to have remained in Baildon’s possession until 1952, when the UDC sold it to Butterfields So, that is the story of Titus Salt’s property acquisitions in Shipley and Baildon, as far as I have been able to determine it. And, it brings us back to the original question. Why did he buy so much land on both sides of the river and left so much virtually untouched. It’s probably the case that we will never know why he did what he did, but it’s this kind of question that keeps the interest in the subject of the life and work of Titus Salt alive. 44 45
C3b-403: Saltaire village, Documents (Places)
Items on the Royal Jubilee Exhibition of 1887
C4a-012: Displays in a Saltaire Archive exhibition
Displays in a Saltaire Archive exhibition
A sheet of 4 photographs of displays at an exhibition of Saltaire Archive collections. The exhibition was jointly arranged by Saltaire Archive (now Saltaire Collection) and the Saltaire History Club.
Photograph of building the Tramshed Exhibition Road
2 copies of photograph of inside the Exhibition Road Tramshed
D3-030a-b: Print of the Jubilee Exhibition
Acetate and print copy of an enlargement from a print of the Jubilee Exhibition
Chinese stone sculpture found during the excavations prior to building the greenhouses for Shipley College Gardens and horticulture students. It is believed that the sculpture was part of a Japanese Village which was part of the in the 1887 Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition. It is a Taoist scuplture depicting several deities, accourding to a letter from the Deputy Keeper of Ceramics in the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1968. From the left the deities are the Ch'ang the Moon Queen, Ch'ih-chang the Sun King, Shou Lau the God of Longevity with his deer and the central figure is Fu Hsing or Lu Hsingthe God of happiness or weath.
To view the full story please contact the Saltaire Collection
The Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition was held in Saltaire in 1887 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee and more importantly, for Saltaire, to help meet the costs of the new School of Art and Science that had been built on Exhibition Road as a memorial to Sir Titus Salt. It was opened by Princess Beatrice and included exhibition stands, a concert hall, a bandstand, refreshment rooms and pleasure grounds and entertainments. At the far end of the exhibition grounds there was a Japanese art and industrial exhibition in the form of a village reportedly ‘peopled by Native Men, Women, and Children' and illustrating the 'industrial, social, and domestic life of Japan.’ There was even a splendidly embellished Buddhist Temple. The Shipley Times of 7 May 1887 reported: A complete tour of the Exhibition is not made until the Japanese village at the East end of the Exhibition grounds has been visited and Mr. Tannaker Buchicrossan has provided there entertainment and instruction sufficient to satisfy the most exacting. During building work on Exhibition Road in 1976 a sculpture was found that is believed to have been part of the village. It is now part of the Saltaire Collection. The Victoria and Albert Museum have confirmed that the sculpture is actually Chinese.
E1a-008a: Education, Schools (Documents)
Letter to Salts School from The Education Department, Wakefield
Salt High School: Students outside the High School
E1a-008i: School of Science & Art prize label
A blank small 'School of Science & Art' prize label
E1a-008j: Education, Schools (Documents)
Notice of Salts Schools' Past Presidents: From the booklet 'International Exhibition of Art Treasures --' May 1887
E1a-062: Letter to school governors about the Royal Yorkshire Jubillee Exhibition
Letter to school governors about the Royal Yorkshire Jubillee Exhibition
Transcribed extract from a letter by William Fry to the Salts Schools Governors regarding the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition and the need to clear the debt of the building of the new School of Art and Science in Saltaire
E1a-063: Letter from William Fry concerning Vincent Riordan
Letter from William Fry concerning Vincent Riordan
Handwritten letter and typed transcription of a letter by William Fry to Salts Schools Governors regarding Vincent Riordon. Fry was helping to organise the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition in Saltaire and Vincent Riordan was a possible contact to assist sourcing exhibits. In the letter Fry expresses his concern that Riordan may not be a reliable person with which to do business.
Letter from William Fry concerning Vincent Riordan: Page 1
Letter from William Fry concerning Vincent Riordan: Page 2
Letter from William Fry concerning Vincent Riordan: Transcription
Large mounted poster for: Salts School Exhibition 'A Palace of Delights' includes plans of school
E2-004a-c: Report and Balance Sheet of the Fancy Fair
Report and Balance Sheet of the Fancy Fair
3 Photocopy pages from :'Report and Balance Sheet of the Fancy Fair'. The Fair was held in the Saltaire Institute (now known as Victoria Hall) from 12 to 22 February 1896. The Fair was held to raise funds to clear debts owned by Saltaire Schools, largely from the construction of the new Technical School on Exhibition Road, opened in 1887. The document gives thanks to the many people involved in producing the Fair. It reports there was a profit of £3702 and 19 shillings, a large sum at that time. The accounts show the sums raised by the various stalls, and details payments to various entertainers.
E2-005: Shipley Technical Schools Annual Reunion 1894
Shipley Technical Schools Annual Reunion 1894
Mounted board of items from 'Shipley Technical Schools Annual Reunion 1894
E2-008: School of Art: Opening of new Painting & Decorating Dept
School of Art: Opening of new Painting & Decorating Dept
Photocopy of 'School of Art: Opening of new Painting & Decorating Dept. (29th September 1932)
E2-009a-e: Salts Schools School of Art prospectus
5 covers for various 'Salts Schools School of Art prospectus'
E2-010: Opening of the new Engineering Department
Opening of the new Engineering Department
Small paper-bound booklet 'Technical Institute: Opening of the new Engineering Department by Ernest Parkinson (21st October 1932)
E2-011a-b: Salts School calendar 1888-89
2 photocopies of 'The Salts Schools (Technical School,) Shipley' calender 1888-89
Mounted collage of items on the financing of the Science and Art Schools 1886
Mounted card of a blank bookplate for a prize in the School of Science and Art
E2-015a-m: Shipley Technical Institute of School and Art Prospectus
Shipley Technical Institute of School and Art Prospectus
Collection of 13 Prospectuses for Shipley Technical Institute and School of Art 1948-1958 (Including Shipley, Bingley & Baildon)
5 Leaflets for Shipley Technical Institute of School and Art 1944-1946 - 2 x 1944-45 - 2 x 1945-46 - 1 x 1946-47
County Council of the West Riding of Yorkshire
Collection of 4 poster notices for Enrolment at Shipley Technical Institute of School and Art - 1949-1955 a) Enrolment at Shipley Centre, Exhibition Road - 1955-56 b) Enrolment at Shipley Art and Technical Institute - 1954-55 c) Enrolment at Technical Institute and School of Art - 1950-51 d) Enrolment at Shipley Technical Institute and School of Art - 1949-50
E2-030: Opening of New Painting and Decorating Department
Opening of New Painting and Decorating Department
Shipley Education Committee School of Art : Opening of New Painting and Decorating Department 29th September 1932
E2-031: New Engineering Department at the Technical Institute
New Engineering Department at the Technical Institute
Shipley Education Committee Technical Institute: Opening of New Engineering Department 21st October 1932
9 original copies of: Shipley Education Committee and Salt Schools Evening Institutes Prize Giving/Annual Speech Day (1931-1938) a) Shipley Education Committee, Schol of Art, Tecnical School & Evening Institutes - Prize Distribtions 1931 b) Shipley Education Committee, Schol of Art, Tecnical School & Evening Institutes - Annual Speech Day Feb 1933 c) Shipley Education Committee, Schol of Art, Tecnical School & Evening Institutes - List of Prizes Aug 1933 d) Shipley Education Committee, Schol of Art, Tecnical School & Evening Institutes - Annual Speech Day Aug 1934 e) Shipley Education Committee, Schol of Art, Tecnical School & Evening Institutes - Annual Speech Day Aug 1935 f) Shipley Education Committee, Schol of Art, Tecnical School & Evening Institutes - Annual Speech Day Aug 1936 g) Shipley Education Committee, Schol of Art, Tecnical School & Evening Institutes - Annual Speech Day Feb 1932 h) Shipley Education Committee, Schol of Art, Tecnical School & Evening Institutes - Annual Speech Day Aug 1937 i) Shipley Education Committee, Schol of Art, Tecnical School & Evening Institutes - Annual Speech Day Aug 1938
School prize givings: Report - front cover
E2-033a-k: Salt School's Technical School Prospectuses (1927-1940)
Salt School's Technical School Prospectuses (1927-1940)
11 original copies of: Salt Schools Technical School Prospectuses (1927-1939) a) Prospectus Science & Manual Training Deptment - 1927-28 b) Prospectus Textile Department - 1927-28 c) Prospectus Technical School - 1930-31 d) Prospectus Technical School - 1931-32 e) Prospectus Technical School - 1932-33 f) Prospectus Technical School - 1933-34 g) Prospectus Technical School - 1934-35 h) Prospectus Technical School - 1935-36 i) Prospectus Technical School - 1936-37 j) Prospectus Technical School - 1938-39 k) Prospectus Technical School - 1939-40
Salt School's Technical School Prospectuses (1927-1940): Prospectus 1927-1928 - front cover
Salt School's Technical School Prospectuses (1927-1940): Prospectus 1927-1928 - pages 4 and 5
Salt School's Technical School Prospectuses (1927-1940): Prospectus 1927-1928 - pages 8 and 9
Salt School's Technical School Prospectuses (1927-1940): Prospectus 1927-1928 - pages 14 and 15
Salt School's Technical School Prospectuses (1927-1940): Prospecuts 1927-1928 - front cover
Salt School's Technical School Prospectuses (1927-1940): Prospecuts 1927-1928 - pages 12 and 13
Salt School's Technical School Prospectuses (1927-1940): Prospecuts 1927-1928 - pages 14 and 15
Salt School's Technical School Prospectuses (1927-1940): Prospecuts 1927-1928 - pages 18 and 19
Salt School's Technical School Prospectuses (1927-1940): Prospectus 1930-1931 - front cover
Salt School's Technical School Prospectuses (1927-1940): Prospectus 1933-1934 - front cover
Salt School's Technical School Prospectuses (1927-1940): Prospectus 1933-1934 - pages 6 and 7
Salt School's Technical School Prospectuses (1927-1940): Prospectus 1933-1934 - pages 18 and 19
Salt School's Technical School Prospectuses (1927-1940): Prospectus 1936-37 - front cover
Copy of a hard back book 'The Art of the Book' (1914) with signature of W.C.Foster
Copy of a hard back book 'The Art of the Book' (1951)
Copy of a hard back book 'The Alphabet' (1918) with signature of W.C.Foster
Laminated copy of a poster for exhibition of paintings by 'Walter C. Foster 1887-1929' Held at Bradford College 24th March 2016
Large laminated copy of a poster for exhibition of paintings by 'Walter C. Foster ARCA: Reafirmation'. Held at Bradford College 2016
Laminated copy of a letter from Clare Lamkin of Bradford College inviting friends to the exhibition of paintings by 'Walter C. Foster 1887-1929' Held at Bradford College 24th March 2016
Original copy of a small notice on the W.C.Foster exhibition at Cliffe Castle
Framed limited edition print of a water-colour of 'Cottages by a Stream' by W.C. Foster (1887-1929). Foster was a head teacher at Shipley Scool of Art, based in the Exhibition Building in Saltaire.
No copyright restrictions. Please acknowledge the work's author (if known) and the item's source
E2-049: Article about W.C. Foster and David Foster
Article about W.C. Foster and David Foster
Newapaper cutting on W.C. Foster and David Foster his grandson
Newspaper cutting and photograph re. George Long, Head of Spinning at Salts Mill, and Instructor at Shipley Technical College
Photocopy of letter from Shipley Education Committee appointig George Long as a Lecturer at Shipley Technical School. (24th June 1924)
Letter from Bertha Long, daughter of George Long, re. her father George
Copy of an Examination Certificate from Shipley Technical School for Bertha Long (1922-23)
E2-062a-c: Student Admission Ticket for L. Coles
Shipley Technical Schools: Student Admission Ticket for L. Coles? (1924-25)
E2-063: Education - Technical School : Documents
Education - Technical School : Documents
A notice: Shipley Eduction Committee - School of Art Season 1920-21
E2-064: Technical School reopening poster
Advert entitled 'Technical School re-opening 20th September 1920'
E2-065.1: Courses of Instruction: Drawing, Printing etc
Courses of Instruction: Drawing, Printing etc
A notice: Courses of Instruction: Drawing, Printing etc. 20th September 1920
E2-065.2: Courses of Instruction: Drawing, Printing etc.
A notice 'Courses of Instruction: Drawing, Printing etc. 20th September 1920'
E2-066: End of Term Dinner for the Public Speaking Class
End of Term Dinner for the Public Speaking Class
Copy of programme for 'Shipley Institute of Further Education: End of Term Dinner for the Public Speaking Class' (11th April 1957)
E2-067: Affiliation of Voluntary Societies to the Institute of Further Education
Affiliation of Voluntary Societies to the Institute of Further Education
Mounted board of notice 'Affiliation of Voluntary Societies to the Institute of Further Education' 1956-57
E2-068a-b: Shipley Art & Technical Institute Prize
Book-plate of: 'Shipley Art & Technical Institute Prize Awarded to Maureen Campbell'
Copy of an article: 'A Student 100 years Ago' by Hey, Tony (1987)
E2-074: Building accounts for the 'New Science & Arts School
Building accounts for the 'New Science & Arts School
Photocopy of the building accounts for the 'New Science & Arts School (April 1887)
E2-075: Subscription for a memorial for Sir Titus Salt for the Science & Art School
Subscription for a memorial for Sir Titus Salt for the Science & Art School
3 photocopies of items re. subscription for a memorial for Sir Titus Salt for the Science & Art School
E2-080: Kan'ei gafu - Kan'ei Pictorial Album
Colour illustrated book depicting floral designs. Illustrated by Nishiyama Kan'ei (1833-1897). Originally a reference book from the Technical school library, now Shipley College. Photocopied album of Ancient Chinese flora designs by Hirota Guozon (1885)
Kan'ei gafu - Kan'ei Pictorial Album: Front cover
Kan'ei gafu - Kan'ei Pictorial Album: Back cover
Kan'ei gafu - Kan'ei Pictorial Album: One of the many hand painted illustrations
Illustrated pattern book; 'Kodai Karakusa Moyo Shu, Zen', Collection of Ancient Karakusa (Arabesque) Patterns. The prints are bound into a book, which is from Japan. Previously part of The Salt Schools, Technical Schools Reference Library. The information about the books was suplied in a letter from a Dr at Cambridge University Library.
Kodai Karakusu moyo shu: Illustration inside
E2-083: letter from Cambridge University Library
letter from Cambridge University Library
A letter from Cambridge University Library about the two books [E2-080 and E2-082] from Japan, translating the titles and providing other details.
Staff Find: Cambridge University Library
City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council
Architects plans with the title: 'Shipley College Main Building (Bradford City Architects 1992), but the building in the designs is in fact what is now known and was opened as the Exhibition Building on Exhibition Road. Its not clear what the plans were for but an extension is shown to the right of the building which would have gone into the current carpark. The plan referse to proposal 7 which we don't have a copy of.
E2-100: Advert for Shipley Technical Institute
Advertising notice: 'Shipley Technical Institute Session 1948-49'
E2-104: John Hulme Pupil and Teacher 1935-1940
Information sheet: 'John Hulme Pupil and Teacher 1935-1940' - Shipley School of Art
E2-106: Art Course Certificate for John Hulme
Art Course Certificate from Shipley Art School for John Hulme (1935-1936)
E2-107: Art Course Certificate for John Hulme
Art Course Certificate from Shipley Art School for John Hulme (1936-1937)
E2-108: Modelling Room in Shipley Art School
Photocopy of 'Modelling Room' in Shipley Art School
E2-109: Shipley School of Art teachers and pupils
Shipley School of Art teachers and pupils
Photograph of John Hulme with students and teachers on the front steps of the Shipley School of Art (The date on the back says 1925, but this cannot be correct given John Hulme's dates)
E2-110: Exhibition of Works by Bradford Artists at Cartwright Hall
Exhibition of Works by Bradford Artists at Cartwright Hall
Booklet: 'Exhibition of Works by Bradford Artists at Cartwright Hall' (1951)
E2-121: Princess Anne's visit to Shipley College
Princess Anne's visit to Shipley College
Sheet of photographs of Princess Anne's visit to Shipley College (1996)
E2-130a,b,c: Poster for Shipley Technical Institute 1948-1949 Session
Poster for Shipley Technical Institute 1948-1949 Session
E2-131: Enrolment poster for Shipley School of Art '
Enrolment poster for Shipley School of Art '
Enrolment poster for Shipley School of Art 'Art, Craft & Trade Courses' (Sept. 1920)
E2-132: Poster for: Shipley Technical Institute Enrolment'
Poster for: Shipley Technical Institute Enrolment'
Large mounted poster for Shipley Technical Institute Enrolment
E2-133: Poster for Shipley Education Committee 'Re-Opening of the Technical Schools 1920
Poster for Shipley Education Committee 'Re-Opening of the Technical Schools 1920
E2-134a: Poster for opening of School of Art in Saltaire
Poster for opening of School of Art in Saltaire
Posters for Shipley Education Committee 'Re-Opening of the School of Art 1920-21 in Saltaire
E2-135: Colour plates from Grammar of Ornament
A set of Coloured printed plates from the 'The Grammar of Ornament', a clasic book of design by Owen Jones. Originaly published in 1856, it became established as a definitive work on ornamental designs taking inspiration from sources around the world. The book inlcuded some colour plates showing the designs. The book was used by students in the Technical and Art School.
Colour plates from Grammar of Ornament: Plate I, Savage Tribes No 1
Colour plates from Grammar of Ornament: Plate L[ ], Indian No 3
Colour plates from Grammar of Ornament: Plate LX, Stained glass
Colour plates from Grammar of Ornament: Plate LXXXVII, Italian No 2
Colour plates from Grammar of Ornament: Plate XL, Moresque No 5
Colour plates from Grammar of Ornament: Plate XL, Persian No 2
Colour plates from Grammar of Ornament: Plate XXX, Arabian No 5
E2b-006: Princess Anne visits Shipley College
Set of 11 photographs relating to Princess Anne's visit to Shipley College in 1996 for the opening of the refurbished Exhibition Building.
Photograph of the arrival of Princess Beatrice at the Exhibition Building in 1887. Princess Beatrice opened the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition being held in Saltaire.
E2b-010a-b: Education - Shipley College : Images
A photograph-print + mounted-board of Princess Beatrice arriving for the opening of the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition and the School of Arts & Science (6th May 1887)
Photograph of the 'A Studio in the School of Art' (1915-16 Prospectus)
Photograph of the 'Textile Lecture Room' (Shipley Education Week 1925)
Photograph of the 'Painters & Decorators Room' (Shipley Education Week 1925)
Photograph of 'The Interior of the Engineering Workshop' (1932)
1 Laminated copy of a photograph of 'The Chemical Laboratory' (1915-16 Prospectus)
E2b-024b: Hall and balcony of Shipley Technical School
Hall and balcony of Shipley Technical School
Photograph of Shipley Technical School - Hall and Balcony
Board Mounted photograph of Shipley Technical School from Exhibition Road
E2b-026b: Shipley Technical School viewed from Caroline Street
Shipley Technical School viewed from Caroline Street
Photograph of Shipley Technical School on Exhibition Road in Saltaire taken from nearby Caroline Street. The image appears in the Technical School prospectus for 1919-1920. The Technical School was originally named the School of Art and Science. It is now part of Shipley College.
E2b-027: Shipley College Exhibition Building
Photograph of the Exhibition Building of Shipley College from the 1970s. The front of the bulding on Exhibition Road is shown
A copy of a photograph of 'Spinning & Weaving shed' from Shipley Technical School Prospectus 1915
E2b-029: Education - Shipley College : Images
Photograph of Engineering Apprentices at Shipley College Exhibition Road Building
E2b-031a-b: Education - Shipley College : Images
Mounted photograph of Exhibition of floral display in College Hall + photograph of same
E2b-036a-b: Students in the College gardens
Photograph of students in the College gardens (now the Silver Building and greenhouses) where the students learned horticulture. The images shows the students working on separate laid out beds, growing flowers, fruit and vegetables. The greenhouse that ran the length of the garden parallel to Caroline Street. During the preparation for building this greenhouse in 1967 (circa) a Chinese sculpture was discovered (now part of the Collection) it is believed this was part of the Japanese village that was an exhibit in the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition in 1887.
Photograph of a typing class at Shipley Technical School
Photograph of Painting & Decorating class at Shipley Technical School
Board-mounted photograph of Painting & Decorating class at Shipley Technical School
E2b-080: Education - Shipley College : Images
Album of photographs of: 'The opening of the refurbished Exhibition Road Building by H.R.H. Princess Anne (January 11th 1996)
E2b-081: Education - Shipley College : Images
Photocopies of 4 newspaper cuttings on security issuse for the visit of Princess Anne (Jan. 12th 1996)
E2b-083: Education - Shipley College : Images
Album of modern photographs of: 'The Exhibition and Salt Buildings + Salts Mill and the village'
3 Copies of plan of 'A Palace of Delight' The original layout of the 1887 Saltaire Exhibition
E2c-014a-e: Education - Shipley College (Plans)
5 copies of plan of the layout of grounds for the 1887 Saltaire Jubilee Exhibition
E2c-015: Education - Shipley College (Plans)
Copy of plan for a Police Station for the 1887 Saltaire Jubilee Exhibition
Newspaper cuttings of articles about Norman Rae for an exhibition mounted by Friends of Northcliffe Park
Northcliffe, Shipley, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Northcliffe Woods: People walking in the woods
Newspaper cuttings of articles about Norman Rae for an exhibition mounted by Friends of Northcliffe
F1a-191: 'The Alpaca - Its Introduction to Australia
'The Alpaca - Its Introduction to Australia
A paper read before the Society of Arts London by George Ledger. George Ledger was the brother of Charles Ledger the main importer of alpacas from Peru. The paper outlines the story of Titus Salt's involvement with the early production.
Original work out of copyright. Digital version courtesy of the State Library of Victoria, Australia
THE . ALPACA:^ ITS INTRODUCTION INTO AUSTRALIA, PROBABILITIES OF ITS ACCLIMATISATION THERE. A PAPER READ BEFORE THE SOCIETY OP ARTS, LONDON, GEORGE LEDGEE, ESQ. Itrpublisbrb bjr lljc gtacHmatisatioir Sociclji of Victoria., “ There is nothing in the world really beneficial that does not lie w ithin the reach of an informed understanding, and a well-directed pursuit/'— U ckke gttrlboHriu: t ) MASON & FIRTH, PRINTERS, 1G ELIZABETH STREET,. INTRODUCTION. In the last pamphlet issued by the Acclimatisation Society, a rapid survey was taken of numerous animals capable of introduction to countries not yet supplied with them, and calculated to add greatly to the prosperity or pleasurable occupation of such countries. In the present number one animal of that list is dealt with more at large, and one which, from what is already known of it. may be pronounced of inestimable value, and to Australia probably more than to any other country in the world. The narrative of Mr. L edger’s spirited, and now successful, enter­ prise in introducing the Alpaca to our shores, is likely shortly, it is understood, to assume a more complete and elaborate form. In the meantime, the particulars furnished to his brother in London, and by him laid before the Society of Arts, will be read with interest by those principally conccrned in the successful result of that great undertaking. The Alpaca may now be considered permanently established amongst us, and furnishes one notable example of the invaluable additions to our live stock, that, by a judicious system of acclimatisation, may be culled from the enormous list of 140,000 different animals, from which we are assured on the best authority that we may select. In this paper it is predicted that in fifty years an export of nine millions sterling in alpaca wool will be established from Mr. L edger’s flock alone. But, as tending greatly to hasten the day at which such a result is attained, it is important to know that .already a gentleman has arrived in Melbourne, representing an influential commercial house in Peru, which has obtained “ concessions” from the Peruvian and Bolivian Governments for the exportation of 1,500 animals, and who is making arrangements to negotiate their introduction to these colonies. All accounts, to the most recent, are in the highest degree favor­ able to the project of establishing this animal in Australia. The flock introduced into New South Wales has increased from 283 in 1859 to 417 in 1861. The small herd in the Melbourne gardens has increased from 19 in 1859 to 45 in 1861, and in either flock casualties are almost unknown. Tho most favorable accounts have also been received of ten introduced in 1859 into Queensland, and referred to in this pamphlet. “ No deaths had occurred, and the increase exceeded the most sanguine expectations.” In a recent communication, Mr. L edger states that, having several months since depastured a portion of his animals on lucerne, a portion on clover, and a portion on the natural grasses—that fed on the indigenous pasture was unquestionably in the highest and healthiest condition. One of those lately slaughtered for the Great Exhibition contained 22 lbs. of inside fat. Mr. L edger also states that the superior pasture, and more scien­ tific tending of the Alpaca in Australia, produce a finer, larger, stronger, and in every way superior animal to any ever produced in * South America; that the staple of wool is excellent, owing to the non-existence of such extraordinary transitions -of climate as the animal is subject to in South America—three months of abundant grass, .and nine of mere scanty pickings. One fleece sheared in Sydney, of twenty-one months’ growth, weighed 2G lbs. The great adaptability of the Alpaca to Australia is remarked upon owing to its being a Irowsimj animal as well as a grazing one. It> feeds eagerly on shrubs and trees, and, if deprived altogether of grass, would subsist easily upon tho coarser plants constituting our ordinary “ scrubs.” The flesh was recently experimented upon in Sydney, and favor­ able reports were made by the several hundreds who tasted it. To the successful acclimatisation among us of this animal and its congeners, the Llama and Vicuna, the Society look therefore with the greatest interest. It is impossible to say of what value it may become in after years, not certainly as superseding the sheep or any other stock now depasturing amongst us, but rather as feeding over the sheep’s head, eating herbage that nothing else will cat, and from its little use of water being adapted to occupy millions of acres unfit for any other purpose. Indeed, it is of the utmost importance to recollect that it is quite possible that it may devolve upon Australia to develop this animal to a degree never yet imagined. It has been hitherto virtually mono­ polised by the South American Indian, one of the most uniinproving of all the races of mankind, the most beset by traditionary prejudices and ridiculous superstitions, calculated in every way to cramp the intellect and prevent improvements. It remains to be shown wliat may be done with animals like these, now to be subjected for the first time to the same treatment that has effected such wonders with the Leicester, Lincoln, or South Down sheep, the short-horn ox, the thorough-bred horse, and other domestic animals long since brought under our control. 2 larly the llama and the alpaca, appeared to partake of the properties of the camel and the sheep. I notice the guanaco first, because it is the largest of these animals, but, as it is scarcely to bo called a wool-producing animal, the supply being insignificant, and little or none of it being exported, X shall very shortly dismiss it from consideration. The region between the Andes, or Eastern Chain, and the Cor­ dilleras, or Western Chain, comprises a vast plateau, or rather many table lands, about 12,000 feet above the level of the sea, which is called by the natives “ Puna.” The surface is principally covered with a short fine grass, and there are many hilly pastures ; and here are found the llama, and the alpaca, the guanaco, and the vicuna, but they are not confined to this region. In summer the flocks of llamas and alpacas are driven to an elevation of 15,000 to 10,000 feet, and in winter to an elevation of 12,000 to 14,000. The guanaco ranges over a greater extent of country than either of the other species, being found on the immense tracts of table land as far south as “ Terra del Fuego,” and north to the slopes of the towering Chimborazo; in appearance it very much resembles the llama, although nearly half as large again—the wool is much shorter, coarser, and intersected jwith hair, and worked up by the Patagonians and Aurocano Indians into blankets, ponchos, ifcc., while its skin is used as a quilt. The meat is the best of the class, and is highly esteemed. It is very seldom domesticated. The vicuna, like tho chamois, inhabits the highest tracts of land; it is the smallest but most graceful animal of either of the species; its flesh is principally used very slightly salted, dried in tho sun, frost, and wind, under the name of charque, although it is not so much esteemed as the flesh of the guanaco or the llama. Its wool is finer and more valued even than that of the alpaca, but its yield is very small, seldom, if ever, exceeding a pound a year. My brother informs me he has succeeded in producing a cross between tho alpaca and the' vicuna, which is termed the paco-vicuna, and that its wool partakes of the peculiar softness and superior fineness of the vicuna, and the greater length of staple of the alpaca. I have also heard from gentlemen who have spent many years in Peru, Chili, <kc., that tho curate of San Antonio, a small town about 40 leagues from Puno, has also succeeded in producing a similar cross, even to the second and third generations, which produce a splendid wool; this reverend gentleman has, I am given to understand, received from the Peru­ vian Assembly a vote of thanks, and his portrait decorates the walla of the museum of Lima, amongst the tho Viceroys of Peru, with an inscription declaring him to have deserved well of his country; ✓ 3 and I believe he enjoys a pension of £120 from the Peruvian Government. Although the quality of the vicuna wool stands so high in tho estimation of manufacturers, the quantity is so small that I have not been able to obtain any record of tho amount brought within the circle of commercial operations, a large quantity being consumed in the country in the manufacture of ponchos, sombrGros, &c. The skins are brought to this country with the wool upon them. The llama, the larger and least valued of tho domesticated animals, about the size of tho red-deer, partakes somewhat of the nature of tho Arabian camel. Like tho camel, it is used a3 a beast of burden ; like the camel, it can live many days without water, but it is more useful than the camel, inasmuch as its flesh is used for food, and, when young, is Bavoury and nutritious; and its wool for clothing, and other useful purposes—to a much greater extent than that of its Arabian compeer. From the earliest periods to which even Peruvian records extend, it appears the llama has been used as a beast of burden; its load is generally from GOlbs. to lOOlbs., and 1501bs., and its rate of travelling about three to five leagues a day; it is driven in flocks of sometimes as many as 500 to 1000, and requires little trouble from the drivers, one of tho oldest and most experienced leading the way, and the others following. The organisation both of the llama and the alpaca is admirably suited to the nature of tho country they inhabit. Tho eye, from its size and shape, indicates the possession of a strong and quick sight, and also enables them to bear the reverberation of the rays of tho sun from the sand and snow; the sole of tho foot is guarded by a cushion, and the toes armed with hard and curved nails, which en­ able them to climb with ease steep and craggy places ; the construc­ tion of the mouth and teeth enables them to cut short grass upon the ground, while, joined to the length of neck, and with the aid of the tongue and cleft lip, they can reach and cull herbage growing in interstices of rocks as well as tho tender shoots of tall shrubs. Tho division of the stomach into compartments enables them to retain both food and water, and to use tho latter iot the assistance of tho process of mastication, or to allay thirst. The number of these animals employed in Peru and Bolivia in the carriage of barrilla, grain, wool, bark, ores, and other products from the interior to the. coast, my brother estimates at over GOO,000, and for the interior communication between town and town, mines and amalgamating establishments, with ore and fuel, at double that number, giving 6 total of 1,800,000 so employed. B 2 \ 4 The llama wool is principally consumed in the country—very little being exported; it is used for sacking in the transport of grain, flour, <tc. About 2,000,000 lbs. are annually consumed in this way. The “ soga,” or cord, by which the load is secured to the back of the animal, will consume'annually another 2,000,000 lbs. Many and varied are the articles manufactured from the llama wool—cordage, carpets, bed coverlets, bags and sacks for various purposes, taking perhaps 2,500,000 lbs. Tho alpaca wool is of greater value and more certain in its demand, so that the llama wool is more used in tho country. Those used as beasts of burthen are never shorn, their wool serving the purposes of a pack The meat of the llama is highly nutritious; the Indians kill off the old ones of their flocks from time -to time during the year. T he A lpaca. The alpaca stands about i feet in height, and is of inferior size to the llama, the size of a full-grown deer, producing a much finer and longer fleece. Tho Indians hold for this animal a superstitious reverence, and most firmly believe that any sufferings the animals may undergo, on being driven off their pasture-grounds, will be visited on them and theirs. In the 16th century, and even from tho remotest times, the Peruvians, being comparatively (to the other tribes of the great continent of America) a civilised people, and well acquainted with the arts of spinning and weaving, fabricated from alpaca wool textures of much delicacy and beauty, which were highly prized as articles of dress. And that the use of them had prevailed for centuries, is proved by the opening of very many of the “ Huacas” or ancient tombs of the Peruvians, in which the dead had been enwrapped in stuffs made from the fleece of the alpaca. The wool having risen in value, and become an article of so much demand, little or none is at present manufactured in the country, or has been for the*last 25 or 30 years. Its fleece is superior to that of the sheep in length and softness, averaging 7 to 9 inches, and sometimes it is procured of an extraordinary length. The fleeces, when annually shorn, range from 7 to 10, 11 and 12 lbs. Contrary to experience in other descriptions of wool, the fibre of the alpaca’s fleece acquires strength without coarseness ; besides, each filament appears straight, well-formed, and free from crispness, and the quality is more uniform throughout the fleece. There is also a transparency, a glittering bright­ ness enhanced on its passing through the dye-vat. It is also distin­ guished by softness and elasticity, essential properties in the manu­ 5 facture of fine goods, being exempt from spiral, curly, and shaggy defects; and it spins easily when treated properly according to tho present improved method, and yields an even, strong and true thread. Notwithstanding the remarkable quality and beauty of the alpaca wool, it was long before its value was appreciated in Europe. According to tho best authorities, the first person in England who produced a marketable fabric made from this material was Mr. Benjamin Outram, a scientific manufacturer, of Greetland, near Hali­ fax, who, about the year 1830, surmounted with much difficulty the obstacles encountered in spinning the wool, and eventually produced an article which sold at high prices for ladies’ carriage shawls and cloakings; but their valuo arose more frpm being rare and curious articles than from intrinsic worth. These were, it is well established, quite destitute of the peculiar gloss and beauty which distinguish the alpaca lustres and fabrics of later times, and after a short period the manufacture was abandoned. To Mr. Titus Salt, of Bradford, mu3t, undoubtedly, be awarded tho high praise of finally overcoming the difficulties of preparing and spinning alpaca wool so as to produce an even and true thread, and, by combining it with cotton warps, which had then (183G) been im­ ported into the trade of Bradford, improving tho manufacture, so as to make it ono of the staple industries of the kingdom ; he has, by an admirable adaptation of machinery, been enabled to work up the material with the ease of ordinary wool. And now, not only are alpaca goods produced in every conceivablo variety and style, but at .all prices, to suit tho means of all classes of tho community. Blended with silk thread, they have tho appearanco of fine lustrous satin; with figures and patterns thrown upon them in silk of different hues, they serve as admirable substitutes for figured silks, both for ladies’ dresses and for waistcoatings, whilst with cotton woven amongst its fibres, the article may bo sold at such a moderate price as to bring it within the reach of the most humble. Gentlemen are provided by mean3 of this fabric with waistcoating as cool as any cotton, yet rich and lustrous as any silk. Dwellers in tropical climates are thankful to possess a black coat which, while it has the appearance of broad-cloth, is not a fourth of its weight. Most of the alpaca wool taken into tho United Kingdom is unshipped at Liverpool, but a small portion is also carried to London. At these two ports, it may be asserted, the whole import is landed. It arrives in small bales, weighing 60, 100, 150 lbs., the first put up for llama carriage, the second for donkey carriage, tho third for mule carriage. Dating from the year 1834, when the importation of alpaca wool 6 sprung up as a permanent branch of commerce, the demand has been a growing one, the quantity imported being in :— lbs. lbs. 1834 ... 5,700 1839 .............. ... 1.325,500 1835 ... ... 184,400 1840 .............. ... 1,650,000 1830 ... ... 199,000 1811.............. ... 1,500,000 1837 ... ... 385,800 1842.............. ... 1,443,299 183S ... ... 459,300 Since the year 1843, the returns of alpaca wool imported into Great Britain are of a more reliable character. The following table has been drawn up from data furnished by the Board of Trade:— • lba. lbs. 1843 ..........................1,45S,032 1852 ... .............. 2,008,594 1844 .......................... 635,357 1853 ... .............. 2,148,267 1845 .......................... 1,261,905 1S54 ... .............. 1,267,513 1846 .......................... 1,554,287 1855 ... .............. 1,446,707 1847 .......................... 1,527,300 1856 ... .............. 2,974,493 1848 .......................... 1,521,370 1857 ... .............. 2,359,013 1849 . ........................ 1,655,800 1858 ... .............. 2,688,133 1850 .......................... 1,052,295 1859 ... .............. 2,501,634 1851 ..........................2,013,202 The bulk of these importations have been consumed in England, and the quantity re-shipped for tho Continent has been comparatively trifling in amount. We must yet allow some 500,000 lbs. shipped annually from Peru to France and Germany. In 1836, the price was 8d. per lb. During the last ten years, the price has fluctuated considerably, from Is. 8d. per lb. to 3s. Od. It may be interesting to inquiro 'whether this large supply will be continued, and I regret I am compelled to form the opinion that it ■will not, unless a change takes place in the manner in which the trade is conducted, unless justice and right are better observed, and unless tho Indians (shepherds and owners of flocks) are considered as, and treated as, brother traders, instead of mere producers of raw material. I am fearful the sudden increase of the demand was the cause of greater efforts being made to meet it, which have not been attended by a corresponding effort to increase the number of the animals. I fear the practice of the Indian not to shear tho female alpaca has been departed from, and a decrease in the flocks will result. It is true that tho attention lately drawn to the value of the wool of the alpaca may also lead to a more intelligent system of cultivation ; indeed, I learn from my brother that a friend of his, who in 1843 did not possess a single alpaca, in 1857 had 15,000 on a large estate held by him. I will give you an example of how the “ trade” is carried on. A party, by some means or other, procures tho appointment of “Gover- 7 nador” of a district, and quickly enters into a . contract with some mercantile establishment on the coast for a supply of say 500 to 1,000 quintals (100 lbs.) of alpaca wool at 50 dollars (Peruvian) per quintal. As soon as the contract is made, he orders tho appearance before him, on the day fixed, of all the “ Ylacatas,” chiefs or heads of communities, within his jurisdiction; he then apportions tho quantity of alpaca wool to be delivered by each, according to tho number of alpacas possessed by the community he represents; pay­ ment in full is then made in advance, at rates varying from 10 dollars to 15 dollars per quintal. The wool thu3 collcctcd is tightly pressed by the hands and feet into sacks, weighing 110 lbs., and tho Ylacatas are ordered to supply, in tho same manner, the requisite number of llamas for the carriage of the wool to its destination. Any resistance on the part of the Indians to supply the wool, and llamas for its carriage, is met by the Governador by imposition of most harassing gratuitous service to the state, such as repairs of roads, foot postmen, domestic servitude; and often by sending tho party guilty of desiring to do what he thought fit with his own, as a recruit to tho first regiment at hand, with “ official” recommendation to tho command­ ant thereof that effectually prevents the Indian for a long time, and often for ever, again entertaining tho dangerous and turbulent idea of opposing tho wishes of his Governador. Do not suppose that tho above is a sketch of an exception to the generality of those in autho­ rity over the Peruvian and Bolivian Indian—far, very far, from it; it is, indeed, the rule that actuates tho conduct of sub-prefect to turnkey downwards, in all the provinces of the interior of thoso countries where the Indian is to be met with. If the Indian sees tho Ylacata coming towards his hut, and, divining his intent, runs away to hide himself, he does not avoid his persecutor. On his return, he finds the money on the floor, or suspended in a bag from the rafters, with an intimation of the quantity of wool required at 10 to 15 dollars per quintal, and the time of delivery ; he cannot help seeing it, and is obliged to take it and supply tho wool. If he docs not, his alpacas are shorn, and even then, if there is not wool enough to make up tho quantity, he is put in prison to force him to pay tho deficit at the price contracted to the mcrchaut, and, if this is not paid, his flocks of sheep, alpacas, llamas, <fcc., aro sold to make up tho amount. As a beast of burthen tho alpaca is little used, tho Peruvian Indians have too much veneration for it, and would consider it a sacrilege so to use it. Europeans, however, occasionally make use of it, and, I believe, in the quicksilver mines of Huancavelica it is found nearly as useful as the llama, although the load it will carry is smaller. 8 The alpaca was formerly but little used for food by the Peruvian Indians; they seldom, if ever, killed it for the purpose, but would eat it when it died a natural death. Of course, when so obtained, it did not rank high. It has latterly been more used, and, when young, is by some considered delicate and nutritious. There is still another animal which demands my attention, and which is probably destined to play a considerable part in the future history of wool-producing animals. I mean the cross between tho alpaca and the llama, called machurgas, from “ machorra,” a Spanish word, meaning a barren sheep, of which there are frequent instances in Peru and Bolivia. Walton, in his work, says :— “ From the alliance a beautiful hybrid results, if possible, finer to the eye than either parent, and also moro easily trained to work, but, like the mule, it does not procreate in which he is confirmed by General O’Brien, who resided twenty years in Peru, ten of which he served as aide-de-camp to San Martin, tho Liberator, a great traveller on the Andes, and a landed proprietor and miner. Tho General says:— “ There is, however, a beautiful animal produced between the llama and alpaca, much handsomer in form and figure than either, also better adapted for work, but it does not breed. These are the animals I principally used at my mines to bring down the ores from tho mountains.” In some parts of Peru and Bolivia, these animals, I am informed, are known by the name of guarisso, which is derived from the Qui- chua Indian, and signifies a foul thing. I am not about to enter into a discussion on the vexed question of “ fixity of species.” I must leave this to be settled by others much more competent to deal with such scientific questions than I profess myself to be, but I must direct their attention to this fact, that tho opinions of Walton and O’Brien must now be considered as proved to have been entirely unfounded, my brother having bred animals to tho third generation, from female machurgas or guarissos, by revert­ ing back to the original alpaca stock on the male side. I find mention has been made of yet another animal, tho aviru, said to exist in immense numbers in Patagonia; but whether this is a new species, or a variety of the vicuna, has not yet been determined. A rug mado from its skins, by tho native Patagonians, was exhibited at a meeting of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Liverpool, 18th May, 1857. It would, indeed, be surprising if animals, so useful to man in every­ way as the llama and the alpaca, producing him food, and clothing, both in the shape of skins and wool, and helping him in his labors* should not have created in tho conquerers of Pern and Bolivia, and their successors, a desire to transfer them to their own countries. Such has been the case; many have been taken to various parts of Europe—royalty led the van, nobility followed—but, as might have been, anticipated, the representatives of commerco have been most active. Time does not permit me to attempt any account of tho llamas and alpacas that have been introduced into this country and other parts of Europe, which, notwithstanding all tho care bestowed upon them, although they appear to breed, do not appear to have be­ come perfectly acclimatised. Thoy have been regarded as rare and cuijous animals, fitted for the ornamentation of tho parks of our nobility and gentry, than as an article of commerce. I will not here enter into a discusion of whether, under favorable circumstances, the alpaca might not be acclimatised in some parts of this country j I am rather inclined to the opinion that when we know more about it, and its peculiar habits and wants, it perhaps may. I am afraid tho main cause why it has not, and perhaps will not, thrive with us, is the humidity of our atmosphere, and dampness of our soil, as well as tho unsuitableness of our grasses for its sustenance. Its favorite food in its native country is'the ichu or ycho, a rushy kind of grass, of which it is immoderately fond, and which I believe is not found in this country. Many animals had been exported, and in 1844 tho British Consul at Arica was requested to send homo sixteen alpacas for her Majesty Queen Victoria, eight of which were shipped on board a vessel-of-war, and eight were brought to Liverpool by the Octavia. The day after their embarkation, General Yguain (then Prefect of tho department of Tacna) was perfectly furious at their having been placed beyond his reach, and raked up an old decree of 1829, strictly prohibiting the exportation of alpacas under very severe penalties—but which had remained a dead letter, seldom, if ever, put into operation, and tho existence of which was almost unknown, and stopped the expor­ tation of a further flock of 40 alpacas intended for Germany, appealing of the Government at Lima to support his act, which resulted in a de­ cree of Congress, April 5,1845, prohibiting the exportation of alpaca3 in all the ports of Peru, imposing very severe penalties on those caught infringing tho law, which has been strictly enforced up to this day. This decree has not allayed, as it could not allay, tho desire to possess them; opposition often becomes the parent of determination, and when a thing is denied to us we often attach a greater value to it than it deserves, and become more intent on its possession, even when it is not worthy of the efforts we make to obtain it. 10 The vast success that had attended the introduction of the Merino sheep into our Australian Colonies, and the supposed suitability of its climate and vegetation to the alpaca, led to many attempts being made to introduce them there, but without success. My brother was led to consider a plan, which ho ultimately executed, of getting them out of the country, for which he was peculiarly qualified by his long residence (from 1836), his intimate acquaintance with the inhabitants of the interior, and their languages and customs, acquired by having been the representative of some of the first mer­ cantile houses in the country, in making contracts with the Indians for wool, bark, &c., and in frequent journeyings in their superin­ tendence. He writes thus :— “ Several times, from 1845 to 1848, 'were applications made to me by different parties to get alpacas out of the country, but as I well knew that •any such attempt must be attended by difficulties of no ordinary nature, 1 paid no attention to them. I began at that time to think that this valuable animal required being better known, and ita habits studied, hoping that in course of time the decree would be annulled, or some revolution in the country would enable me to get them out through a Peruvian port. In the beginning of 1848 I rented a large estate, Chulluncayani, on the frontier of Peru and Bolivia, and among other occupations, such as collecting wools, copper from Corocoro, and Peruvian bark, commenced breeding the alpaca ; little by lit­ tle I collected at first 200 ; all sorts of stratagems had I to make use of to obtain these, and then they were old and many infirm ones ; every means were devised by the Indians on the estate to prevent my breeding them, but after all, in 1851, I succeeded in being the possessor of more than GOO." In February, 1852, my brother entered into arrangements with a gentleman of Tacna to carry out the undertaking, and immediately started for his estate at Chulluncayani; and after giving directions that in December or January, when the fresh pasturage would begin to appear and render driving them practicable, they should com­ mence their journey towards tho frontier of the Argentine Confedera­ tion, he returned to Tacna, and went thenco to Valparaiso, from which port he embarked on the 24th of December for Port Phillip, en route for Sydney, for the purpose of ascertaining, from personal inspection, whether the country into which he was purposing to in­ troduce the alpaca was adapted for its naturalisation. In the follow­ ing March he landed at Twofold Bay, and, in company with a Peru­ vian gentleman who had accompanied him, made some excursions for about 12 leagues inland, which satisfied him that “the country was most admirably adapted for the alpaca.” On the 22nd of March he arrived at Sydney, where he “ became more and more satisfied as to the adaptability of the country for successfully rearing tho llama species. Here, as in South America, the climate is dry ; it matters not how much rain may fall (even for eight days consecutively), the rarity of the air is not affected by it j there may be, no doubt there is, I 11 a difference in the atmosphere immediately before and after heavy rains, but I contend no difference exists in the rarity of the air.” On the 21st May he left Sydney, arriving in Valparaiso July 3rd, where he was compelled to seek for a new partner in his enterprise, Mr.----- declining to go on with the matter, and even threatening to divulgo the plan to the Government, and succeeded in concluding an arrange­ ment with Messrs. Boardman, Dickson and Co. (with others), for carrying out his project. Peru was then at war with Bolivia, and the attention of the latter Government would naturally bo called to its northen frontier, leaving the southern one, through which my brother proposed driving his flock, without troops, and comparatively open to him ; accordingly, without delay, he went to Caldera, and thence to Copiapo, and commcnced his preparations for crossing tho Cordilleras to the province of Salta, in the Argentine Confederation, and thence into Bolivia, to endeavour personally to learn what had become of the animals he had directed, in the previous September, to bo driven in that direction from Chulluncayani. At Copiapo he again met with a Mr. Samuel W. de Blois, of Hali­ fax, Nova Scotia, a fellow passenger-from Sydney, who was desirous of seeing a part of the interior of South America, and he became his companion. Accordingly, on 17th September, 1853, my brother, Mr. Dc Blois, Pedro Cabrera, their guide, and Pablo Soza, as general servant, with 12 mules and two horses with bells to keep their mulc3 together, left Copiapo, much against the opinion of many friends, it being considered too early to attempt the journey, Pedro, hi3 guide, saying, “ Certainly it was early, but with good mules it might be done.” After encountering terrific storms of wind, drift snow and sand, and sustaining a loss of one horse and two mules, passing by the remains of a party of fifteen men and thirty mules that had perished two years before, besides fre­ quently being reminded of the dangers of their journey by the skele­ tons of mules, oxen and donkeys which clearly marked the road, on the 25th they attained the highest ridge, 12,000 feet above the level of the sea, and on the 27th they arrived at Sangil, or St. Gil, the inhabitants of which could hardly believe any person so adventurous as to attempt the passes so early in tho season. On ICth October they arrived at Salta, 240 leagues from Copiapo. Salta has a popu­ lation of 10,000, and the governor of tho province resides here. From Salta, Pedro was dispatched in search of the flock of alpacas, with directions to meet his master at San Christobal, distant 250 leagues, while my brother returned to Molinos with Mr. De Blois, with the intention of seeing him on his road back to Copiapo, and left him at Laguna Blanca, on November 8, 1853. From this date 12 to July, 1858, that of his arrival at Copiapo, with more than 300 llamas, alpacas, vicunas, and their cross products, my brother either procured from the Indians, or bred, great numbers of animals, more than 1,000 of which he succeeded in getting into the territory of the Argentine Confederation; but these numbers were being constantly reduced by the inclemency of the weather (losing 200 of them in one snow-storm), tho difficulty of obtaining food, and from his flock having drank of the water of a lake infested with leeches. A second time he was compelled to cross and re-cross the terrible Cordillera to obtain the necessary funds :— “ In January, 1854, it now became necessary for my proceeding to Salta, to receive tlio money that I expected Messrs. Boardxnan, Dickson and Co. would have placed there for me. On my arrival some eight days afterwards, I found that they, in lieu of sending funds, had determined to relinquish participation in tho speculation. Without hesitation, I immediately deter­ mined on proceeding to Valparaiso, and I accomplished the distance—240 leagues, or 720 miles—in nine days. I arrived just in time to catch tho steamer passing Caldera for Valparaiso, on the 10th February, and arrived in Valparaiso on the 12th. Since leaving Copiapo, on the 17th September, 1853, I had gone over more than 3,000 miles on mule back. Finding that Messrs. Boardman, Dickson and Co. were determined to have nothing more to do with the speculation, I soon camo to terms with Messrs. Waddington, Tern-, pieman and Co., for carrying out the undertaking.” It would occupy more time than is allowed to me to trace month by month, or even year by year, the dangers, privations, and vicissi­ tudes he, his shepherds, and his flocks, passed through, during these following four years. They trench on the romantic. His mules and donkeys were frozen to death; two of his shepherds, with their mules, were dashed to pieces, by falling over precipices; he was taken for a political spy, which idea he did not discourage, as it enabled him to keep his true purpose disguised. Twice ho was ar­ rested, and once had to defend his flock from forcible seizure. The loss of upwards of 200 of his flock from drinking of the water of a leech-infested lake, in the Calchaquies valleys, compelled him to seek a new spot in which he could habituate his animals by degrees to the kind of food he would bo compelled to depend upon for their maintenance during their sea voyage, and also to carry out a plan he had devised of improving tho wool of the llama by crossing with the alpaca. This spot was Laguna Blanca, “ one of the four valleys which commence from the high table-lands to the west of Tucuman up to the main chain of the Cordillera. It lies in about twenty- seven degrees south latitude, but is nevertheless surrounded by per­ petual snow, which crowns the mountain peaks enclosing the valley.” Being satisfied that he had at length found a desirable spot for the pro­ pagation of the species, not only did he at length acquire a new flock of alpacas, acclimatised to temperatures less pure and rigorous 13 than those in which their predecessors had been reared, but suc­ ceeded in educating them to a certain extent for the great voyage which lay before them. Ho built a hut of stones for himself and people, which furnished an indifferent shelter from tho inclemency of the weather. For the animals, largo yards were enclosed and pro­ vided with troughs, in which they were supplied with their daily rations of dry alfalfa, cut up and mixed with bran, to which they became gradually accustomed. On the arrival of tho flock at Co- piapo, after almost unexampled hardships, and a separation from his family of six years, in May, 1858, great excitement was excited by their novelty. The city was almost deserted for several days, tho people forming an uninterrupted procession between it and Punta Ncgra (a distance of six miles), where the flocks were at pasture. At length, in July, 1858, 322 animals were shipped at Copiapo, on • board tho Salvadora, of 750 tons. Respecting the manner in which these animals were got away, my brother says, “ In no way have I infringed a single law of either Peru or Bolivia—to break or infringe a law or decree of a Govern­ ment is one thing, to evade the intention is another thing. The decrees promulgated state that it is illegal to drive alpacas within a distance of 40 leagues of the sea-shore, and the penalty for so doing is the loss of tho animals ; and every person found with them, and the owners, although not with them, are condemned to ten years labour in chains on the Chincha, or Guano Islands. To smuggle alpacas out of Peru, if successfully accomplished, could be done in twenty days. To avoid being amenable to such law, is why I took such a round­ about way as getting the animals first into the Argentine provinces, and then into Chili for embarkation, in neither of which countries do such restrictions exist.” The fundamental principle of human society, laid down equally by statists and revealed law, is that “ tho profit of the earth is for all.” For the sake of peace—of the settlement of property and society—of political expediency and the comity of nations—that doctrine has, by the common consent of states, undergone modifica­ tion ; but the title of all mankind to inherit the common bounties of the Creator, and the varied gifts of nature, is still tho governing principle of political ethics. The Chinese war has by many been deemed sufficiently justified, on the ground that no people are en­ titled to seal up their territory from tho general intercourse of man­ kind, and to withhold the contribution of their peculiar products from the common stock of human enjoyment. Of all regions of the earth, that of South America is the most de­ pendent on other countries for useful products. When discovered, 14 it had neither horse, ox, sheep, or pig. All those have been pre­ sented to it by the Old World, and Peru requites those gifts by the positive prohibition of the export of its most valuable animal pro­ duct, thus refusing to mankind a participation in the benefits it i8 calculated to confer. The Government of Peru has not imposed a heavy tax on the ex­ port of the alpaca. It has not restricted it, confined it within stringent conditions, or regulated the export by irksome custom­ house regulations. My brother would willingly have paid any amount of taxation, or complied with any conditions the Government might impose, but it would make no terms, listen to no conditions, hear of no compromise. It insisted on the preservation of a mo­ nopoly of an animal whose produce was so useful to man, in viola­ tion of that impartiality of commercial intercourse which friendly nations were entitled to expect from its laws. It acted upon the anti-social and anti-mercantilo maxim, of appropriating exclusively to itself a gift and blessing intended for the common benefit of man­ kind. I say, unhesitatingly, that it is a much smaller breach of the strict law of political or commercial morality to evade, or even to break such a law, than it is to make it, and that the obligations of patriotism impelled my brother “ to do a right thing by doing a lit­ tle wrong,” in the evasion of a prohibition contrary to the laws of nature, and inimical to the interests of mankind. I may add, that if my brother’s act may be called by some, politically or commercially, not strictly moral, he at least sins in very respectable company. The introduction of one of the earliest flocks of Merino sheep into t h i 3 country was accomplished under very similar circumstances. George III., in 1787, determined to give them a fair trial, and a few from one flock and a few from another were collected in Estramadura, on the borders of Portugal, and as they could not be shipped from any Spanish port without a licence from tho King of Spain, they were driven through Portugal, and from thence conducted to tho king’s farm at Kew. On the 28th November, 1858, this flock, consisting of 276 ani­ mals, arrived at Sydney, and were immediately landed and temporarily located in the Government Domain. I find, by an official report from my brother to the Secretary for Lands and Public Works, dated 16th April, 1859, that the flock then consisted of:— 4G Malo alpacas, pure breed. 38 Female alpacas, pure breed. 110 Female llamas. 27 Females, cross-bred, between alpaca and llama, in first generation. 11 Females, cross-bred, between male alpaca and female, from first cross. 15 5 Females, cross-bred, between male alpaca and female, from Bccond cross. 40 Lambs of first, second, and third cross. 6 Male vicunas. 1 Female vicuna. 1 Male cut llama, carrier. 283 All much improved in condition since landing. After a short sojourn at the town Domain, tho flock was sent to Liverpool, about twenty miles from Sydney, until a permanent locality could be fixed upon for them. The idea of conferring on our Australian Colonies tho immense advantages anticipated to follow on the introduction of an animal so valuable as the alpaca, appears to have almost simultaneously presented itself to the minds of several individuals. Mr. Titus Salt, whose name is and ever will remain so intimately associated with this subject, might naturally be supposed to take a deep interest in it, and finding that the alpacas he had obtained from the late Earl of Derby, and from other sources, did not prosper here so well as he could wish, he sent two small lots to different parts of Australia, thus becoming, I believe, entitled to tho distinction of tho first introducer of the alpaca into our Australian Colonies. I find one flock of four arrived in tho Marshal Pelissier, at Adelaide, con­ signed to a Mr. Haigh, of Port Lincoln, in March, 1857, to whom they were immediately forwarded. Mr. Haigh mites, 7th Nov,, I860 :—“The alpacas are not doing well. They havo only increased one ; the rest have all died. Wo lost one the other day, about two years old; it was quite fat, and looked healthy.” The number was too small. In July, 1858, Mr. Salt sent out to Mr. Matthew Moorhouse, Riverton, South Australia, two male3 and three females. One of each sex died on the passage. The other females havo bred, but only one of the lambs has been reared. A Mr. Eugene Itoelin succeded in procuring a flock of llamas and cross-breeds, which he drove overland from Peru to Guayaquil, and thence to Panama. From Panama they were taken to New York, where Mr. Benjamin Whitehead Geo purchased them, and brought them to England, where they were exhibited at Glasgow and Birming­ ham, and then brought to Loudon, and depastured in a park at Ealing. Ten of these animals were purchased by Mr. George A. Lloyd, of London, and sent in June, 1858, to Sydney, whero they arrived 8th November, 1858, and produced £G00. This flock was sent on to Moreton Bay. I have not been able to learn how they get on—tho 16 much larger and more valuable flock of my brother has perhaps absorbed all interest on the subject. Twenty-three of Mr. Gee’s flock were purchased by a committee of Australian merchants (Mr. Edward Wilson, a name now well-known from his efforts in the acclimatisa­ tion of animals, birds, and fishes, Mr. Mackiunon, and Mr. Westgarth being among tho number), and shipped to Melbourne, where they arrived about February, 1859, and have, up to the present time, gone on excellently. (See Mr. C. Ledger’s report, 30th October, 1860.) While I thus cheerfully and willingly givo to those who have laboured in tho same field of industry, and yield to them the honour of priority in the introduction of the alpaca in Australia, I think my brother is justly entitled to the honour of being esteemed .the largest, the principal importer; I believe there is no record of an attempt at acclimatisation being effected on so large, so stupendous a scale, as that accomplished by him, and at so great a sacrifice of time, labour, and money. In endeavouring to estimate the capabilities of a country for the successful and profitable maintenance of an animal new to its history, we-must look first to its climate, and secondly to the food which it produces, and see if the one is suitable, and the other supplies what is required by the animal for its full development. An animal can­ not be regarded as perfectly acclimatised until it is demonstrated that it can live in the locality to which it is introduced, as well as in its native country; that its produce can bo turned to useful purposes ;■ and that agriculturists will find their advantage in rearing it on an extensive scale. I have already informed you that my brother wa3 convinced, by the somewhat hasty visit he made to Sydney, in 1853, of the adapt­ ability of the climate and pasturage of the country to the alpaca, and of this he became more and more impressed while they were depasturing at Liverpool. In May, 1859, the Government directed him to mako a tour of inspection into the interior, with the view of ascertaining tho most favorable part of the colony for depasturing the animals. He started in July. His report is# now before me :— '* THE SUPERINTENDENT OP ALPACAS TO THE SECRETARY POR LANDS AND PUBLIC WORKS. “ Liverpool, 23rd August, 1859. “ S ir ,— I d o m y self th e h o n o u r to la y b e fo re y o u a re p o rt o f m y to u r o f i n s p e c tio n o f a p o r tio n o f t h is c o lo n y , u n d e r ta k e n b y y o u r d ire c tio n , in s e a rc h o f s u ita b le c o u n try fo r p e rm a n e n tly lo c a tin g th e flo c k o f a lp a c a s , lla m a s , a n d v ic u n a s . “ In doing so, I beg to Btato that my own observations of tho capabilities of the country, or districts thereof, I visited for affording pasturage to the 17 flock, are confirmed by the opinion of a Peruvian gentleman who, with tho sanction of the Government, accompanied me on my tour. “ I started from Liverpool on tho Oth July last, and proceeded along the Southern Road as far as Yass, extending my observations of tho country over an area of four or five miles, and occasionally a greater distance, on either side of the road. From Y.as3 I directed my course to tho Murrum- bidgee, whence, via Quoanbeyan, Micaliago, and Bredbo, I entered Maneroo. A careful examination of the Bredalb.mo and Yass Plains convinced me of their suitability to tho rearing of tho alpacas ; the neighbourhood of Micali­ ago, Bredbo, struck me as no less, suitable. My opinion of the adaptation of these places to tho above purpose is based chiefly on tho marked identity of the natural features of tho country with those of that part of South America from which the alpacas came. Tho country all through Maneroo, indeed, cor­ responded so exactly with that of Peru and Bolivia, that I could easily believe myself back again in those countries. This similarity was still more apparent with respect to the Snowy Mountains, as that magnificent range appeared clad in their winter garb j Koskiusko reminded us of the Sorata or illimani, and, with tho Australian Cordilleras in full view, we remembered our trials and hardships among the ranges of their more stupendous and terrible counterparts of South America. “ But it was, of course, on tho natural pasturage of these places, as tho most important object in our examination, that we bestowed the greatest attention. Not only are the pasturage and herbage, rooks and stones, identical with those of Pera, but I found throughout the districts I have indicated abundance of a description of wiry grass known as tho “ icliu” of South America. It is upon this grass that tho llama tribe mostly feed, being extremely palatable and nourishing, and of which they aro immoderately fond. The great importance of furnishing tho alpacas with fodder as closely as possible resembling that on which they have been accustomed to feed in their native country, need scarcely bo pointed out. It was accordingly my deliberate conviction, and also that of my companion, that the Maneroo district was admirably adapted for the location of the alpacas. Should the Government determine on locating the flock in that district, I would recom­ mend for tho purpose the country contiguous to tho Snowy lliver, on account of the facilities which the uudulating plains and mountain ranges would afford in obtaining a change of temperature whenever the removal of tho Hock to a wanner or cooler spot should be desirable. By continual ther- mometrical observations, I found that a similarity of temperature existed in the months of July and August at Maneroo, to that of tho country from which the alpacas were extracted; the thermometer at 7h. 30m., varying from twenty-four to thirty-one degrees. “ The only thing I found to cause any apprehension was the existence of 1 fluke ’ in the sheep ; in South America its ravages aro counteracted by not allowing sheep, cattle, or llamas to drink the stagnant waters that might be formed from springs, lakes, or ponds; puddles formed by rain are not sup­ posed to cause the disease. “ I beg to recommend that tho animals bo moved up to Maneroo with as littlo delay as possible ; and as my personal attention u necessary, I beg to request you will think fit to relieve mo from my intended journey to New England, at least for the present.—I have, &c., “ C. L edger. “ The Honourable the Secretary for Lands and Public Works.” The spot selected is called Nimity Bell, between Bombala and Cooma, in the Maneroo district, 2 CO mile3 from Sydney. Before the animals left Liverpool for Arthursleigh, on their way to the locality thus selected, about 200 were shorn in November, 1859. The wool produced was about G cwt. of three sorts, alpaca, llama, and cross bred, and 'valued (by sample) by Messrs. Foster and Sons, of. 18 Bradford, at from 15d. to 2s. 2d. per pound, objection being made to the shortness of the staple. Mr. Titus Salt bought the bulk, and has favoured me with a report. “ Bale No. 1 contains only a few fair average fleeces, the great bulk being too short in the staple (supposed from being clipped too early); some of the fleeces are slightly crossed with llama. “ Bale No. 2 is divided into two divisions: the smaller one seems to be nearly all pure alpaca, but has also been clipped too soon, consequently it is too short for combing.” The prices paid were from 9d. to 18d. per lb., which appears to have been caused by the staple being too short, in consequence of too early clipping. It is to be hoped this will be remedied in future. In addition to this official report, I find from private letters my brother says:— “ The chain of snow-covered mountains that suddenly presented them, selves to my view, on ascending a hill from Cooma, brougnt most vividly before me remembrances of past privation and hardships endured among tho grand and stupendous Cordilleras; and I gazed with delight and enthusiasm on a landscape similar to those my eye had so continually scanned while on my hazardous journeyings through Peru, Bolivia, and Chili.” Many writers on the alpaca, &c., are of opinion that without the ichu grass these animals will not thrive. This grass is found in South America, in Peru, and in Bolivia only; and although the Andes extend from Patagonia to Panama, it is in Peru and Bolivia only that the alpaca is found. From inquiries I have made, I believe this ichu grass is not known in this country, except in botanical collections, and I am led to conclude that the failure of the alpaca with us is mainly to be attributed to this fact, while its presence in Australia, as well as in Peru and Bolivia, justify the anticipation of their acclimatisation in our Australian colonies. My brother writes to me at various periods :— “ So far the animals are thriving well and augmenting in number. ‘1 The lauibs are a most decided success, that is those bom in the colony. “ I am on my road to Maneroo with tho animals. It will take me nearly two months to drive the flock there—close on 300 miles. J really think that the speculation is a great success (not pecuniary to mo). The lambs bora here are a great success indeed. Only fancy I I write this from the house of the famous M'Arthur, of Merino sheep celebrity, and the alpacas are grazing in his park, part of the princely ‘ run' granted to him for introducing the Merino sheep into Australia. “ I am glad to say tho animals ore thriving wonderfully; of their success I have no doubt. “ I am perfectly convinced that the alpaca will in due time produce immense results to this colonv, its acclimatisation and adaptability are no longer problematical, it is undoubtedly an immense success; the flocks are in magnificent order, and thriving wonderfully. “ I am glad to tell you the flocks are thriving admirably. I do not for a moment doubt their complete success. / 19 ••We have had more than a month of continued rain, and, although tho animals ivero fully exposed to it, I did not lose ono ; and at this season of the year they are more susceptible of inclement weather than at any other, on account of tho pasturage being more scarce and less nourishing." The amount of rain which falls on the earth’s surface is exceed­ ingly varied, but the moisture of a climate does not wholly depend upon the amount of rain registered by a rain-guagc; for some climates are humid, and yet not rainy j others dry, and yet subject to period­ ical torrents. My brother writes to a friend as follows:— " As you are one of tho few who feel deeply interested in the success of the alpacas, and sympathise with my enthusiasm, I am sure you will not bo wearied of my frequently writing to you about them. I send you specimens of wool, from animals of first cross between llamas and alpacas. It was bom on the 27th of April last. It is, therefore, of Arthursleigh growth, and I contend that alpaca wool was never grown at tho same rate in Peru. It is truly astonishing. The length of staplo and quality aro beyond my fondest expectations. The animal yielding it is now little over five months old, and would now clip fully 71bs. All are in the same state. Tho fact is, that in this country we shall soon astonish Per#, and I hope to send fleeces, grown atJArthurslcigh, to tho next Exhibition in London, that will astonish Europe, too I Send the enclosed specimens to your Bon in England, and let him show his friends what Arthursleigh is doing.” Since the foregoing was written, I have received’ the Sydney Morn­ ing Herald, December 21, 18G0, from which I extract:—“Since the arrival of the flock of alpacas at Arthursleigh, the animals have thriven even beyond the most sanguine expectations of Mr. Ledger, so that the ultimate success of the importation is now placed beyond a doubt. The present is the proper season for lambing, and the yield hitherto has been very promising. The number of the flock is how 311, and Mr. Ledger expects that by the end of March next it will have increased to 3G0. It is Mr. Ledger’s intention, in future, to make October the lambing month. In Peru the Indians could not bo induced to shear oftener than every other year; the manufacturers having fitted their machinery for a length of staple of two years growth, the practice of the Indians must bo adopted here, otherwise our produce would be depredated on account of the shortness of staple.” My brother took to Melbourne two of his pure male alpacas, two having previously been sent which had been given to the Government of that colony by the Sydney Government. I will conclude this part of my subject with a part of the Report on the state of the Melbourne flock, which I have already told you was presented to tho colony by a committee of gentlemen who organised a subscription here for that purpose :— “ Sib,—I have been delighted to have had the opportunity of personally verifying the statement made to me by my overseer, Pedro Cabrera, on his 20 return to Sydney from this city, as to tho splendid condition of your flock of llamas; and I unhesitatingly declare that in their native country it would be- impossible to meet with any to surpass, and I very much doubt to equal it. “ I class your Btock of llamas as of inferior breed in size of animal, quan­ tity, and quality of fleece. “ By continually crossing the female llama and its female progeny with pure male alpacas, up to the seventh cross, purity of alpaca blood most un­ doubtedly will be obtained. “ There should not exist a chance of retrogression of breed. Every stage of crossing should be progressive until arriving at the same purity as the male alpacas the Government of New South Wales has forwarded to you. “ I would strenuously recommend the preservation of the flock intact, until such time as every trace or sign of llama blood be eradicated. “ This species of animal requires a dry and pure atmosphere. Humidity under foot does them no harm, unless compelled at night to repose on wet ground. “ I would recommend their being exposed to every vicissitude, changing their folds every now and then during wet weather, so long as they are con­ fined to a limited space for grazing on. “ This animal, when left to itself, at nightfall generally selects a sloping ground for reposing on. ‘1 In my opinion, it would be desirable to confine them as much as possible exclusively to the natural grasses of tho country. “ The acclimatisation of the alpaca and llama in Australia is now proved beyond a doubt. The smaller ilock'in this colony, and the larger one m that of New South Wales, have fully satisfied me as to tho adaptability of this peculiar animal to tho climate and natural grasses of the country. “ This animal is freer from constitutional diseases than ordinary sheep ; less subject to those arising from repletion and exposure to rain. Foot rot, catarrh, and bottle are unknown to them. “ Neither are its young exposed to those accidents liable to befall the lamb of sheep. The mothers are provident and careful nurses, nor do the young ones require any aid to make them suck. “ Except at tho rutting season, these animals stand in no need of attention; the shepherd need only visit them occasionally; and such are their gregarious habits, that tho members of one flock seldom stray away and mix with others, being kept in .1 good state of discipline by the old ones, who know their own grounds, and become attached to the place of their nativity, to which they return at night, evincing an astonishing vigilance and sagacity in keeping the young ones together and free from harm. “ By trials, careful study, and intimate knowledge of the alpaca, after an almost daily association with this interesting animal of twenty-two years in South America, and two in Australia, it is placed beyond a doubt in my mind that this animal may be naturalised and made to readily propagato in almost any clime; and every day the facilities and the efficacy of their proper breeding must become more apparent. “ The hardy nature and contented disposition of the alpaca, its extreme docility, and gregarious habits, cause it to adapt itself to almost any soil or situation, provided the air is pure and the heat not too oppressive. “ I had innumerable proofs of its hardiness, and its power to endure cold, heat, damp, confinement, hunger, and thirst—vicissitudes to which it is con­ stantly exposed on its native mountains. “ It is almost superfluous on my part to assure you that at all times I will readily furnish all and every information in my power to give regarding this animal; as also willingly aid by suppling, from time to time, as you may consider necessary, such pure male alpacas as may be required to improve and finally raise your stock to uniformity and purity of blood. “ I will only further add, that the ratio of increase in your flock has.far exceeded that in the flock under my chargo.—I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant, “ C. Ledger. -■ “ Melbourne, October 30, 1800.” 21 • In endeavouring to estimate what may bo tho results to our colonies of the introduction of the alpaca, let us look at what has resulted from the introduction of the sheep. In January, 1788, the popula­ tion of New South Wales was 1,030, and its stock consisted of ono bull, three cows, one stallion, three mares, and three colts. (Fairfax.) In 1788 Australia had no sheep of its own, the kangaroo and the dingoe were the only animals of any size that it possessed ; and the first taken into the colony were procured from Bengal to provide the colonists with mutton and wool. ' These animals produced hair rather than wool. They are described in Widdowson’s work as pos­ sessing " large heads, Roman noses, and slouch ears; they were ex­ tremely narrow in the chest; they had plain and narrow shoulders, very high curved backs, a coarse, hairy fleece, and tremendously long legs.” By crossing these hair-bearing ewes with an Irish ram, Cap­ tain Macarthur effected great improvement, and ho was persuaded that the introduction of the Merino sheep into the colony would bo of the utmost consequence, and in 1797 succeeded, with tho aid of Captain Waterhouse, of H.M. Navy, in procuring a small flock of three rams and five ewes from the Cape of Good Hope, originally brought from Holland, which he had the satisfaction of seeing rapidly increase, their fleece augment in weight, and the wool very visibly improve in quality. He crossed all tho mixed-bred ewes, of which liis flock had previously consisted, with the Merino rams. The lambs produced from this cross were much improved; but the produce from the second cross far exceeded his most sanguine expectations. He expressed the opinion that in the fourth cross no distinction would be perceptible between the pure and the mixed breed. In 179G the public and private stock of sheep in tho colony amounted to 1,531; in 1801, to G,757, which is G33 over aud beyond a cal­ culation of Captain Macarthur, on the basis that they would double themselves in two and a-half years. The following is a return of live stock in the colony of New South Wales, from the year 1848 to 1857, inclusive :—_________________ Year. Horses. Horned Cattle. rigs. Sheep. 1848 97,400 1,360,164 65,216 6,530,542 1849 105.12G 1,403,051 52,902 6,784,494 1850 111,458 1,374,908 62,371 7,092,209 1851 110,397 1,375,257 05,510 7,390,895 1852 123,404 1,495,984 78,559 7,707,917 1853 139,765 1,552,285 71,395 7,929,708 1854 148,851 1,570,750 63,255 8,144,119 1855 158,159 1,858,407 68,091 8,G02,499 185G 1G8.929 2,023,418 105,998 7,736,323 1857 180,053 2,148,064 109,106 8,139,162 1859 200,713 2,110,604 92,843 7,581,762 22 As these non-indigenous animals have thriven here so wonderfully, as they have also done in South America, and there appears to be considerable similarity between the two countries in temperature, climate, mountainous elevation, and natural pasturage, am I not justified in anticipating a glorious future for the alpaca in Australia 1 The following is the quantity of wool imported into the United Kingdom from all our Australian colonies:— lbs. lbs. 1820 ... .................. 99,4lB 1841 .......................... 12,399,302 1821 ... .................. 175,433 1842 .......................... 12,979,856 1822 ... ......... . ... 138,498 1843 .......................... 17,433,78a 1823 ... .................. 477,201 1844 .......................... 17,602,247 1824 ... .................. 382,907 1845 .......................... 24,177,317 1825 ... .................. 323,995 1840 .......................... 21,789,346 182G ... .................. 1,106,302 1847 .......................... 20,056,815 1827 ... .................. 512,758 1848 .......................... 30,034,567 1828 ... .................. 1,574,186 1849 .......................... 35,879,171 1829 ... .................. 1,838,642 1850 .......................... 39,018,221 1830 ... .................. 1,967,309 1851 .......................... 41,810,117 1831 ... .................. 2,493,337 1852 .......................... 43,197,301 1832 ... .................. 2,377,057 1853 .......................... 47,070,010 1833 ... .................. 3,516,8G9 1854 .......................... 47,489,050 1834 ... .................. 3,558,091 1855 .......................... 49,142,306 1835 ... .................. 4,201,301 1850 .......................... 52,052,139 1836 ... ... ........ 4,996,645 1857 .......................... 49,209,G55 1837 ... ............. 7,000,525 1858 ................... 51,104,600 1838 ... ............. 7,837,423 1859 ................... 53,700,542 1839 ... ............. 10,128,774 1860 ................... 55,270,778 1840 ... ............. 9,721,243 To 31st October. I have already shown you how the exportation of alpaca woo! from South America has of lato years increased; I now give the following calculation, made on the probable growth of our alpaca flocks in fifty years—a long time in the life of a man, a short period in the history of a people :— We commence in 1861 with 200 females, 50 males=250. . r TOTAL. e i . i b m e c I J3 to Male*. Ferali. e ► i 1 D ! 200 120 60 CO at 60 33 ct. (allowing 10 33 ct. for deaths) 110 280 1861 200 120 60 60 „ Those dropt last year will not lamb 170 320 1862 280 160 80 80 „ The female lambs 1861 will drop this 250 4D0 1863 340 200 100 100 >t tt tt 1862 tt 350 600 1864 420 250 125 125 ............................. 1863 475 625 1865. 520 260 130 130 at 60 53 ct. only 1804 ,, 605 775 1866- 645 320 160 160 tt tt it 1865 „ 765 935 186r 775 387 100 t90 tt it tt 1866 tt 955 1165 186% 935 467 235 235 1867 1195 1400 1869* 1322 661 330 330 II it t» it 1868 t* 1520 1730 1870- There will be, after deduction made for wear and tear, accidents, &c., 3250, as per above calculation. I further deduct 25 per cent. 23 of total every period of ten years, thu3 leaving in round numbers 2500; at same rate, in 20 years there would bo 20,000 30 „ „ 1GO,000 40 „ „ 1,280,000 50 „ „ 9,700,000 At 7 lbs. wool—each 68,320,000 lbs., at 2s per lb., XG,832,000 ! From this it will be seen that, making deductions of a liberal nature, according to the present ratio of increase, there will bo in 50 years 9,7G0,000 head, tho wool of which, at 2s. per lb., will amount to the sum of £G,832,000 per annum. When figures like these are given, incredulity is naturally awakened; but I do not know that there is anything unreasonable in tho calcu­ lation. At all events, any reasonable reduction may bo made, and still leave a value sufficient to deserve the energy and solicitude of the public. This is not my own calculation, I take it from the Sydney Herald' of August 3, 18G0, and my brother thus writes respecting it:— “ Sib ,—In your edition of 3rd. iustaut I havo read an article on tho probable result, fifty years hence, of tlie alpacas, llamas, &c., introduced by mo into this colony, in November, 1858. I sec nothing improbable os to such anticipations being realised; on tho contrary, my experience o£ this animal, in South America and in this country, fully warrants tho estimates, referred to as being effected every ten years, being carried out. “ Two hundred breeding females, and fifty males, produce, as per said calculation, 3,250 in ten years, or equivalent to multiplying original stock by twelve ; continuing at tho same ratio, the second period would bring 39,000. Now, instead of following up at that ratte, and so as to mako all and every allowance for unforsccn contingencies of epidemics, bad seasons, &c., I deduct furthermore one-third, and multiply by eight instead of twelve, still reducing the 20 per cent, periodically ten years, giving, at tho end of fifty years, 5,COG,720 animals, which, at 71bs. wool only—39,247,040, at 2s. per lb.—£4,924,704. “ The figures are large, no doubt; the time, too, is long. I do not wish to appear a visionary Utopian, although an ardent enthusiast, and hope I may not, through excess thereof, havo been led into exaggeration. Figures, something like tho above, I worked out nine years ago; they often appeared before me—in my mind’s eye—during my solitary journeyB, and more than once urged mo to persevere, when ‘ to hopo seemed hopeless.’ ” It will bo borne in mind, that while the sheep has increased in the manner I have shown you, mutton has not been an article of food prohibited at the tables of our antipodean relatives; indeed, at the period of the immense influx of a new population, tempted by the recent discoveries of gold, fears were entertained that the appetites of tho diggers, joined to the desertion of tho flocks, might act prejudi­ cially on the interests of the wool trade j time, however, has proved this alarming anticipation to havo been unfounded. Notwithstanding the enormous draught constantly made on tho flocks to supply tho daily demands for food, notwithstanding whole 24 floclcs were consigned to the toilers by their panic-stricken owners, notwithstanding disease, caused and rendered more destructive by desertion, swept away largo numbers, they are not now diminished, but show a steady increase. A fortunate climate, and an intelligent devotion to the rearing of sheep, has prevented so great a calamity. Regions long thought barren, are now showing abundant pasturage. Irrigation, hitherto unthought of, has supplied, and in the future will supply, the only deficiency of which the country has to complain. The alpaca, living to the age of fourteen to sixteen years, and not, like the sheep, having daily demands upon its numbers for the purposes of food, is more likely to fulfil the calculations I have given to you. By feeding on a coarser pasturage than the sheep, it will benefit the owner of land by bringing into use portions hitherto unproductive. It will bring more capital into operation. Labour will become employed in tho new product—the shepherd tending the flocks, the sailor in trans­ porting it to the seat of manufacture, the spinner and weaver in forming it into the beautiful fabrics that spring from the looms of Bradford and Saltaire. The ship-owner and the merchant also will reap a profit, while the wool is passing through their hands or is under their charge, and various classes of labourers will gain a portion of their means of existence in passing the wool from place to place, and from hand to hand in the various phases it must pass through from the raw state until it is displayed as clothing on our persons. The following discussion ensued :— The Chairman, W m. H aines, Esq., said it was now his duty to ask gentlemen present, who possessed any information upon tliis subject, to discuss the various topics suggested by the interesting paper they had just heard. There were many points which were worthy of notice :—first of all, the energy of an individual gentle­ man who, under great difficulties, introduced a new species of animal into our Australian colonies; secondly, the importance of promoting an increased production of wool when our supply of cotton might be in danger; and thirdly, the necessity which tho present state of events imposed upon us of encouraging, by every means in our power, the production and importation into this country of the largest possible supply of raw material of every kind. He believed there were gentlemen present who were qualified to give them information upon the wool trade and the fitness of the alpaca for Australia. There was one gentleman in particular to whom reference was made in the paper, and he was sure the meeting would be glad to hear tho observations of Mr. Macarthur. 25 Mr. M acaktiitjk tad no information to convey witli respect to the alpaca, for he was sorry to say he knew nothing of tho habits of that animal beyond what might be acquired by cursory reading. Before ho left New South Wales he had the opportunity of once or twice seeing the flock of alpacas introduced by Mr. Ledger, and he had no hesitation in saying that the paper read that evening conveyed a mass of most interesting information on the subject. Tho period during which Mr. Ledger had devoted himself to this object was somowhere about twenty-two years, and for nine years ho was separated from his family in pursuing this enterprise. He mentioned this fact in order that the meeting might appreciate the great exertions which had been made by Mr. Ledger in accomplishing his object. A vast sum of money was requisite for this purpose; ho believed tho amount was not less than between £4,000 and £5,000, which was the value put upon the flock at Sydney, and ho knew that tho amount occasioned difficulty in forming a company to undertake tho purchase of the flock and the production of wool. It was considered too largo a specu­ lation, and required too much money for tho settlers in a young colony to embark in it. The Government, therefore, ho thought very properly, stepped in and assisted Mr. Ledger under those circum­ stances, for there could be no doubt this was just one of those occa­ sions when the Government might intervene to supply tho place of individual enterprise. It was hardly to be expected that two or three individuals, or even a company of persons, should embark upon a speculation of this kind, and, moreover, Mr. Ledger was then com­ paratively a stranger in the country; but tho Government having thoroughly investigated the subject, determined to interpose and make arrangements with Mr. Ledger for tho accomplishment of the important object ho had introduced to their notice. He was glad to see, from the papers which arrived a few days since, that there were strong probabilities of some advantageous arrangement being made by which the Government would divest itself of tho property in tho alpacas and make them over once more to Mr. Ledger himself. No doubt that was the most advantageous course that could be adopted, as it was not a matter in which the Government should engage itself, unless under the exceptional circumstances which had been stated. The suitability of Australia for a wool growing country had been established by the figures relating to that commodity, which had been given in the paper, and did not require any corroboration from him. There was one fact which he had noted os very remarkable— that was the statement contained in a letter from Mr. Ledger, from Arthursleigh, as to the great length and fineness of the alpaca wool produced in Australia, as compared with that of the animal in its 26 native country: That agreed with the chfiracteristic of the Merino wool produced in Australia, which was remarkable for its great length and strength, as well as the fineness of the staple. He recollected that, some thirty years ago, it was a subject of complaint amongst the woollen manufacturers, that the wool of Australia was of too short a staple to be of much use to them for cloth ; and it was then applied to other articles of manufacture, particularly mousselines-de-laine, which were principally made of Australian wool. The wool, however, now was of a much longer staple, and was particularly noticeable for its softness, especially the Merino wool. He would not attempt to enter into a calculation of the vast extent of country in Australia that was suitable for pasturage, both of sheep and llamas. He thought this country had reason to congratulate itself upon the fact that Aus­ tralia was likely to produce a very large supply, not only of sheep’s wool, but also of that description of fleece which had been stated to be so valuable for other classes of manufactures, and there was no saying to what purposes the genius of our British manufacturers might not apply the wool of the alpaca, when it came into the market ia sufficient quantity to make it worth their while to turn their atten­ tion more especially to it. Referring again to tho pasturage capa­ bilities of Australia, Mr. Macarthur alluded to the communications, recently made to the Geographical Society by Mr. Stuart, showing that tho interior of the country was not, as was previously supposed, a desert. This had always been his own opinion, and he was happy to find it corroborated by so eminent an explorer as Mr. Stuart. Whilst the western portion of the country varied in elevation from 1,100 to as high as 7,000 or 8,000 feet, the average elevation of the table land was not more than from 1,500 to 2,000 feet, which ensured a very temperate climate; and the late Sir Thomas Mitchell, who was n great explorer of the interior, in his work upon tropical Australia, spoke of having experienced nights of intense cold within that tropi­ cal region ; so that the variations of climate which that country ex­ hibited, might be considered as affording all tho essentials requisite for the successful growth of the llama wool, and the same remark was equally applicable to cotton, some very fine specimens of that com­ modity having been already produced in Australia. Mr. F. T. Buckland expressed his high gratification at the infor­ mation conveyed by the paper, and also at the magnificent specimens, of wool upon the table. He hoped they would not rest contented with introducing the alpaca into Australia alone. He thought they ought to try the experiment in this country, and when they saw the beauti­ ful garments which were produced from this wool, he was sure they would have the aid of tho ladie3 in bringing such animals into Eng­ 27 land. He thought that both tho alpaca and the Hama would thrive well in this country. They had been told that very fine wool had been obtained from tho animala in the possession of Misa Burdctt Coutts, which were living not more than three miles from London; and his friend, Mr. Waterhouse Hawkins, could tell them that tho animals did well in Lord Derby’s park, in the north of England. Mr. P. L. Simmonds said that at the outset of this paper, Mr. Ledger had observed that probably it might be asked what interest had this country in a question of seemingly local interest, like tho introduction of the alpaca into Australia 1 To this ho (Mr. Simmonds) would respond, that Great Britain, as a manufacturing country, had the greatest interest in promoting tho extended produc­ tion of wool in all countries, and more especially in her own colonies. The wool manufacture—the second of the great manufacturing inter­ ests—which engaged a capital at tho present time for raw material, labour, machinery, and valuo of goods made, of fully £40,000,000, was, like the other great textile industries, insufficiently supplied with raw material for the enhanced demands made upon it for home con­ sumption and export. Largeashadbecntheiucreasedproductionof wool in our African and Australian colonies, yet, with the competition from Continental buyers, we were stinted in supplies, and had to pay en­ hanced prices for what we did got. And, what was worse, our manufacturers wcro driven to the use of ragwool, or shoddy, to tho extent of 50,000,000 lbs. a year. To meet the demand last year, with a deficient homo clip, and with largely increased exports of home and colonial wools, the deficiency in supply for our woollen manufacturers became very apparent Any increased supplies of wool for the present or future would be of the greatest benefit to the kingdom. Hence ho looked with hopeful interest to the efforts of Mr. Ledger in Australia, and to the information which had been laid before them that evening as to the probable results of acclimatising tho alpaca there. As the meeting had just heard, it was only a quarter of a century ago that alpaca wool was first introduced into this country, and for tho first five years the average imports wero only 560.000 lbs. In tho last five years the imports had averaged 2.600.000 lbs. per annum, and tho advance in price in this period had been from lOd. to 2s. Cd. per lb. Constant as was tho demand for this valuable long wool, which had been tho making of Bradford, the supply had been almost stationary for the Last five or six years, and, Mr. Ledger had told them, would probably decrease instead of increase, and in that case where was Saltairo to find a substitute ? They had heard that evening that the alpaca had now been introduced into the three principal Australian colonies, and with every prospect 28 of their doing well. For his part, looking at tho wide extent of the country, the varied climate and temperature, the elevated regions that were to be met with in different localities, from Queensland in the north to Victoria in the south, that tho pasturage agreed with them, and that even their tall, favorite grass or reed, the ichu, was found indigenous in New South Wales, he saw no reason why they should not prove a success. At all events, the accounts they had heard, both from Mr. Ledger and Mr. Macarthur, went to disprove the opinion so confidently advanced on a previous evening, that Australia was totally unfitted in every respect for the alpaca. Many years ago he (Mr. Simmonds) had advocated in his Colonial Magazine, and other publications he was connected with, the intro­ duction of the camel and the alpaca into Australia. Had the camel been earlier introduced, they might not now have had to mourn the loss of Dr. Leichhardt and other enterprising explorers who bad lost their lives in penetrating the great interior of that continent. He hoped also to see soon the vicuna and the guanaco introduced into Australia, for, although less valuable as wool-bearing animals, yet they might aid the supply of food hereafter, and fill the placo of the kangaroo, which was being fast exterminated. These animals, which ranged in such numbers from La Plata and Chili almost down to Capo Horn, would require no care, but would find abundance of food and suitable localities in Australia. It was even possible that the alpaca might be successfully introduced and naturalized in many other parts of the British possessions, such as Tasmania and New Zealand, parts of the Cape Colony, Natal and India, and in Vancou­ ver and British Columbia. But these were matters for future con­ sideration. There might, and doubtless would, be failures, but useful enterprises, because they were new and apparently difficult, should not bo discouraged or opposed by either sarcasms or sneers. When it was remembered how many animals, natives of tropical countries, were even now kept in health in so changeable a climate as Great Britain, there was hopeful encouragement for experiments under more congenial latitudes. Such efforts as those of Mr. Ledger were calcu­ lated to be highly beneficial to the colonies and to the mother country, and to stimulate others to exertion and enterprise in a similar direction. Mr. B. W. Gee said his name having been mentioned with some prominence in the paper, he would offer a few remarks. A residence of many years in Australia enabled him fully to confirm the state­ ments they had heard that evening, as to the adaptability of that country for the introduction of animals of the llama genus. Some eight or nine years ago some gentlemen in Sydney subscribed a sum 29 of money for the purpose of sending agents into Peru to obtain a stock of alpacas, but tbey returned from the mission without having effected the object—they did not obtain a single animal. It had been attempted by other persons, but it was left to Mr. Ledger to achieve success; and although, perhaps, some of his (Mr. Gee’s) animals might have been the first to land in the colony, still to Mr. Ledger was entirely due the merit of being tho first successful intro­ ducer of this animal into Australia. It might be interesting to some to hear a few particulars of the way in which ho (Mr. Gee) obtained possession of tho flock of alpacas with which his name was associ­ ated. Upon his return from Australia, about three years ago, ho took it into his head to visit New York, and his arrival in that city was nearly contemporaneous with that of a flock of llamas, which had travelled a distauce of about 4,000 miles on foot, having crosscd tho isthmus of Panama during the hottest weather. These animals were advertised for sale, having been previously exhibited at the Crystal Palace, in New York. The poor animals, from the long distance they had travelled, were in a very bad condition at the time they wero brought into the market. The proprietor of tho flock, who wa3 a Frenchman, had the modesty to ask £100 each for them; but at that time dollars were very scarce in New York, as it was during the monetary panic. They remained on hand till the winter, when they were put out to grass; and with reference to the question how far the animals could stand varieties of climate, ho could say that he saw them nearly up to their backs in snow, with scarcely anything to eat, on Manhattan Island, where there was scarcely anything but stones. • After having passed the winter iu those most inhospitablo quarlfcrs, the flock was advertised for sale in New York in the spring. He would read a short extract from tho newspaper report of tho sale :— “ The thirty-eight llamas that were imported into this city last fall from Peru (or Chili), wero offered at auction on Saturday, March 20, at tho * Dyekman Farm’—a farm of four or live hundred acres of land, in tlio City of New York. It is situated ou the Harlem River, below King’s Bridge. It is principally occupied as a grazing farm for bullocks 4 left over, or waiting for market at the Great Bull’s Head, in Forty-fourth street—tho proprietor of the sale-yards having leased it for that purpose. It was in consequence of this occupancy that the llamas were sent up there to winter, they having been taken when lauded to the market-place yards for keeping and for sale. “ It seems aa though a chain of misfortunes has attended tho lirst attempt to introduce a breed of domestic animala into this country—discouraging, wo fear, to all future efforts to add a new, and, wo doubt not, a prohtablo clas3 to our present stock. If we are not mistaken, tho shipment was mado from a Chilian port (we understand exportation of llamas is prohibited from J. eru), by steamer to Panama, and consisted of seventy-two head. They were detained some three weeks at Panama, awaiting a vessel at Aspimvall for New York ; and although in charge of a nativo shepherd, eighteen or twenty of the flock fell victims to Panama snakes, scorpions, poison herbage, ana 30 other Isthmus casualties, in the hottest part of the season. The remainder were then brought over in the cars and shipped upon a brig too small to afford comfortable accommodation, with a bad provision of food, and there­ fore it is not a wonder that only forty-two of the number reached New York alive. It is a wonder that all did not die, and that only four of the weakest lambs died after they were landed, since the whole of them were in such miserable plight that it was thought unwise to offer them for sale. They have, however, wintered better than a flock of sheep would, if landed in tho same condition, and all appear now very lively and healthy, notwithstanding their unwonted and long feeding upon dry forage ; and, as an experiment, this has proved that these animals are easily wmtered in this latitude, and that they prefer the coarsest herbage, either green or dry. In Chili they are fed upon alfalfa, a very coarse kind of clover, and they might, if domesti­ cated here, be fed the same, or on pea-vines, bean-stalks, buckwheat straws, or coarse weeds—such as our animals reject. “ If adopted into our family of domestic animals, the llamas must be kept principally for the fleece, just as sheep are in some places, where mutton is not esteemed for food, since they would not be valuable as beasts of burden, cxcept in very mountainous districts; and their flesh, although eaten in South America, is not esteemed by such of our countrymen as have tasted it. Lieut. Phelps says of i t : ‘I have tried the flesh, and, although not partial to it, could live upon it if hard pushed.’ That observation was made of the animal in its wild state, called in Chili, Guanaco, but generally believed to be the original of tho Peruvian llama, alpaca, or vicuna. The latter name is sometimes applied as the generic term, of the race, and the other two names those of varieties differing no more than varieties of sheep, the Alpacas being considerably smaller than the others, and more woolly; some of the variety called llamas are as tall as good sized yearling bovines. In a wild state, the guanacos inhabit the chain of mountains from Terra del Fuego to the Cordilleras in Peru, choosing their pasture ground just below the snow line. In a domestic state the llamas are used as beasts of burden, in mountain or plain, in cold and heat, often traversing snowy altitudes and tropical valleys upon the same journey. They are much used in the Andes, by the miners, to bring down ore and carry up supplies ; travelling twelve or fifteen miles a day, with loads of 100 lbs. each, and living upon the coars­ est and most scanty supply of herbage, and, like the camel, enduring days of toil without water. It is possible the llama, as well as the camel, may yet be used to advantage by travellers upon our great American deserts. It is stated in the history of Peru, that troops of llamas, a thousand in number, used to be common, all bearing their loads, and travelling under the guidance of a few men, over regions where no other beast could obtain a footing. ‘ ‘ One of the herd offered for sale on Saturday, was exhibited loaded with packs, as he would be upon a journey. All of them, even a lamb of a few months old, aro broken to the halter, and are very docile and tractable. Their countenances exhibit marked expressions of intelligence—the eyes are very bright and sight keen. The colour is generally that of brown or black sheep—some of them pretty nearly jet black. Some of the males are grey, or nearly white, with white faces. The shape of the head, face, ears, and neck is like that of a native sheep, except the neck is more elongated. The cloven hoofs are larger, and the legs longer than the tallest sheep, and tho bodies though longer, do not appear much larger than some of the tall varie­ ties of sheep. The anatomy is curious in this, that the thigh seems to pro­ ceed from the hip-joint, but with little connection with the body. “ The fleece is from four to six inches long, fine and soft within, with coarse hairs thinly scattered through it, and projecting beyond the mass. It very much resembles the fleece of a black sheep. We should judge the average weight of fleeces might be about ten pounds—the bellies being generally bare—and the value is greater than that of wool. The excellence and dura­ bility of alpaca cloth aro generally known.” The report went on to say that the sale was not successful, the biddings never reaching the reserved price of 100 dollars each animal 31 He (Mr. Gee) subsequently bought tho animals, and took them by the steamer, City of New York, to Glasgow, where they arrived shortly before the agricultural show in that city. Ho exhibited them at a charge of sixpence each, and had a3 many as 1,200 visitors. He afterwards brought them to Birmingham, at the time of the Queen’s State visit, and although there were about a million of people congregated on that occasion, not more than twenty-eight persons honored his alpacas with a visit. The people seemed to have no idea what tho animals were. Then he brought them to London, in the hot weather of Juno. Ho Bold three to Mr. Pattison, two to Miss Coutts, and ten to Mr. G. A. Lloyd, the latter at £25 each, which paid him very well, but they afterwards sold for XGO each. Mr. E. Wilson, tho well-known editor of the Melbourne Argus, took the remainder of the flock for .£700, which was at the rate of £23 per head. During tho time the flock was in his possession, they grazed at Acton, about five miles from London, and they got quite fat. They started for Aus­ tralia, and like most other emigrants, they did even better there. With regard to the acclimatisation of these animals, it could only be proved by time. In the case of tho Angora goat, which was intro­ duced into Australia some years ago, a very beautiful fleece was produced when they got tho real thing itself, but even amongst tho goats brought from Turkey there was a whito streak which spoiled its appearance, and the only doubt was that tho skins would run “kempy,” and that in the course of a few generations the fleece would become as coarse as the hair of tho common goat. He did not, however, think that would be the case with tho alpaca, although the fleece had not the oiliness of the Merino sheep, and from tho nature of tho food in Australia, he believed the wool would be im­ proved in texture. With regard to the suitability of the climate there, and the supply of proper food for these animals, there could be no doubt. They might walk for hundreds of miles up to their knees in grass, which was excellent food, and the animals would eat it when it was in a dry state. At the time he bought his flock in New York, he was wholly ignorant of what was tho proper food for them; but during the passage he fed them with Indian maize, which they readily ate, os also hay, and they were in better condition after thirteen days sea passage than when they were put on board. Thcro was one point which he felt somo delicacy in touching upon. He was glad to hear from Mr. Macarthur that Mr. Ledger was likely to reap some reward for his exertions j but with regard to himself, ho was somewhat in the position of tho Irish ostler, who, when a gentleman 32 was about to drive off without having handed him the customary gratuity, called after him, “ Please yer honor, if my master asks mo what you gave the ostler, what am I to tell him J” and if any one asked him what he had got, his reply would be—nothing. Mr. D avis would be sorry to divert the discussion from the con­ gratulatory tone which had characterised it, for it appeared they were. a “ Mutual Congratulation Society ” that evening. One thing they might certainly congratulate themselves upon—that was upon the perseverance and energy which had pre-eminently distinguished our countryman, Mr. Ledger, in this matter. All who had taken any interest in affairs in Australia aud South America, must be aware that the difficulties, dangers, and privations which Mr. Ledger had gone through were such as few men would have the courage to undergo, even with the prospect of success in view. Yet whilst he tendered to Mr. Ledger the full measure of gratitude for what he had done, he could not look upon this matter from the couleur de rose point of view in which some regarded it. If they looked at tho locality in which these animals originated—they lived in extremely mountainous regions, almost within the reach of perpetual snow. The vicuna lived in the highest regions of all. In Australia they heard of snowy ranges, but those were mountains which were covered with snow only during certain portions of the year. Snow did not exist there over any great extent of country for any great length of time, and in such localities as it most existed the country was rather barren and rocky. It was true these animals could live upon hard fare, but they could not livo upon mere rocks. The Snowy Mountains of Aus­ tralia were, to a great extent, of a rocky nature, and the quantity of grass was small. They had been told of the country explored by Mr. Stuart, but it should at the same time have been stated that it was a country of intense heat, and these were not animals to stand great heat, but were rather adapted for cold climates. No doubt they would live up to their bellies in snow, but he for ono did not look forward with the hope that some did to the propagation of this animal in Australia. He would rather point to this subject as affording to enterprising young men in this country an opening to make their fortunes, by going to Peru and Bolivia, and promoting the growth of wool there from the animal in its native climate. It might be said that South America was a badly governed country, but there were Englishmen making money there very fast. Ho quite approved of the course which had now been taken by the Govern­ ment of Australia. They were now disposed to do what they should have done in the first instance. They might now say to Mr. Ledger 33 “ By your energy and perseverance you have proved yourself a bene­ factor to your country; here is the amount you have spent; take . back your animals; increase and prosper. If you succeed, this country must benefit thereby, but in any case it is no use for tho Government to turn sheep farmers.” As to introducing these * animals into England, he thought it would be unwise. At present they had animals which produced both wool and mutton, and to bring into a country like this animals which produced fleeces only, would never answer. He was not afraid of this being attempted, for the very best reason with Englishmen—that it would not pay. They wanted an animal which gave them both clothes and food, and this they had in the sheep, from the Scotch sheep which dwelt in the snows of the north, to the South Down, which flourished in the mildest climate and on tho drycst lands. He could not sit down without expressing his deep obligation to Mr. Charles Ledger for what he had done, and all that he had contemplated doing for Aus­ tralia. He regarded him as a great benefactor to that countiy if he did not succeed, but if he succeeded he would be an enormous bene­ factor both to Australia and his fellow-countrymen at home. Dr. Crisp believed that there was an error aa to the date at which these animals were first introduced into Europe. Ho understood it to be stated in the paper that it was not until the year 1815 that tho llama was first introduced, but he believed it would be found that specimens of these animals were brought to the Jardin des Plantes, in. Paris, as early as 1808. He begged to add his meed of praise to Mr. Ledger for tho exertions he had made in this matter, and to the gentleman who had so ably brought this interesting subject before them. The Chairman, in closing the discussion, thought the meeting would agree with him that, if there was one paper more than another which was particularly within the province of the socicty, it was the one they had just heard. The subject of how to improve the culti­ vation, and increase the production of so important a staple as wool, was one well worthy of their most attentive consideration. There was nothing in the paper of a speculative character. They had a collec­ tion of facts and details upon an important subject which might be turned to good account, if not at the present moment, certainly at some future time. It was their duty, a3 a society, to give every encouragement to gentlemen who came before them with such valu­ able information a3 Mr. Ledger had collected—not in the ordinary sense of the term, but received directly from his brother, who had devoted so many years of his life to the promotion of this object. D 31 His friend on the left (Mr. Davis) had characterised the meeting as one of mutual congratulation. He (the Chairman) thought it was justly so. At the same time, his friend had advanced opinions somewhat at variance with those expressed in the paper. That was one true object of discussion. They did not ask gentlemen to approve of everything that was said. They always invited discus- * sion upon what was advanced in the paper, and the greater the variety of opinion that was elicited the more valuable the meetings of the society became. They had heard a very remarkable fact that even­ ing, which showed how important a part the commerce of this country played in the industry of the world. Englishmen, in the first instance, had been the means of introducing the animal spoken of from South America into Australia, and then they afforded the best market to which the commodity produced could be sent. That was a noteworthy instance of tho influence of British commerce all over the world. He was sure they would all feel indebted to the gentleman who had brought such a collection of facts before them in so clear a manner as had been done that evening, and that they would cordially concur in a vote of thanks to Mr. Ledger for his paper. The vote of thanks having been passed, Mr. L edger, in reply on the discussion, said he had studiously avoided introducing into this subject matters of a purely personal or pecuniary character; he had not spoken of the dangers and difficul­ ties his brother had undergone more than was essential to the proper elucidation of the subject; but as remuneration had been alluded to, he fully concurred in the hope that his brother would ultimately reap a large reward for the .accomplishment of his enterprise. This depended entirely, however, upon tho success of the animals. He had heard (not from his brother), that at Copiapo £42,000 had been offered for the flock for the French Government, and declined. He thought the New South Wales Government had acted with forethought and generosity in giving his brother £15,000, every farthing of which, however, had been remitted to South America, to liquidate liabilities incurred in the prosecution of the enterprise, leaving a balance still due of £1,080, and he was happy to say his brother had concluded an arrangement with the Colonial Govern­ ment, which was waiting the sanction of the Legislature, to pay him cash £2,000, and £3,000 in annual payments of £500 for six years, to provide him pasture grounds free of rent or taxes for 12 years ; at the expiration of which the animals were to be his property on payment of the principal of £20,000 without interest. The produco 35 of the wool in the twelve years was to be his, but ho was not to be permitted to sell any of the animals without the consent of the Colonial Government. The paper was illustrated by a collection of alpaca skins, contri­ buted by Mr. Murietta; vicuna skins, by Mr. Skinner Row ; speci­ mens of alpaca wool, by Mr. Gee; of llama wool, by Miss Burdett Coutts; and pieces of alpaca fabric by Messrs. Edwards. MASON AND FIRTH, PRINTERS, MELBOURNE.
'The Alpaca - Its Introduction to Australia: Original front cover
H1-005a: Saltaire School of Art Certificate
Saltaire School of Art Certificate awarded to Fred Hanson (1871)
Booklet: 'Home From Home' (Leeds Russian Archive Exhibition - Leeds University - 1988)
Black & white photograph showing 9 adults reading in the library at tables, 2 bookcases, 1 wall bookcase, 3 large windows. Each rectaungular table has a bouquet of flowers on. There is a round table at the front right of the photograph with books on bookstands. On the end of the two bookcases are magazine racks including 'Yorkshire Life', 'London News', 'Artist' and 'Do it Yourself' magazines. Possibly exhibition building for College.
People in the library: front of photograph
Black & white photograph showing 7 adults reading in the library, 2 bookcases, 1 wall bookcase, 3 large windows. Possibly exhibition building for college. Possibly an early proof for the prospectus.
'The Artistic Crafts Series of Technical Handbooks : Bookbinding' by Douglas Cockerell, with text and drawings
2022.5: Wallpaper : Its History, Design and Use
Wallpaper : Its History, Design and Use by Phyllis Ackerman - Includes text and black and white illustrations
Wallpaper : Its History, Design and Use: Front cover
2022.6: Decorations with Duresco Water Paint
Text and illustrations on the use of Duresco water paints in the internal decorations in churches and houses
Decorations with Duresco Water Paint: Front cover
One black and white photograph (16.5cmx12cm) of 9 items of basketry on display. This may be linked to adult education classes and appear to be in the Exhibition Road Building. (see also 2019.46.13, 2019.46.20)
2019.46.15: Display for apprentice spinning and weaving overlookers
Display for apprentice spinning and weaving overlookers
Black and white photograph (16.5cmx12cm) of fabric, bobbins, and a spinning frame. Label above display reads 'Courses for Apprentice Spinning and Weaving Overlookers!'
Display for apprentice spinning and weaving overlookers: front of photograph
E2-101: Email regarding Shipley School of Art
Email regarding John Hulme and the Shipley School of Art from Ann Marie Hulme
Black and white photo (13.5x8.5cm) of display of women and childrens textile garments. May be linked to adult education classes and appear to be in the Exhibition Rd. Building (see also 2019.46.14, 2019.46.13.1, 2019.46.13.2)
Black and white photo (13.5x8.5cm) of display of textile garments of machinery. May be linked to adult education classes and appear to be in the Exhibition Rd. Building (see also 2019.46.14, 2019.46.13.1, 2019.46.13.2)
Textile Display: front of the photograph
Black & white photograph of textile display with man on right taking a photo. May be linked to adult education classes ad appear to be in the Exhibition Road Building (see also 2019.46.14, 2019.46.13.1, 2019.46.13.2)
Princess Beatrice was the youngest child of Queen Victoria. In 1887 she visited Saltaire with her husband Prince Henry of Battenburg to preside at the opening of the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee, an exhibition to celebrate her mother's silver jubilee, and organised by TItus Salt Junior in honour of his father and to help funding of the new School of Art and Science in the village. The Royal party stayed with Titus Junior and his wife Catherine at thier home of Milner Field.
A3-005/6/1-4: Letter from Archbishop of York
A3-170a: Carriages for Princess Beatrice visit
2018.51: Tree planting by Princess Beatrice
E2b-010a,b,c: Education - Shipley College : Images
During the 1880s there was an increased demand for school places in Saltaire. A new School of Art and Science was built on the edge of Saltaire, behind Victoria Hall on what is now Exhibition Road. To help pay for the costs, Titus Salt Junior proposed a major exhibition that would also be a memorial to his late father Sir Titus Salt. The exhibition was held in 1887, and named the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition to also celebrate the golden jubilee of Queen Victoria. The exhibition was opened by one of Victoria's children, Princess Beatrice of Battenburg. Unfortunately, the exhibition failed to meet its costs and that of the new school.
Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition Collection
2018.9.1.2.1: Blank invitation cards for Royal visit in 1887
E2b-036a,b,c: Students in the College gardens
Shipley College is a college of further and adult education based in several buildings in Saltaire. Opening in 1969, it was a successor to the Technical School based in the Exhibition Building. As well as this building the College also uses the former Salt High School and Dining Hall premises on Victoria Road, parts of Victoria Hall, and the new, purpose-built Jonathan Silver Building on Exhibition Road.
E2-163: After 16 News North Bradford Commonwealth - a Commonwealth of Riches March 1989
E2-147: Library Resource Centre Staff Guide 1988
E2-160: After 16 News North Bradford Commonwealth - a Commonwealth of Riches March 1988
E2c-016: Condition Report for Salt Annexe 1986
E2-092a-b: Alan Titchmarsh articles & Photographs
2019.42: Shipley College Part-time Course Guide 2019/20
B1-108: Sir Titus Salt 1876 Centenary events in the village of Saltaire November 1976
C3b-302: 'Shipley College-Victorian Model Venue'
E2-141: Catch 22 Issue 4 Valentines Issue
E2-145: Library Resource Centre Staff Guide 1981
E2-148: Library Resource Centre Staff Guide 1982-3
E2-149: Library Resource Centre Staff Guide 1987
E2-152: Principal's Annual Report 1973-74
E2-153: Principal's Annual Report 1975-76
E2-155: Shipley College of Further Education Open Evening and Prize Presentation February 1979
E2-156: Instrument and articles of Government
E2-159: After 16 News North Bradford Commonwealth - a Commonwealth of Riches January 1987
E2-161: After 16 News North Bradford Commonwealth - a Commonwealth of Riches March 1989
E2-171: Shipley College 1981-1982 Prospectus
E2-172: Shipley College 1982-1983 Prospectus
E2-176: Shipley College 1983/4 Prospectus
E2-177: 9 Airedale Youth Training Consortium Leaflets for courses at Shipley College
2025.53: 'Ambitions' Shipley College Prospectus 2005-2006
E2-178: Shipley College Adult Classes Sep-Dec 1984
E2-179: Shipley College Prospectus 1984-85
E2-180: Shipley College Courses Leaflets 1984
E2-181: Shipley College Courses Leaflets 1985
E2-182: Shipley College Courses Leaflets 1986
E2-183: Shipley College Courses Leaflets 1987
E2-184: Shipley College Courses Leaflets 1988
E2-185: Shipley College Courses Leaflets 1989
E2-186: Shipley College Courses Leaflets 1990
E2-187: Shipley College Courses Leaflets 1991
E2-188: Shipley College Courses Leaflets 1995
E2-189: Shipley College Courses Leaflets 1997
E2-190: 2 Map postcard for Shipley Institution
E2-191: Various Newspaper and Booklets Prospectus for Shipley College
E2-192: Booklet Prospectus for Shipley College 2001-02
E2-193: Booklet Prospectus for Shipley College 2002-03
E2-194: Various leaflets & Booklets for Shipley College 2004
E2-195: Various leaflets & Booklets for Shipley College 2005
E2-196: Various leaflets & Booklets for Shipley College 2006
E2-197: Booklet for Shipley College 2007
E2-198: Booklet for Shipley College 2011
E2-199: Booklet for Shipley College 2012
E2-200: Booklet for Shipley College 2013-14
E2-201: Leaflet for Shipley College 2023
E2-202: Leaflet for Shipley College 2025
E2-090: Education - Technical School : Documents
2019.46.40.1.13: Shipley College photos - 1990s
2019.46.35.16.3: Shipley College Photograph 1960's and 1970's, laboratory
2019.46.7: 1987 1st floor plan of college and a photo of the resource centre
E2b-086: Education - Shipley College : Images
E2b-088a-l: Education - Shipley College : Images
2020.9.2.2: Shipley College Mill Building Refurbishment: Plans
2020.9.2.2.1: Shipley College Mill Building Refurbishment: Plans
2020.9.2.1: Shipley College Mill Building Refurbishment: Proposals
2020.9.2.3: Shipley College Mill Building Refurbishment: Plans
2020.9.2.4: Shipley College Mill Building Refurbishment: Plans
2020.9.2.5: Shipley College Mill Building Refurbishment: Plans
2020.9.2.6: Shipley College Mill Building Refurbishment: Plans
2020.9.2.7: Shipley College Mill Building Refurbishment: Plans
2020.9.2.8: Shipley College Mill Building Refurbishment: Plans
2020.9.2.9: Shipley College Mill Building Refurbishment: Plans
2020.9.1: A Report on the Condition of the Roof Structure to the Mill Building, Victoria road
2019.46.9: Shipley College Carpentry Workshop 1977
2019.46.11: Wrose Junior School - Guitar Class
2019.46.12: Views of Shipley College Exhibition Road building with scaffolding
2019.46.20.2: Household textiles displays
2019.46.21: Main hall of Exhibition Road building
E2-069a-b: Centenary Souvenir Programme for Shipley College
A1-190: Salt family at opening of Saltaire Studies Centre
A1-191.1+.2: Salt family at opening of the Saltaire Studies Centre
E2b-085: Education - Shipley College : Images
2019.46.22: Main hall of Exhibition Road building
2019.46.23: Main hall of Exhibition Road building
2019.46.24: Main hall of Exhibition Road building
2019.46.25: Photos and plan of Exhibition Road Building 1986
2019.46.26: 3 colour photographs of Exhibition Road Building Entrance
2019.46.27: 1 colour photograph of Saltaire Railway Station and college students
2019.46.28: Programme for public speaking dinner, Shipley Institute of Further Education 1966
2019.46.29: Shipley College photo (1948?) of downstairs (now refectory/ canteen)
2019.46.30: Shipley College photo 16cm x 21.5cm
2019.46.31: Shipley College photo 18.5cm x 23cm showing a car maintenance class in the engineering workshop of Shipley College
2019.46.34.1: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.10: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.11: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.12: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.13: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.14: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.15: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.16: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.17: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.18: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.19: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.2: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.20: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.21: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.22: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.23: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.24: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.25: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.26: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.27: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.28: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.29: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.3: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.30: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.31: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.32: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.33: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.34: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.35: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.36: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.37: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.38: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.39: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.4: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.40: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.41: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.42: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.5: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.6: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.7: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.8: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.34.9: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.35.10: Shipley College Photograph 1960's and 1970's / painting and decorating
2019.46.35.11: Shipley College Photograph 1960's and 1970's / plumbing
2019.46.35.12: Shipley College Photograph 1960's and 1970's / plastering
2019.46.35.13.1: Shipley College Photograph 1960's and 1970's / workshop
2019.46.35.13.2: Shipley College Photograph 1960's and 1970's / workshop
2019.46.35.14: Shipley College Photograph 1960's and 1970's / spray painting
2019.46.35.15: Shipley College Photograph 1960's and 1970's, laboratory/ spray painting
2019.46.35.16.1: Shipley College Photograph 1960's and 1970's, laboratory
2019.46.35.16.2: Shipley College Photograph 1960's and 1970's, laboratory
2019.46.35.5: Shipley College Photos 1960s and 70s/ visual aids exhibition
2019.46.35.6: Shipley College Photos 1960s and 70s/ workshop
2019.46.35.7: Shipley College Photos 1960s and 70s/ Machine shop
2019.46.35.8: Shipley College Photograph 1960's and 1970's / painting and decorating
2019.46.35.9: Shipley College Photograph 1960's and 1970's / painting and decorating
2019.46.36.1: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.36.10: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.36.11: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.36.12: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.36.13: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.36.14: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.36.15: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.36.16: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.36.17: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.36.18: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.36.19: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.36.2: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.36.20: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.36.21: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.36.22: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.36.23: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.36.24: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.36.25: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.36.26: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.36.27: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.36.28: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.36.29: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.36.3: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.36.30: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.36.31: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.36.32: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.36.4: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.36.5: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.36.6: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.36.7: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.36.8: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.36.9: Shipley College photos 1950s
2019.46.39.1: Shipley College photo / misc events
2019.46.39.2.1: Shipley College photo / misc events
2019.46.39.2.2: Shipley College photo / misc events
2019.46.39.2.3: Shipley College photo / misc events
2019.46.39.3.1: Shipley College photo / misc events
2019.46.39.3.2: Shipley College photo / misc events
2019.46.39.3.3: Shipley College photo / misc events
2019.46.39.3.4: Shipley College photo / misc events
2019.46.39.4.1: Shipley College photo / misc events
2019.46.39.4.2: Shipley College photo / misc events
2019.46.39.5.1: Shipley College photo / misc events
2019.46.39.5.2: Shipley College photo / misc events
2019.46.39.6: Shipley College photo / misc events
2019.46.39.7: Shipley College photo / misc events
2019.46.39.9: Visit to Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Ltd
2019.46.39.8: Shipley College photo / misc events
A1-051a-i: Modern Salt family at Shipley College
E2-071: Shipley College in Saltaire - Victorian Model Venue
2019.46.35.1: Shipley College Photos 1960s and 70s/ visual aids exhibition
2019.46.35.2: Shipley College Photos 1960s and 70s/ visual aids exhibition
2019.46.35.3: Shipley College Photos 1960s and 70s/ visual aids exhibition
2019.46.35.4: Shipley College Photos 1960s and 70s/ visual aids exhibition
2019.46.37.1: Shipley College photos 1970s
2019.46.37.10: Shipley College photos 1970s
2019.46.37.11: Shipley College photos 1970s
2019.46.37.12: Shipley College photos 1970s
2019.46.37.13: Shipley College photos 1970s
2019.46.37.14: Shipley College photos 1970s
2019.46.37.15: Shipley College photos 1970s
2019.46.37.16: Shipley College photos 1970s
2019.46.37.2: Shipley College photos 1970s
2019.46.37.3: Shipley College photos 1970s
2019.46.37.4: Shipley College photos 1970s
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2019.46.37.6: Shipley College photos 1970s
2019.46.37.7: Shipley College photos 1970s
2019.46.37.8: Shipley College photos 1970s
2019.46.37.9: Shipley College photos 1970s
E2b-082a-b: Education - Shipley College : Images
E2b-082c: visit to Saltaire by Sir Patrick Salt
2019.46.37.17: Shipley College photos 1970s
2019.46.37.18: Shipley College photos 1970s
2019.46.37.19: Shipley College photos 1970s
2019.46.37.20: Shipley College photos 1970s
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2019.46.37.28: Shipley College photos 1970s
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2019.46.37.54: Shipley College photos 1970s
2019.46.38.1: Shipley College photos 1980s
2019.46.38.2: Shipley College photos 1980s
2019.46.38.3: Shipley College photos 1980s
2019.46.40.1.1: Exhibition Building main entrance
2019.46.40.1.7: Salt Building interior with desks and chairs
2019.46.40.1.8: Salt Building interior with desks and chairs
A3-040.4: Commemorative Programme to Celebrate the Opening of the Refurbished Exhibition Building by HRH The Princess Royal January 11th 1996
E2-137: Shipley College Inspection extracts
E2-158: Her Majesty's Inspectorate report 1977
E2-162: Leisure Time Programe for 1971-1972
E2-164: Leisure Time Programe for 1972-1973
E2-165: Leisure Time Programe for 1973-1974
E2-166: Leisure Time Programe for 1974-1975
E2-167: Leisure Time Programe for 1975-1976
E2-168: Leisure Time Programe for 1976-1977
E2-169: Leisure Time Programe for 1977-1978
E2-170: Leisure Time Programe for 1978-1979
E2-173: Shipley College Adult Classes September 1983
E2-175: Shipley College Daytime Exam Classes 1983
C4a-015.12: Saltaire History Club Meeting for March 2009
2025.54: Certificates for creative craft skills courses
2025.55: Art Access Creative Textiles portfolio
2025.57: 16 paper prints produced by Ann Stuart as patterns for fabrics created on courses
E2b-027a,b: Shipley College Exhibition Building
Today Shipley College occupies several buildings in Saltaire. The College's origins lie in the Technical and Art School based in the Exhibition Building in Saltaire. Briefly named the School of Art and Science, the new school was conceived by Titus Salt Junior and opened in 1887. The 100th anniversary of foundation of the College, and its predecessors, was celebrated in 1987.
2018.45.2: Shipley Technical School, Textile Department, student book, Spinning
2018.45.3: Shipley Technical School, Textile Department, student book, Spinning
2018.45.3.1: Shipley Technical School, Textile Department, frontispiece of work book
Views of Shipley College Exhibition Road building with scaffolding
2 coloured photographs (13cmx9cm). The top photograph shows a view over the roof and top windows of Shipley College with the Shipley College sign on the side of the building near a roof. The bottom photograph shows Shipley College with scaffolding on chimneys and a white caravan parked in the car park.
Views of Shipley College Exhibition Road building with scaffolding: front of the sheet with photographs attached
H2-210.18: Pages 31-32 from a book of James Robert's newspaper cuttings 1905-1918
Pages 31-32 from a book of James Robert's newspaper cuttings 1905-1918
Sept 21 1906 Bradford vote continued (2). Sept 26-28 1906 adverts. Sept 25-27 1906 adverts. Sept 26 1906 James Roberts claim to vote in Bradford election. Nov 2 1906 Floral Exhibition at Windhill (1). Nov 2 1906 Shipley Lady's Charitable Bequest (1)
H2-210.19: Pages 33-34 from a book of James Robert's newspaper cuttings 1905-1918
Pages 33-34 from a book of James Robert's newspaper cuttings 1905-1918
Nov 2 1906 Floral Exhibition at Windhill (2). Nov 2 1906 Shipley Lady's Charitable Bequest (2). Oct 5 1906 Fiftieth Anniversery of Salts Mill. Oct 10-12 1906 adverts. Oct 13 1906 adverts. Oct 31 - Nov 1 1906 adverts
H2-210.20: Pages 35-36 from a book of James Robert's newspaper cuttings 1905-1918
Pages 35-36 from a book of James Robert's newspaper cuttings 1905-1918
Oct 19 1906 Rosse Street Brotherhood. Oct 19 1906 Shipley School of Art Exhibition. Nov 9 1906 Councillor Roberts at the Shipley Ambulance Centre. Nov 9 1906 Theft from Salts Mill (1)
Saltaire Archive Exhibition Advertising Collection
Two black and white photographs (16.7cmx12.1cm) showing the main hall of Exhibition Road building showing the balcony. Marked 'A.Anderson' on reverse.
Main hall of Exhibition Road building: front of both photographs
Main hall of Exhibition Road building: front of one photograph
A booklet designed for an exhibition showing the chronological history of Saltaire- contains text and photographs
Photograph of the carriages for Princess Beatrice's visit to Milner Field. A group of foot guards can be seen on the left.
Photograph of the carriages and mounted escort for Princess Beatrice's visit to Milner Field
B1-032/6/8: Salts Mill : Volume Six : Collection of Christmas Cards from the Directors of Salts (Saltaire) Ltd
Salts Mill : Volume Six : Collection of Christmas Cards from the Directors of Salts (Saltaire) Ltd
Salts Mill display of cloth at the Great Exhibition 1851
Princess Anne visited Saltaire on 12 January 1996 to reopen the refurbished Exhibition Building of Shipley College.
Originally, this building was known as The Saltaire Club and Institute, with only the main hall called Victoria Hall. Completed in 1871, it was one of the final pieces of Titus Salt’s vision of a model village, providing everything a person needs in life. The institute was intended, first and foremost, to provide a social gathering space for residents (rather than a pub) and, secondly, as an educational institute. The building housed rooms for billiards, bagatelle, chess and drafts, reading, classrooms, a library, a laboratory and a large hall for lectures and concerts. It also housed the Schools of Art and Science, which later moved to the Exhibition Building. Today, the building is managed by the Salt Foundation and provides a venue for community events and weddings.
Saltaire Club and Institute: Saltaire Club and Institute logo
C2b-173a-c: Victoria Hall, Saltaire from the north west
C2b-174: Postcard of Victoeia Hall with inscription
C3b-151a: Saltaire village, Documents (Places)
D1-012: Technical Lecture in progress at Victoria Hall
2018.40.20: Salt Schools - Girls High School Children's Evening programme, Victoria Hall
C2a-143a-b: Salts Mill dance at Victoria Hall
C2b-023a-b: postcard of old Victoria Hall
C2b-028: Victoria Hall doorway and archway
C2b-029: Victoria Hall-The First for Civil Weddings in Saltaire
C2b-136: Postcard of the Saltaire Institute
C2b-175a-b: Victoria Hall and the Salts School
D1-006: Saltaire Club and Institute Logo
D1-096: Interesting token found while metal detecting
E1a-066a: Old Salt's Association Second Annual Dinner
C2a-105: Saltaire village - Images (People)
C2b-086: General William Booth arrives in Saltaire
C2b-236: Some of the Stone Heads on Victoria Hall
C2b-281: Saltaire village Images (Places)
C2b-380d: Saltaire village Images (Places)
C3b-595: Timeline for 'Saltaire Institute & Victoria Hall - part 17
C3b-596: Timeline for 'Saltaire Institute & Victoria Hall - part 18
C3b-597: Timeline for 'Saltaire Institute & Victoria Hall - part 19
D1-007: Display about the Saltaire Club and Institute
D1-082a-c: A Grand Concert at Victoria Hall 18th Nov. 1925
D1-089: Maintenance & Repairs to Victoria Hall
E2-061a-d: Fee Receipt for James Lambert's Art Class
D1-114a-b: Photograph of the cast in Saltairy Tales
C2b-088: White tie dance in Victoria Hall
C2b-102/5/10: Titus Salt bust in Victoria Hall
C2b-102/5/11: Coat of Arms in Victoria Hall
C2b-102/5/12: Victoria Hall lion Determination
C2b-102/5/13: Victoria Hall lion Vigilance
C2b-102/5/14: Victoria Hall lion Determination (87)
C2b-328: Technical Lecture in Victoria Hall
C3b-087a-b: Refurbishment of Victoria Hall
C3b-599: Saltaire Institute & Victoria Hall - part 21
C3b-600: 'Saltaire Institute & Victoria Hall - part 22 - 1943-1944
C3b-601: Saltaire Institute & Victoria Hall - part 23 - 1945-1946
C3b-602: Saltaire Institute & Victoria Hall - part 24 - 1947-1948
C3b-604: Saltaire Institute & Victoria Hall - part 26 - 1950-1951
C3b-605: Saltaire Institute & Victoria Hall - part 27 - 1952
C3b-606: Saltaire Institute & Victoria Hall - part 28 - 1953-1954
C3b-607: 'Saltaire Institute & Victoria Hall - part 29 - 1955-1956
C3b-608: Timeline for 'Saltaire Institute & Victoria Hall - part 30 - 1957-1958
C5-021: Saltaire Philharmonic Society - Orchestral & Vocal Concert 1920
C5-022: Saltaire Philharmonic Society - Sullivan Night 1920
D1-068a: Hospital concert 18 November 1925
D1-068b: Programme for Hospital concert 18 November 1925
D1-068c: Notes for ticket prices for Hospital concert 18 November 1925
D1-068d: Typed notes for Hospital concert 18 November 1925
D1-068e-g: Programmes for Hospital concert 12 March 1925
D1-068h: Advert for Hospital concert 12 March 1925
C3b-587: Timeline for 'Saltaire Institute & Victoria Hall - part 9
C3b-588: Timeline for 'Saltaire Institute & Victoria Hall - part 10
C3b-589: Timeline for 'Saltaire Institute & Victoria Hall - part 11
C3b-590: Timeline for 'Saltaire Institute & Victoria Hall - part 12
C3b-591: Timeline for 'Saltaire Institute & Victoria Hall - part 13
C3b-592: Timeline for 'Saltaire Institute & Victoria Hall - part 14
C3b-593: Timeline for 'Saltaire Institute & Victoria Hall - part 15
C3b-594: Timeline for 'Saltaire Institute & Victoria Hall - part 16
C3b-598: Timeline for 'Saltaire Institute & Victoria Hall - part 20
C3b-603: 'Saltaire Institute & Victoria Hall - part 25 - 1949
C5-020: Saltaire Philharmonic Society - Grand Opera Night 1921
C3b-583: Timeline for 'Saltaire Institute & Victoria Hall - part 5
C3b-585: Timeline for 'Saltaire Institute & Victoria Hall - part 7
D2-019: Children's Fancy Dress Ball at the Saltaire Conversazione 1925
D1-080a-b: A Choral Competition at Victoria Hall
D1-081a-b: The Final Concert Choral Competition at Victoria Hall - 1894
D1-016a,c: Newscutting about the Conversazione
D1-003: Lecture at the Saltaire Institute
D1-137: Cancellation of Victoria Hall booking for Saltaire Conversazione
D1-001a-b: Rules of the Saltaire Club and Institute
D1-066a: Saltaire Philharmonic Society Choral Concerts 1920
D1-066b+.2: Choral concert 15 February 1921
D1-069a-e: Saltaire Philharmonics Society's Concerts
C2b-182: Saltaire village Images (Places)
D1-009: Menu for Saltaire Conversazione dinner
D1-112a-f: Photographs of cast in Saltairy Tales
D1-117: 'Minute Book' for Saltaire Conversazione
D1-118: Saltaire Conversazione: Statement of Accounts
D1-120: Saltaire Conversazione: Statement of Accounts 1965
D1-121: Invitation to Saltaire Conversazione
D1-126: Printed card for the 84th Saltaire Conversazione
D1-135: Cancellation of Victoria Hall booking for Saltaire Conversazione
D1-139: Cancellation of the 1965 Saltaire Conversazione
D1-119: Saltaire Conversazione: Statement of Accounts 1964
D1-122: Invitation to Saltaire Conversazione
D1-123: Invitation to Saltaire Conversazione
D1-124: Printed card for the 82nd Saltaire Conversazione
D1-125: Printed card for the 83rd Saltaire Conversazione
D1-127: Printed card for the 85th Saltaire Conversazione
D1-165: Photograph of attendees of a Saltaire Conversazione
2018.53: Photographs of stone heads on Victoria Hall
C3b-406: Saltaire village, Documents (Places)
C3b-571: Timeline for 'Saltaire Institute & Victoria Hall - part 1
C3b-572: Timeline for 'Saltaire Institute & Victoria Hall - part 2
C3b-581: Timeline for 'Saltaire Institute & Victoria Hall - part 3
C3b-582: Timeline for 'Saltaire Institute & Victoria Hall - part 4
C3b-584: Timeline for 'Saltaire Institute & Victoria Hall - part 6
C3b-586: Timeline for 'Saltaire Institute & Victoria Hall - part 8
2024.36: Descriptive Index Catalogue of the Library of the Saltaire Club and Institute
D1-004: Advertisement for 'The Institute'
D1-088: 2nd Annual Concert with Saltaire Mills Male Voice Choir
D1-094: Victoria Hall-Movie Nights Spring 2015
D1-115: Minutes of 'Sir Titus Salt Charity Shipley'
D1-144: Victoria Hall re-opens (8th Jan. 1993)
D1-146: Opening of the Victorian Reed Organ Museum
D1-092a-b: Victorian Reed Organ and Harmonica Museum
C3b-031: Saltaire village, Documents (Places)
C4a-015.5: Saltaire History Club Meeting poster for September 2007
2024.150: Documents related to the 2015 Conversazione in Victoria Hall
2024.150.1: Activities planned for the Conversazione
2024.150.5: The adventures of Al and Mo (aka Alison Paca and Mo Hair)
2024.150.6: Report on the 18th April 2015 Conversazione at VIctoria Hall
D1-070.1: Articles about the 1998 Great Bradford Beer Exhibition
D1-070.2: Beer tokens for the 1998 Great Bradford Beer Exhibition
D1-070.3: Booklet for the 1998 Great Bradford Beer Exhibition
D1-070.4: Booklet for the 2000 Premier Beer Festival
D1-070.5: Booklet for the 2001 Bradford Beer Festival
D1-070.6: Posters for the 1998 Great Bradford Beer Exhibition
H1-054a: Certificate of Merit for Fred Hanson
The Exhibition Building opened in 1887, built by Titus Salt Junior, Sir Titus’s youngest son, in memory of his father. The building costs were supposed to be covered by the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee held in Saltaire in 1887, but this failed to raise the required sum. The Exhibition Building was built to house the School of Art and Science. This quickly became Shipley Technical School (incorporating the School of Art). These schools eventually went on to become Shipley College, a further education college and important institution in Saltaire today which occupies several of the original buildings. The Saltaire Collection is housed inside the Exhibition Building and can be visited by appointment.
2019.63: Shipley College Photographs and cuttings 1948-1957
E2b-026a: Shipley Technical School viewed from Caroline Street
E2-015a-r: Shipley Technical Institute of School and Art Prospectus
Only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
C2b-059: Princess Anne's visit to Saltaire 1977
William Fry started working life on the railways but his life was transformed in his thirties when he moved to Saltaire to become the long-serving Secretary and General Manager of the Salt Schools. The 'Salt Schools eventually incorporated the High School (for Girls and Boys), the Saltaire Club and Institute, and the Technical and Art School In the late 1880s a new School of Art and Science was instigated by Titus Salt Junior. To help fund the new school and partly celebrate its opening, and Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee, Salt devised the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition. William Fry became heavily involved in its planning, travelling round the country to visit other exhibitions at Edinburgh, Folkestone and Liverpool as well as the Colonial Exhibition in London. He wrote numerous letters to obtain exhibits and enlist support for the Exhibition. This was a difficult task because of competition with other exhibitions and attractions. William wrote that ‘obscurity, too small an affair’ were ‘prominent ideas to be combated’. William also became Secretary of the Sir Titus Salt's Hospital, likely after the management ot the hospital was passed to the Salts School Board in 1887.
Biography on Saltaire Collection website
One black and white photograph showing the main hall of Exhibition Road building showing the balcony and entrance
Three black and white photographs of the main hall of Exhibition Road building showing the balcony, entrance and ground floor. All marked 'WATTS' on reverse
Black and white photograph showing the ground floor, balcony and entrances to the main hall of the Exhibition Road Building. Says 'HW Jackson' on reverse
Main hall of Exhibition Road building: Front
Photos and plan of Exhibition Road Building 1986
Plan shows position of photos. Photo 1 shows Loading Door Summer 1986. Photo 2 shows Rear (East) side of college, Summer 1986 repairs on chimney
3 colour photographs of Exhibition Road Building Entrance
Photo 1 shows the front door and mosaic floor. Photo 2 shows the entrance hall and pot plant. Photo 3 shows the entrance hall and notice board
Shipley College photo (1948?) of downstairs (now refectory/ canteen)
Black and white photo showing interior of Shipley College - photo taken looking down into the refectory/canteen area as we know it now. Lower floor has parquet flooring, mapped out for badminton court(?), table tennis table. Upper floor shows 6 pictures hung on wall and roofed area (a bit like a greenhouse/shed). photo shows doors into reception area.
Shipley College photo (1948?) of downstairs (now refectory/ canteen): Photograph
Black and white photo shows an exhibition of craft work, pottery, textiles, embroidery, cushions etc on a table covered with cloths against exhibition boards. Four punched holes are on the left handside
Black and white photo showing exhibition of needlework items produced eg. dressing gown and nightdress, dress, one blouse, various items of underskirts/ nighties etc, all mounted on display boards. 6 holes punched on the left
Black and white photo showing exhibition of items made at classes, eg standard lamp, fireguard, small tables, 4 dresses mounted on boards and side tables. Room shows steps and a door and some photographs on wall.
Black and white photo shows an exhibition of embroidery work. Cushions, tablecloths, mats etc are displayed on a table and hung on screens. Approx 23 items. 4 punched holes are on the left
Black and white photo showing basketry items made in a class and shown as an exhibition. items include 2 dog baskets, 3 trays, a laundry basket, plant holders, a lamp shade and a sewing basket. 2 baskets are hung on the wall behind together with 3 hanging baskets for plants. Reverse states ' Shipley institute of Further Education. J. Fawcett No.16 Basketry Class Exhibition'
Black and white photo showing a display of photographs from photography class exhibition. 33 photos displayed showing various scenes, (animals, people, buildings etc). Also 3 small slide displays stood on table in front of display. Reverse states 'J. Fawcett No.13. Shipley Institute of Further Education, Photography Class Exhibition.
Black and white photo shows an exhibition display of various items, 2 chest of drawers, a chair and small round table and a lampstand. The display behind sows 'man made nylon' and various items pinned up. 'Textile' area. In foreground are various small engineered items
Black and white photo shows an exhibition of needlework - dress, skirt and blouse. Dress chequered material, blouse and skirt plain dark material all mounted on board. 4 hole punches are on left of photograph
Black and white photo showing a display of women's clothes, mainly skirts and dresses in the main hall of Exhibition Building with some girl's clothes in background on right. Dated 1956 in black on the right of the picture
Black and white photo shows a view from above of an exhibition of work produced, mostly dresses, night dresses, blouses,skirts, some cushions, tablecloths, mats etc. Also 2 groups of wooden furniture produced. Placed on blocks and boards for display. 2 hole punches on the left.
Black and white photo showing a display of cane work bags, boxes etc on right foreground with textiles including clothing. Photo taken in the main hall of Exhibition Building.
Black and white photo shows display for exhibition of embroidery work and pottery. 1 lamp and shade, 1 vased, 1 dish, embroidery on a frame, 2 cushions, tablecloths, fireguard etc. 6 holes punched on left of photo
Black and white photo showing display of an evening dress and stole together with a blouse - used for an exhibition and mounted on board. 4 holes punched on the left.
Shipley College Photos 1960s and 70s/ visual aids exhibition
Black and white photo of tape recorders, radio and record players on display with labels
Black and white photo showing a display of women's clothes in main hall of Exhibition Building including a coat with scarf.
Black and white photo showing a display of women's clothes in the main hall of Exhibition Building taken from the balcony
Black and white photo showing displays of furniture, clothing and hats in the main hall of Exhibition Building taken from the balcony
Black and white photo showing a display of furniture in the main hall of Exhibition Building, with a standard lamp in the centre.
Black and white photo showing displays of furniture and clothes in the main hall of Exhibition Building
Black and white photo showing a display of furniture including small tables with a bird table in the centre of the photo in the main hall of Exhibition Building
Black and white photo showing a various displays of furniture, clothing and hats in the main hall of Exhibition Building
Black and white photo showing displays of furniture in the foreground with a standard lamp in the centre and clothing in the right background. Photo taken in the main hall of Exhibition Building
Black and white photo showing a display of women's clothes in main hall of Exhibition Building, including a pinafore dress and a patterened shirt.
Black and white photo showing the main hall of Shipley College, with views of wooden furniture and display boards. More a photo of the exhibition rather than specific items
Black and white photo showing a display of women's clothes in the main hall of Exhibition Building. There are some hats in the bottom right hand corner
Black and white photo of group of prize giving ceremony ? in main hall of Exhibition Road building. Rows of seats facing two rows of dignitaries at front. Table with plaque and flowers 1970s?
Black and white photo of group of prize giving ceremony ? in Exhibition Road building. Rows of seats facing dignitaries at front.Man in suit giving speech at table with flowers. Clock on wall records the time of 7.55
Black and white photo of group of prize giving ceremony ? in Exhibition Road building. Rows of seats facing dignitaries at front. Posters on wall at side
Colour photo of Shipley College Industry Year Exhibition at Shipley Library 17th Nov 1986 with College Principle Mr R Morgan, Marketing Coordinator Joy Lynch & Head of Science & technology Dept. Mr Geoff Howard. Display boards behind group and information poster on easel in front.
Colour photo shows Shipley College Library Staff identified as R?, Safina, Pat, Catherine, Dorothy & Helen at Dorothy S leaving celebration ? in 1995?. Flowers on table at front.
The Salt School building on Victoria Road opened in 1868 as the location for the Factory School associated with Salts Mill. Before this, the Factory School was housed in the Dining Hall further down the road. There were both day scholars and half-timers, who would work at the mill for half a day and attend school for the other half. Boys entered on the right and girls on the left and the school was designed to cater for 750 children initially. In 1874, there were 806 half-timers and 454 day scholars, with an average attendance of 665. The schools were constructed with state-of-the-art technology: hot water central heating, gas lighting, and tip-up lavatories. In 1878, the school moved to the newly-built Albert Road Board School (today Saltaire Primary School). The Victoria Road building became the Salt High School catering for both girls and boys. The High School eventually moved to a new site on the far side of Roberts Park. Today the original building, along with the Exhibition Building, Dining Hall and the Jonathan Silver building, forms Shipley College, a further education institution. Outside the building there are two lions and two more on the opposite side of the road. Their names can just be made out, inscribed on their pedestals: Peace, War, Vigilance and Determination. Local legend has it that these were originally constructed for Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square. This is, unfortunately, almost certainly a myth.
2019.52.2: Salt High School Scholar's Report 1952-1957
2019.52.3: Salt High School Speech day programme 8th December 1955
2019.52.4: Salt High School Speech day programme 8th May 1958
2021.24: Timeline for 'The Presidents of the Salt Schools
C2a-050.14: Saltaire village - Images (People).
C2b-129: Saltaire village Images (Places)
E1a-008b.1: Education, Schools (Documents)
E1b-060b: Miss S.M.Griffiths, the first Salts High School for Girls Headmistress
E1b-070a: Salts High School-Senior Gilrls
E1b-072: High School Girls in Pageantry at Saltaire
E1b-080a: Medina Sarah Griffiths & Harriet Byles
E1b-154a,b,c,d,e,f: Education, Schools (Images)
H2-134: Salt Schools Presidential Address
C3a-017: Photograph of a class of Salts School boys (c.1920s)
E1a-018a-b: Miss M.S.Griffiths, First Headmistress of the Salts School
E1a-054: List of Saltaire Institute & Salts School Records 1852-1968
E1b-036b: Education, Schools (Documents)
E1b-038a: Students and teachers at Salts High School
E1b-046: Salts Boys High School during WW1
F1a-178: A Family Tree of the Byles family
E1a-024: History of the Salts Schools up to 1965 taken from John Waddington -Feather's book (photocopy)
E1a-031a-f: Salts High School and Harriet Byles
E1a-075: Printing dye for 'Governors of the Salt School'
E1a-077: Plan of the High School building on Victoria Road, Saltaire
E1a-079: Report on the Annual Meeting of the Salts School 1901
E1b-032: Students and teachers at Salts Boys High School
E1b-033a-d: Students and teachers at Salts Boys High School
E1b-034b,e: Students and teachers at Salts Boys High School
E1b-039a: Football team of Salts High School
E1b-040a: Football team of Salts High School
E1b-041a: Football team of Salts High School
E1b-043a: Football team of Salts High School
E1b-050: Panorama framed school photographs - Salts School for Boys - July 1927
E1b-051: Panorama framed school photographs - Salts Boys High School - July 1932
E1b-052: Panorama framed school photographs - The Salt High School - October 1947
E1b-053: Panorama framed school photographs - The Salt High School - July 1952
E1b-054: Panorama framed school photographs - The Salt High School - October 1956
E1b-055: Panorama framed school photographs - The Salt Grammar School - April 1960
E1b-074a-b: Photograph of cast and cast list of Salts Girls High School production of cast-list of 'The Dragon'
E2-056a-b: High School Girls in Pageantry
D1-150: Photograph of 2 cast members in the play Saltairey Tales
C2b-102/6/6: Salts School Coat of Arms and Bell
E1b-042: Footbal team of Salts HIgh School
E1b-115: Drawing of Salts High School 1874
E1b-065a: Girl students at Salts High School
E2-039: 'Salt Annex' layout (Old High School)
C3b-424a: The Story of the Salts Girls School for Fifty Years (1876-1926): Reminiscences of Harriet Byles. Head MIstress 1886-1920
E1a-016b: The Story of the Salts Girls School for Fifty Years: Reminiscences of Harriet Byles, Headmistress 1886-1920
C2b-102/6/7: Salts School top of Bell tower with scuptures of children
C2b-109: Salts arms over the Salts School
E2-037: Salt High School classroom layout
H2-135: Salt Schools Presidential Address by the Archbishop of York
2024.5: Second Forster Bulletin of the Forster Society, Bradford
E1b-035a: Salts Boys Grammar School during the First World War
C3b-438: Saltaire village, Documents (Places)
C2a-132b: Salt Grammar School blazer badge
C2a-132c: Salt Grammar School prefect badge
C4a-015.6: Saltaire History Club Meeting for December 2007
C4a-015.9: Saltaire History Club Meeting for June 2008
2024.141: Domestic Pests: What they are and how to remove them
Black and white photo of film equipment /projectors with labels
Black and white photo of man in suit looking at booklet at College display of projectors
Black and white photo of college display of projectors and screen (with labels). Also School Museum Service material
Black and white photo of two men in suits standing next to Episcope. Also a Slide Projector and Microprojector Attachment on display with labels
2022.74: Saltaire's Allotments: A second draft of their history
Saltaire's Allotments: A second draft of their history
A history of the various allotments in Saltaire researched by Les Brook with major contributions from Colin Coates and James Roberts. A detailed history of the provision and use of allotments in Saltaire, including many changes to their extent and location.
Copyright Les Brook, James Roberts, Colin Coates
SALTAIRE’S ALLOTMENTS A second draft of their history Compiled and edited by Les Brook with major contributions from Colin Coates, James Roberts and Ian Watson 1 November 2023 2 1 In this paper, footnotes are numerical, and endnotes, alphabetical. The Club welcomes comments that query or correct any part of this paper – or adds to our understanding of the allotments’ history. Email saltairehistorymail@gmail.com 2 Aerial view of Saltaire dating from ~2005. 1 Introduction The allotments in Saltaire are amongst the many public facilities that have elevated this small ‘village’ from a Victorian curiosity to a World Heritage Site. Yet - like the engineer who designed the mill, the horny-handed sons of toil who built it, and the women whose labours at home and at their machines were crucial to its success - the allotments rarely get a mention in histories. How odd, because these “allotment gardens” are so conspicuous 3. Today, a favourite spot for photographers is on Victoria Road from which the mill’s magnificent frontage can be admired - as you look across the rhubarb, flowers, shrubs and greenhouses of allotments. Moreover, it’s odd that the allotments are neglected by historians since a principal reason for Saltaire’s global status is that it is not only “an outstanding and well-preserved example of a mid-19th century industrial town” but that it “exert[ed] a major influence on the development of the 4 "garden city" movement” . 3 Sometimes rendered as “garden allotments”, this was a common term in Victorian times. See the wording on the early maps and plans in this paper. 4 From UNESCO’s World Heritage inscription. For more on this movement, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_city_movement. (As far as I can see, there’s no evidence for UNESCO’s claim!) 2 Allotments in industrial settings and model towns In historical context, Saltaire’s allotments are far from unique. The village’s sister World Heritage Site and mill village, New Lanark, also had them, 50 years before Saltaire. Its owner/manager, the famous Robert Owen, believed that health could generally be improved by a clean living environment and fresh air and provided residents with allotments to grow their own fruit and vegetables as well as planting woodlands and laying out paths on the hillside above the village, to be enjoyed by the villagers 5. That could be the founder of Saltaire speaking. Yet the histories of Titus Salt provide no evidence to demonstrate that Salt ever visited New Lanark or supported Owen’s vision of utopian socialist communities. It would, 6 however, be very unlikely that Salt had no knowledge of Owen’s work… . Closer to home, in Leeds, during the depression of 1838-42, the sons of the pioneering millowner Benjamin Gott made “a benevolent gesture” by converting the tenter ground of their Bean Ing mill into allotments for 7 their workers . Daniels notes that Allotments were intended to promote in leisure time the industrious habits that William Chambers admired when he saw the Bean Ing employees at work in 1841: ‘Throughout the different large buildings containing the workmen you do not hear a word spoken. Every individual is busy as a bee at his own peculiar work; no such thing as straggling out is observable, and the whole system seems perfect in point of concentrated 8 industry and organization’. 5 https://www.newlanark.org/introducing-robert-owen. Notwithstanding this assertion, I have asked our New Lanark counterparts for evidence and have not received a reply. 6 https://www.saltairecollection.org/saltaire-history/saltaire-foundation-and-legacy/ 7 ‘Tenter ground’ was an area used for drying newly manufactured cloth after fulling. Bean Ing was on the western edge of Leeds city centre. 8 Stephen John Daniels Moral Order and the Industrial Environment in the Woollen Textile Districts of West Yorkshire, 1780-1880 3 Daniels goes on to observe that allotments were a feature of two other 9 West Yorkshire ‘model villages’, Copley and Akroydon . These post-date Saltaire. The allotments in front of Salts Mill As we shall see later, the allotments in front of the mill are not the only ones in the past and present village - but they are the earliest and, historically, the most interesting. Their date is not known but they were certainly in place by the time Caroline Street’s eastern extension was built, 10 probably in late 1868 into 1869 , and all the indications suggest a much earlier date, maybe soon after the completion of 11 the mill in 1853 . These allotments were deliberately designed both in location and form, and that they sit immediately in front of the mill is striking. Why would they be designed and why would this location be chosen? Salt’s chosen location for his mill and small town was in the countryside, in the pristine Aire valley. The choice was deliberately rural: one of the most beautiful and picturesque in the neighbourhood of Bradford… charmingly situated on the banks of the Aire… an extensive landscape of hill and 12 dale . 9 Ibid. The Copley allotments appear to be on Copley Lane Halifax HX3 0RD. The Akroydon allotments are next to York Terrace, Halifax HX3 6LZ. Both are small scale. 10 We shall see later that Lockwood Street and (part of) Caroline Street were constructed on part of the original allotment space. For evidence of the dates here, see Les Brook 16 BUILDING CONTRACTS critical appraisal v210622 (unpublished). 11 These indications will be addressed later in this paper. They include various plans; the early foundation (1861) of the Floral and Horticultural Society; the evidence on later OS maps of a unique allotment layout which clearly preceded constructions with known dates, the dates of which are known; the date of the Garden Cottage; and the 1887 W and R Mawson plan. And why not early, since they required little effort or money to construct? 4 Creating a colossal factory in such a setting was an act of vandalism… or so it might seem. So would it not be appropriate to re-create ‘rural’ outdoor space within the village? And would it not also facilitate a splendid view of the 13 mighty mill? That the optics of this space were important and that the space was designed is evidenced by its layout. The two early plans here show the allotments organised around a symmetrical guitar 14 pattern of pathways . And what is striking is that subsequent Ordnance Survey (OS) maps confirm that this elaborate arrangement was actually built. 12 Balgarnie’s Salt with commentary and additions by Barlo and Shaw 13 A: This is not a silly question. Saltaire village has many designed vistas. Try looking down George Street to the URC Church and beyond. Glorious! B: Hopefully to be added to a future draft: material from Ruth Quinn’s PhD thesis. See summary here: https://heritageconsortium.ac.uk/current-students-2/2017-cohort/ruth- quinn/ 14 Unfortunately, these are plans and not maps. Maps are reliable sources of information, of what existed or exists. Plans may be just that: plans. For example, in the present cases: the top plan shows a layout for Saltaire Park (now Roberts Park) that was not implemented, and neither plan depicts the Sunday School. Unlike maps, plans can be very difficult to date. However, the top one is from Reports on the Paris Universal Exhibition, 1867. Thanks to Jo Lintonbon for this info. The document can be read at https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/_/UQgtfl3kA20C?hl=en. The lower image is later than 30 October 1869. We know that because the second has Salt as a baronet, and he was ennobled on that date. 5 Here's the evidence – an extract from the 1891 OS map - that the guitar layout was adopted. By the time of this map, considerable construction had taken place on the allotments’ southern edge but this cannot hide the remnants of the more extensive, guitar-emblazoned, set of plots. Look back at the first, earlier plan. It shows the allotments to be enclosed within an area north of Caroline Street. But if we look at the later plan, and more importantly the later, authoritative OS maps like the one above, it is clear that initially these allotments occupied a greater area. The red line is a rough estimate of the original (~1853 to ~1868) 15 boundary of this larger area . 15 1868 because, in October of that year, Lockwood and Mawson sought builders for the houses on each side of the Saltaire Institute (Victoria Hall), including the eastern end of Caroline Street. The latter group of houses feature at the bottom right of the area marked within red lines above. Bradford Observer..8 October 1868. 6 That the first area of allotments was more extensive is not entirely surprising if we look back at the plots of land which the village occupied to the east of Victoria Road. The analysis that follows makes considerable 16 use of research by Ian Watson in The Land Acquisitions of Titus Salt . Saltaire was built on many separate fields with multiple owners, and they 17 were purchased by Salt over a lengthy period . Indeed, much of Saltaire was built well before significant areas were in Salt’s hands. Immediately below is Ian’s map showing the first purchase. It involved many fields, was made in 1850, and is hatched in red. Fields 542 and 541 occupy the area immediately south of the railway line in front of the mill which were to host the allotments. Note the area’s roughly triangular shape. If fields 542 and 541 in front of the mill were all given over to allotments in the 10 or more years after the mill opened (1853) – and I believe they were – the area they covered would have been greater than their area in the first of the early plans above. In fact, it would have been roughly the same as the red-boundaried, rough-estimate area in the map above. Not a coincidence. There is no reason for not converting both of these fields into allotments. The implementation of the building plan (the earliest of the plans above) could not proceed until field 543 was purchased. 16 Ian’s booklet is available at https://www.saltairecollection.org/wp- content/uploads/THE-LAND-ACQUISITIONS-OF-TITUS-SALT-IW-2018.pdf. 17 Ibid. Almost all the land consisted of conventional farmland at the time of the purchases, and contained a range of arable, pasture and grass-meadow. 7 Below are two more maps from the period before Salt had purchased any land in the area. The enclosure map is not dated but clearly pre-dates the 18 OS map which was surveyed in 1848 . The roughly triangular shape is in evidence on both. The railway line is the upper boundary of these two fields and the western boundary is a track or road, Dixon Mill Lane. 18 It was published in 1852 and is usually referred to as the 1852 OS map. 8 Back to Salt’s land acquisitions. Fields 542 and 541 did not share a common owner with the land to the south, and notably, field 543. Watson shows that it took until 1866 – 16 years after the purchase of 541 and 542! – for the deal to be clinched. Over that pre-1866 period, Saltaire was being built according to the plan drawn up by Salt’s architects, Lockwood and Mawson. However, after April 1860, there’s reason to believe that they ran out of land: no 19 invitations to tender for new housing were issued until March 1866 . The conversion of the whole of fields 542 and 541 into allotments was probably not meant to last for ~13 years but that is what happened, and now we know why. Although it can be argued that this front-of-mill allotment space was a significant and deliberate part of Saltaire’s design, it was far from invincible. Indeed, with the benefit of hindsight, the first of our plans can be seen to spell out the architects’ intentions: the allotments were always destined to have Caroline Street as their southern boundary. However, this destiny was breached in the final couple of years of Titus Salt’s life when the Sunday School was erected on the allotments. The Bradford Observer reported that The Sunday schools [sic] attached to [the Congregational, now URC, Church] have hitherto been held in the day school and institute, but, with that munificent elaboration which distinguishes [Titus Salt] the founder of this model town, a distinct building is to be reared, which will also contain distinctive features and appliances specially adapted for Sunday school teaching. The building is being erected on a portion of the allotment 20 gardens in front of the factory… . 21 It seems that planning for a Sunday School , and specifically planning for its location, was poor to non-existent – and the allotments suffered from that. Perhaps a Sunday School was an afterthought, and although that seems very unlikely in the model village of a very committed Christian, it may indeed be the case, as Jack Reynolds suggests: 19 Les Brook op cit. They had issued more than 10 in the years 1853 to 1860. 20 Bradford Observer 27 May 1875. Balgarnie’s Salt confirms this report: The [Sunday] schools stand upon a portion of the allotment gardens… 21 We’re talking about a Sunday School building here. For many years before the construction of a dedicated building, the church ran Sunday School classes both under the church and in the Dining Hall. 9 The last building of all to be put up was the Congregational Sunday School, built at the corner of Caroline Street and Victoria Road in 1875. Originally, the space had been reserved for a hotel, but the idea had been abandoned and the space re-allocated for use as allotment gardens. The Congregationalists decided that the basement of the church, which they had used as a Sunday school, was cramped and unsuitable and asked Salt for a site on which to place a new purpose-built structure. Salt agreed and gave in addition £7,000, provided they raised £500 towards 22 the interior decorations. The trouble with Reynolds’ statements is that they are largely misleading or inaccurate: • This building was a very late addition to the village. “Contract 16” for “New SUNDAY SCHOOL and CLASS-ROOMS” was only published 23 in the press on 18 February 1875 and the building opened on 29 April 1876, the last building for which Salt himself was responsible 24 . • As we have shown, there is good reason to believe that the allotments in front of the mill were there right from the start – and there is no evidence of a hotel being planned, there or elsewhere. • Whilst the Congregationalists used their basement for Sunday School classes, their principal location was the Dining Hall. This means that Reynolds’ tale of pressure from the congregation may be correct, but not for the reasons suggested. 22 Reynolds Jack The Great Philanthropist 23 Lockwood and Mawson were the architects of Saltaire. Their invitations to tender for Saltaire’s buildings were usually called ‘contracts’. See Les Brook op cit. 24 In December of 1876, he died. The building was demolished in 1972. https://saltairevillage.info/Saltaire_WHS_Demolished_buildings.html 10 The Garden Cottage in the allotments in front of Salts Mill A rather odd and mysterious addition to the allotments in front of Salts Mill is the Garden Cottage. It was located in the far eastern corner and features on the second Lockwood and Mawson plan of Saltaire… … and on the 1887 Mawson plan (of 25 which more later) . 25 This is the most graphic image of construction over the allotments. Note the damage to the guitar pattern. Note also the curvature of the southern boundary of the allotments. This is entirely consistent with the southern boundary of fields 542 and 541, as is the cut-off eastern end of the triangle. 11 The cottage is much more prominent on the 1891 OS map, directly south of the mill chimney and across the railway line. And it is named. Two further images may show this same building. The first is on a well-known drawing of Salts Mill in the Illustrated London News of 1 October 1853. This is the full 1853 drawing… and this is a crop from it, showing the building, much-enlarged, to the right of the mill chimney. We know that, at some point, a signal box was constructed close by, but this is not a Victorian signal box. They were typically 2 storey and did 26 not have chimneys . This building’s footprint is also similar to that of the Garden Cottage on the 1891 map. If this 1853 building is a house, it is the first, the 27 oldest, house in Saltaire . 26 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signal_boxes_that_are_listed_buildings_in_England 12 But leaving aside that intriguing possibility, census records from 1861 to 1901 confirm that Garden Cottage was a house, and had occupants. The first four of these censuses show Joseph and Maria Kitchen and as many 28 as three daughters living there. Joseph was not employed in gardening . He was a power loom overlooker who had retired by 1891. Newspaper records show that he was a keen flower grower who won a number of 29 prizes . In the 1901 census, the cottage was occupied by Bramley Badland, a wool sorter, his wife Hannah and their two young children. In the 1911 census Garden Cottage is not listed. Indeed, it probably disappeared (was 30 demolished?) by 1908 as it is not shown on the 1908 OS map . UNESCO failed to recognise this corner of Saltaire when it delineated the boundaries of the historic village. That was a significant omission. The evidence shows that the cottage and the nearby allotments were part and parcel of the original village. There is a strong case for this cottage having been built as early as 1853, but even if it wasn’t, the census returns show that it was in place before a very significant fraction of the houses in the 31 village . 27 There’s no record of Garden Cottage amongst the Lockwood and Mawson ‘contracts’, most probably because contracts were for large groups of houses or single large buildings such as the Congregational Church. See Les Brook op cit. 28 Which scotches the idea that this cottage was built to accommodate an allotments’ supervisor. 29 Joseph Kitchen won “the best cultivated Cottage Garden” at the 1856 Airedale show, described below. This surely indicates that Garden Cottage was built by 1856 and adds value to the argument that the allotments were up and running by that date. 30 Thanks to Jack Hargreaves for this observation. 31 Les Brook op cit. 13 The allotment holders and others combine: the Horticultural, Pig, Dog, Poultry and Pigeon Society Within 7 years or so of the construction of the first streets in Saltaire, a Floral and Horticultural Society had been formed. Its changes of name reflect the range of uses of gardens and allotments that we have 32 uncovered above . Founded in 1861 as the Floral and Horticultural 33 Society , it was renamed as the Horticultural, Pig and Dog Society in 1873, and in 1876 became the Horticultural, Pig, Dog, Poultry and Pigeon Society. It had about 100 members, most prominent among them being long serving and skilled mill employees such as Eli Lambert, Isaac Constantine, John Hanson, James Ellis, Sam Baldwin and James Rushton. Men with local status were most likely to be allocated and to keep the allotments which the firm provided, though they could not establish a total monopoly 34 since there were 100 allotments and 38 piggeries along the canal side . It had an annual show and exhibition which was a highlight of the village social life for many years. Notwithstanding the importance to Saltaire of this local organisation and its show, it was not unique and it didn’t appear from nowhere. In 1856, the Bradford Observer ran an article on the second annual 35 exhibition of the Airedale Floral and Horticultural Society in “Mr 36 A Darlington’s park, Shipley” . At >3,000 words long, this news article is encyclopaedic and indicates that gardening and related activities were of substantial local importance well before the existence of Saltaire. 32 This short summary about the Society is based on text in Saltaire Overlookers 1830 to 1914 by Roger Clark in collaboration with Colin Coates. Roger acknowledges that much of the information is from Reynolds op cit pp303/4 33 Bradford Observer Thursday 23 June 1870. Announcement of the ninth annual show of the Saltaire Floral and Horticultural Society. 34 Bradford Observer of 27 August 1863 according to Reynolds op cit 35 Though the event was described as an “exhibition”, at its heart was a comprehensive competition. 36 Bradford Observer 21 August 1856. Mr Darlington was almost certainly John Darlington, the resident of Shipley Hall which was in the middle of Shipley, more or less where Wetherspoon’s is today. See map in endnote. The “park” is almost certainly the grounds of Shipley Hall. These can be seen on the map. 14 The author tells us that a “large and commodious marquee” was erected and it held examples of the following produce: Acacia Cauliflowers Kidney Beans Peas Stocks Achimenes Cherries Kidney Petunias Stove Plants African Cineraria Potatoes Picotees Strawberries Marigolds Coxcombs Lettuce Plums Verbenas Antirrhinums Cucumbers Lilium Potatoes White Apples Dahlias Melon Raspberries Turnips Asters Eschalots Mosses Red And White, Red, Autumn- Nectarines White Grapes Yellow and Sown Onions Ferns Green Onions Redcurrants Gooseberries Beans French Yellow Marigolds Orchid Rhubarb Turnips Blackcurrants Frontignac Pansies Roses Cabbage Fuchsias Parsley Round Campanula Garlic Parsnips Potatoes Carnations Gloxinia Peaches Spring Carrots Onions And in addition to all these vegetables and flowers, there was poultry: Bantams Fowls of the Silver Pencilled or Cochin China or Sultan Chittapratt Brama Pootro Golden Spangled Silver Spangled Dorking Hamburgh Hamburgh Ducks Polands Spanish fowls and pigeons: Common Tumblers Antwerps Jacobins Carriers Fantails Turbites 37 and game too! 37 Doyle, Martin The Illustrated Book of Domestic Poultry George Routledge & Company, 1854 is a splendid reference book on Brahma Pootros and Chittaprats! Download it free from https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=dgBLAQAAMAAJ&source=gbs_slider_cls_metadata _7_mylibrary 15 This remarkable range of fruit, veg, flowers and domesticated animals does not tell us what would have been cultivated and kept in Saltaire’s allotments – but it is surely indicative. It may also provide evidence of the gender balance in gardening in mid-C19 West Yorkshire. Amongst the very long list of successful competitors, only one (Mrs Sharp, a poultry keeper) appears to be female. The attendance at the 1856 event also tells a story. It drew people from across the largest county in England. Folk came from Bingley, Bradford, Leeds, Skipton, Holmfirth, York, Wakefield, and Otley. And Titus Salt was amongst the distinguished guests. An indication of what we suspect from our study of Saltaire’s founder’s allotment plans – that he was firmly committed to allotment gardening being a feature of his model village. Though we have little direct evidence that Titus was also enamoured of allotmenteering itself, one snippet does suggest he was supportive, and it is dated May 1848, pre-dating Saltaire: 38 The allotments at the Exhibition grounds By the late 1880s, the allotment gardens in front of the mill occupied a much larger area than that long thin triangle shown on the earliest plans. Here’s a drawing which dates from the late 1880s/mid-1890s. The large 39 building bottom right is Exhibition Building , constructed for the 1887 Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition. Below the drawing is an extract from the 1889 OS map. Both evidence a greatly increased area of allotments. 38 Bradford Observer 24 May 1848 39 This is its modern name. 16 It appears that the closure of the 1887 Exhibition prompted a discussion on the use of its extensive grounds which, on the map above, are to the east of the ‘Technical Schools’ (now called Exhibition Building). On 13 April 1889, the Shipley Times reported: We understand that the trustees of the late Sir Titus Salt are prepared to lay out the ground on which the greater part of the [The Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition] stood in 1887 for garden allotments. It is hoped that this will meet an admitted want amongst the population of Shipley and part of Saltaire. There are several acres of ground, and, if the desire for allotments equals the quantity of land, the trustees will proceed to enclose the land suitably 17 and substantially. Practically, it is proposed to build a stone wall from the corner of the Technical School to the boundary wall of the Board Schools [now Wycliffe CE Primary School]. The intervening space between this wall and the railway will be staked out for allotment pieces, and if required, the ground alongside the railway up to the Primitive Methodist Chapel [today, the site of a Tesco Local] will also be taken in. The ground is certainly well adapted for garden plots, and the soil is abundant and suitable for the raising of garden produce, as well as for fancy gardening. In these days of demand for allotments throughout the country, it is satisfactory to know that the growing population of this district have an opportunity keeping pace with their fellows in more distinctly rural districts. Of course we are not in a position to state the terms on which the trustees will be willing to let the allotments, but we are assured that, in keeping with the desire to meet a felt want, there is no intention of fixing terms such as would preclude cottagers taking advantage of the offer. At present the trustees leave the matter in the hands of Mr Samuel Barber, than whom no one is better qualified to know the needs of the district. Seeing that gardening operations are in their inception for the produce of the present year, Mr Barber is anxious to know as early as possible what demand there be may for the allotments in order to enable the trustees to make final arrangements. In other words, those who wish 40 to have allotments should see Mr Barber [ ] and state their wishes to him. Within two months, the Shipley Times indicated that most of the plots were taken: We are informed that there are still a few garden plots for disposal in the Exhibition Grounds, which Sir Titus Salt Bart., & Co., have laid out for allotment gardens. Mr. S. Barber has the matter in hand and is prepared 41 to receive applications. So where are these allotments now? In the decade that followed this major increase in plot numbers, Salts Mill and Saltaire changed hands. In 1892 the Salt family left the scene and a consortium took over. The four principals were Isaac Smith, John 40 From c1866 to his retirement in 1888, Samuel Barber was clerk of works at Saltaire Mills. He lived at 50 Victoria Road. He was a member of the Shipley Local Board (the local council) from 1874 to 1890. 41 Shipley Times 22 June 1889 18 42 Maddocks, James Roberts and John Rhodes . Roberts would go on to 43 become the sole owner and, by the 1901 census , three streets had been built on the former Exhibition grounds – and thus on a swathe of the 1889 garden allotments. It is worth noting that, in 1889, the decision to create these allotments would have been made by the son of Titus Salt. The new proprietors appear not to have shared the same commitment to allotment gardens as the Salt family and, unsurprisingly, two of the streets were named after Maddocks and Rhodes. A further set of allotments, between canal and river On 18 October 1870, the Leeds Mercury reported that Saltaire is noted for pig keeping, and between the river and the canal a long range of neat pig-styes have been erected, close to the allotment gardens, for the use of the residents who have a taste for home fed ham and bacon. The most plausible location for these “styes”, “between the river and the canal”, is the area behind and to the west of what is now the Boathouse 42 Maggie Smith and Colin Coates Salts Mill: The Owners and Managers 1853 to 1986 43 Based on Colin Coates’ research to be found at https://saltairevillage.info/ 19 pub and restaurant. This extract from the OS map, surveyed in 1889 and published in 1893, appears to confirm this as the location of Saltaire’s piggeries. There is what may be “a long range of neat pig-styes” directly south of the Boat Hose and immediately alongside the canal. In the Merthyr Telegraph of 8 December 1871, these allotments get a very honourable mention by a Saltaire visitor-cum-correspondent: Returning to the working man's paradise on the south bank of the river Aire, we observe that even the pigs are well cared for. They occupy what may be called a little street, if not a colony, of their own. Sty is too bad a name to apply to the clean little dwellings which the Saltaire grunters inhabit. They are so substantially and tastefully built, and withal so scrupulously clean. The Saltaire piggery is a collection of stying styes, soaring far above the filthy holes in which animals of the hog kind are usually brought up. Every sty has its own number, so that one passing along the row is almost tempted to imagine himself in a street of Lilliputians, only that an occasional grunt from some inhabitant, who probably mistakes him for a relative, wakes him from his reverie. Two years later, on 29 May 1873, the Bradford Observer described Saltaire’s allotments in some detail: Turning my eyes from the factory, I notice a square tract of allotment gardens, let out to such Saltairites as are desirous of growing their own vegetables. The gardens are fresh and bright; flowers blending sweetly with the more useful plants and roots which form so necessary a part of the British workman's dinner. 20 There is a profusion of peas, cabbages, rhubarb, gooseberries, and other vegetables and fruits familiar in the mouth of the perambulating greengrocer, and the walks and beds are kept with scrupulous care and neatness. These allotments appear to be those in front of Salts Mill, but our journalist walks on: Pushing forward still further down this main street (Victoria Road) I come upon the canal where the great iron bridge begins. Here I have a view, to the right, of the north end of the factory buildings, and to the left of another series of allotment gardens. These allotments appear to be the piggeries. That Saltaire was “noted for pig keeping” suggests these allotments had been there for some time before the earliest newspaper reference in 1870. This implies that they were a relatively early feature of the village – and maybe they were because Titus himself approved of pig (and poultry) husbandry. The newspaper snippet cited above supports this view: in 1848, he was already President of the Bradford Pig and Poultry Society. There is further reason to believe that pig-keeping in Saltaire started early. Local historian Ian Watson has demonstrated that Salt did not buy the land for Saltaire in one fell swoop. Quite the opposite, explains Ian in his excellent The Land Acquisitions of Titus Salt, and he dates to 44 1851/1852 the purchase of the fields that made up the bulk of this “between the river and the canal” allotment land which housed a 45 concentration of piggeries . This is very early amongst Salt’s acquisitions, coinciding with the construction of the mill itself. Though we can’t claim to know the exact date when these allotments were established, we do have some clues as to when the piggeries expired. 44 Numbered 561 and 562 45 Ian’s booklet is available at https://www.saltairecollection.org/wp- content/uploads/THE-LAND-ACQUISITIONS-OF-TITUS-SALT-IW-2018.pdf. Ian tells me that plot 561 was owned by W R Crompton Stansfield of Esholt Hall and was part of Salt's first purchase in late 1850. The sale was finalised in 1851. Plot 562 was a small field owned by Dr John Outhwaite of Bradford. It was sold to Salt in 1852. The neighbouring plots (to the west) are 578/9. These were owned by William Wright, a manufacturer of paper at Hirst Mill. They were purchased by Salt in 1854. 21 They were reported as “rapidly disappearing” in 1901. The same 46 newspaper making that claim also spoke of “their removal” . Was this a decision of the mill which owned the land or the local authority or a court? 47 Whatever, the closure was highlighted because of the alleged stealing of a pig trough in which the protagonists were all from Saltaire or thereabouts. The Shipley Times ran the story on 13 July 1901. The victim of the crime was Whitaker Clough of Caroline Street, Saltaire, who “had rented pig- cotes, which were being pulled down”. A witness, Benjamin Read, who lived at Constance Street, Saltaire, said he was “employed in pulling down the pig cotes on 19 & 20 June”. Alfred E. Jackson, a second witness, also said that he was “employed in pulling down the piggeries”. But were the allotments closed? Or was it just the piggeries? 48 In January 1922 , the Shipley Times reported the purchase by “Sir Titus 49 Salt. Bart., Sons and Co., Ltd., Saltaire Mills” from Shipley Council of a substantial area of land including that behind the Congregational church. We shall look at this acquisition in more detail later, but for the moment we’re focusing on the “between the river and the canal” area and the report includes this: the allotments lying near the boathouse opposite Saltaire Park [ie 50 “between canal and river”] are to be done away with , and the Caroline Street Allotments will probably share a similar fate… A most comprehensive scheme for the laying-out of the land between the canal and the river Aire has been drawn up. The allotments situate near the boathouse are removed because of their unsightly appearance… Well, we know that the Caroline Street allotments (ie those in front of the mill) survived – but the first part of this quotation makes clear that the “between canal and river” allotments were still in existence in January 1922. They had survived the 1901 dissolution of the piggeries and may well have been closed completely in the early 1920s “because of their 46 Shipley Times 13 July 1901 47 Note the involvement of the police, the courts and the Salts Mill company in the stories that follow. 48 Exact date not known. 49 At this time, the Salt name was still in use, even though it was 30 years since the family lost ownership. 50 This is confirmed as the intention by the 1923 Estate Office plan (which can be seen at Endnote C). The land between canal and river is shown as landscaped. 22 unsightly appearance”. And as we shall see below, a significant number of new allotments, behind the church, would more than compensate for their demise. Clearly there was a plan in the early 20s to close these “between canal and river” allotments. But was it implemented? At this point we do not know - but fast forward to 1937. Close inspection of this aerial photo shows no allotments “between canal and river” by then. Before becoming “unsightly”, the piggeries (if not the allotments) had an unsavoury history. On 27 April 1881, the Yorkshire Post reported that An alarming outbreak of swine fever has just been discovered in the Saltaire piggeries on the canal bank at Saltaire, near the mills of Sir Titus Salt, Sons. & Co… it is feared that the disease may spread amongst the large number of pigs stored in the piggeries, which number altogether nearly 100. Further cases were reported by the Post on 2 May and, less than 2 weeks later, the Shipley Times, said that During the past week, the police authorities have deemed it necessary to 51 slaughter three pigs believed to be suffering from swine fever . The involvement of the police is notable, as is that of “the firm of Sir Titus Salt, Sons, & Co.” who 51 14 May 1881 23 have issued the following notice regarding their piggeries [my emphasis]: Pigs are not to be brought direct from any public market, but only from places ascertained to be free from disease, and where the pigs have been for at least fourteen days immediately preceding. Further outbreaks of swine fever were reported by the Shipley Times on 13 August and 3 September 1881 and “the district has been declared an infected area”. This most destructive disease still continues its direful work at the Saltaire Piggeries was the Times judgement on 1 October, and … at present there are one-third of the thirty seven styes empty. It was no better 5 weeks later: Swine Fever has once more broken out at Saltaire piggeries. This time a young pig belonging to Jabez Giles has been slaughtered, and the place 52 has been declared an infected locality . This whole episode was repeated in 1885: Information was given to Sergeant Bradbury on Tuesday (30 June), by William Walker of the dining rooms, Saltaire, that he had a pig suffering from swine fever. The animal was visited and subsequently slaughtered 53 … Constable Russell has reported receiving information about five o'clock p.m. on 11 July, from William Buck, of 32 Ada Street, Saltaire, that he had a pig on his premises at the piggeries, Saltaire, which he supposed to 54 be suffering from swine fever. The animal has since been destroyed . Further outbreaks occurred in 1887 and then in 1890. In 1887: The premises of the following persons in the Saltaire Piggeries have been declared, by a sub-committee for the East Morley Petty Sessional Division, under the above Act to be infected with swine fever - William Camm, 52 Shipley Times 5 November 1881 53 Shipley Times and Express 4 July 1885 54 Shipley Times and Express 18 July 1885 24 Martin Furnish, Samuel Hall, Holland Crabtree, Wm. Buck, Richard 55 Newsome, John Milton, Samuel Beanland, and Albert Hargreaves . In 1890: On Saturday 25 January, Mr Jonathan Foster, of Constance Street, Saltaire, night watchman at Saltaire Mills, reported to the police that one of his pigs in the piggeries at Saltaire was ill. Inspector Bielby visited the place and found three pigs in the cote, one apparently suffering from fever. The matter was reported to Supt. Symonds, and his direction Mr Collins, veterinary surgeon, of Bradford, visited the place on Sunday morning, and declared two pigs to be suffering from swine fever. On the following day both pigs were destroyed, and the stye was declared to infected area under the Contagions Diseases (Animals) Act. On Thursday the magistrates further declared the whole of the piggeries at Saltaire to be an infected area, and the owners would not be permitted 56 to remove any of the animals without a licence . By February 1890: In reference to the outbreak of swine fever at the Saltaire piggeries, reported a week ago, several more pigs have succumbed this week, and under order of the police have been buried. The piggeries within the infected area are in the occupation of the following persons: Jonathan Foster, Luke Pedley, John Milton, James Jackson, William Buck, Thomas Mawson, Joseph Pitts, William Camm, Richard Newsome, Samuel Beanland, Albert Milton, George Shuttleworth, Jonas Bower, James Brook, 57 Thomas Clarke, Jabez Giles, and Michael O'Donnell . But by April 1890, Jonathan Foster’s piggery was free from infectious 58 disease so we might assume that all was well. Unfortunately, 1892 saw disaster strike again. The Nelson Chronicle ran a piece: an extensive outbreak of swine fever has occurred at the piggeries near the allotment gardens, Saltaire. The whole of the piggeries have been declared within an infected area, and many of the animals have had to be 59 slaughtered. The consequent loss to pigkeepers is somewhat serious. 55 Shipley Times and Express 27 August 1887 56 Shipley Times and Express 1 February 1890 57 Shipley Times 8 February 1890 58 Leeds Times 12 April 1890 59 17 June 1892 25 Less than three weeks later the Yorkshire Evening Post announced that 60 “the number of cases of swine fever at Saltaire was decreasing”. Did these regular outbreaks of swine fever lead to the demise of the piggeries? It seems possible but not probable. The closure (in the early 20s?) seems to have happened some years after the last reported outbreak. Porcine postscript… This section of our exploration of Saltaire’s piggeries would not be complete without a twist in the curly tail. And here it is. An allotment holder from the front-of-mill allotments has just told us (June 2022) that his plot frequently yields pig bones. The allotment gardens in Albert Road, Saltaire In 1887, W and R 61 Mawson published a plan showing “The Town and Works of Saltaire”. 1887 was over 10 years after the end of the construction of the original village so we can take it that it is more of a map than a plan. 60 4 July 1892 61 The successor architects to Lockwood and Mawson. 26 In the bottom left corner was the top (southern) end of Albert Road and to its left were the Shipley School Boards Mixed and Infant schools. To their south were “Messrs Edward & Titus Salt Allotment Gardens”. This - on a plan drafted by the successor to the architects of Salts Mill, on 62 land owned by Salts Mill - surely means that the Albert Road allotments were 100% part of Saltaire. Regrettably, the 1891 OS map covering this area and which was surveyed in 1889 to 1891 fails to identify a group of allotments as such. 63 The first intimation we have of these allotments is to be found in a Shipley Times article dated 1 July 1893. A few days before 1 July, at the Bradford County Police Court, Thomas Laycock, labourer, of Saltaire, was brought up on suspicion of being concerned in the theft of pigeons from the allotment gardens in Albert Road…Constable Fuller saw the prisoner near to the Rosse Hotel [64], at 6.30 on Sunday morning. There were blood stains and other marks on the prisoner’s clothing and hat, and also marks of tar. The officer could not find the pigeons, but the prisoner’s boots corresponded exactly with the footprints in the gardens, and there was tar on the railings there. When apprehended, the prisoner said, “I know nothing of the b______ pigeons”, The prisoner denied the allegation… 62 See the later information about the successors to the Salts trying to sell this land. 63 … and of any of Saltaire’s allotments being used for the keeping of pigeons! 64 Just across the main road from the Albert Street allotments… suspicious! 27 The prisoner’s mother was called, and she declared that her son on Saturday night went to bed at 11.30, and she was quite sure he was not up on Sunday morning before 9 or 10 a.m.… The police were always on to him because he took a drop of beer. The Bench concluded that there was insufficient evidence to convict and the prisoner was discharged. Two years later, the consortium which had bought Saltaire in 1892 were off-loading land in this same part of the village. …Wooller Jennings, auctioneer, of Bradford, offered for sale by auction, at the Sun Hotel, about fifty acres of land, which formed part of the Saltaire Estate, and was submitted by order of the Saltaire Syndicate. Lots 49,50, and 51… contained 6100 square yards extending from the top 65 of Albert Road to Hirst Lane, and now occupied as allotment gardens. Since no offers were made, we may assume that the allotments were spared… but not for long. In 1902, a tramshed was built towards the top of Albert Road, and some allotments were lost. The tramshed still exists, as a brewery and restaurant called Salt Bar and Kitchen. The Shipley Times’ editor was sympathetic to the allotment holders for their loss: One result of the erection of the intended tramway-car shed at Saltaire will be the displacement of some of the tenants of the gardens at the top of Albert Road, which will be a pity, as I know that these garden plots have been greatly valued, as well as been a great convenience to those residing near, who could get a fresh salad or a few tomatoes and other things in season. I believe steps will be taken to bring before the District Council the question of the provision of gardens under the Allotments Act. Several years ago, a committee of the Council was formed to deal with the matter, but nothing was done, I think, beyond making a few inquiries to suitable land for the purpose. The destruction of some of the gardens at Saltaire, however, seems likely to bring the subject once more to the front, and if a sufficient number of applicants come forward, there ought not to be much difficulty in 65 Shipley Times 29 June 1895. “There is no set standard size but the most common plot is 10 rods, an ancient measurement equivalent to 302 square yards or 253 square metres” says https://www.allotment-garden.org/allotment-information/allotment- history/. This means that the Albert Road allotments consisted of ~20 plots. 28 providing ground for the encouragement of such a healthy and desirable 66 recreation. It transpired that many allotments were lost. But not all, as we can see from this extract from an October 1923 Saltaire estate office 67 68 plan. . Much later however, a housing estate was built on the area formerly occupied by allotments – and on land to the west and north. Nonetheless, two very small allotment gardens remain in the area today - at the southern (‘top’) end of Hirst Lane (H) and the western end of Carlton 69 Avenue (C) . However, only H is in the original location, ie on land labelled “Allotment Gardens” on the 1890 OS map. 66 Shipley Times 5 September 1902 67 A copy of the full plan can be found at endnote C. 68 The closeness to the school of this residual and small piece of allotment land prompts an interesting question. Had it become a school garden? After all, by 1918, 51 Bradford schools were growing potatoes, cabbages, cauliflowers, beans and peas. See Telegraph and Argus 25 July 2020 69 Personal observations by James Roberts and Les Brook. James thinks they may have survived because of their location, over a water main. 29 Solving the food problem in the First World War - by creating allotment gardens The 1914/18 world war demanded an increase in domestic food production and on 7 January 1916, the Shipley Times reported that The Shipley District Council have decided to put into cultivation the vacant land in the area suitable for growing potatoes and other vegetables… The Shipley Council is probably the first authority in the Riding to undertake what will doubtless be called a municipal potato supply. The experiment will be watched with a good deal of interest not only at Shipley, but in other parts of the Riding. The responsible committee, of which Coun. H. Hirst is chairman, and the officials of the Council will, we are convinced, put forth every effort to make the scheme a success. By 1917, there is evidence that Shipley District Council had a Food Production Committee. An indication that food production was becoming a pressing issue? The Clerk reported that, under the Lands Cultivation Order, the committee had taken control of 15 acres 2 roods 35 perches. Of these, 9 acres 2 roods 24 perches had been let off in allotments, leaving 6 acres 11 perches for cultivation by the Council's men under Mr. Newby. The allotments were divided as follows: Redburn Estate 78, Hirst Wood 67, Moorhead 42, Dockfield 22, making a total of 209 allotments, which are held by 160 persons. Applications for additional allotments at Hirst Wood by present allotment holders were considered, but it was decided that the land now being cultivated by the Council should be kept by the 70 Council for another year. For whatever reason, the allotments in Saltaire were not included in this inventory, perhaps because they were already established, but Saltaire was the subject of Council action by January 1918. Notice SHIPLEY DISTRICT COUNCIL ALLOTMENTS 71 The Council having acquired Land in Albert Road , Saltaire Road, and Manor Lane for Allotment purposes, The Food Production Committee are 70 2 November 1917 71 As noted elsewhere, the Council did not own the Albert Road land until 1921 – so I assume that in 1918 this ‘acquisition’ meant it was temporarily commandeered to assist the war effort. 30 Open to Receive Applications from Ratepayers for Plots for the Cultivation of Vegetables, &c. The area of each Allotment would be approximately 2OO square yards, and Applications should be forwarded to the Undersigned not later than 72 31 January. ISAAC LINDOW, Clerk of the Council… The Council’s attention to increased food production – and thus more allotment land – continued: It was reported that at meeting of the Food Production Committee 19 February the committee had before them a petition from residents at Crag End asking for allotments to be provided in that part of the district… A report was made that new areas of land had been taken over by the committee and the following allotments provided: Manor Lane, 16; Saltaire Road, 28; Albert Road, 70. There were also 45 additional plots available on the Redburn Estate. The committee agreed to place a plot of 100 square yards in Saltaire Road at the disposal of the Education Committee for a class of mentally defective 73 children... At a meeting of the Shipley Urban Council on Tuesday (26 March), the Clerk reported that there had been several meetings of the Food Production Committee, and that efforts had been made to get additional allotments in all parts of the town. The following new allotment areas had been obtained: Fernhill, 25 plots; Albert Road, 70; Kitson St„ 21; Manor Lane, 16; Saltaire Road, 28; Wrose Brow Road, 2. Altogether about 9 acres had been added for allotment purposes, and about seven eight additional acres had been ploughed for corn growing. Coun. Shakespeare said that 75 allotment holders would take up land on Fernhill Road and Coun. Rhodes said there was Kendall’s field. 74 The Clerk said he had written to Mr. Kendall that day. 72 Shipley Times 25 January 1918 73 Shipley Times 1 March 1918 74 Shipley Times 29 March 1918. The number of Albert Road allotments does not seem to square with the relatively small area that was left as allotments following the building of the tramshed so it seems likely that other land close by was being utilised. Long-time resident of Saltaire Anthony Briggs says that the Saltaire Road allotments were between the road and railway, east of what is now the Tesco convenience store. 31 A group of new allotments, behind the Congregational Church 1918 saw Sir James Roberts sell Salts Mill to a syndicate of local 75 businessmen . But when he walked away from the mill and the village, in his pocket was a significant acreage of local land. It included the Milner Field estate, Saltaire Park and a swathe of land from the Congregational Church to Hirst Wood, bordering the canal. Over the following years, Roberts disposed of it. Saltaire Park was given to the people of Bradford and became Roberts Park, in memory of Sir James and Lady Roberts’ son Bertram, and, in early 1921, Shipley Council bought the ‘Church to Hirst Wood’ swathe of land. For some weeks past the Shipley Urban District Council has been in correspondence with Sir James Bart., of Strathallan Castle (formerly of Milner Field), with regard to the purchase of certain land at Saltaire which the Council considers very suitable for public schemes, the provision of allotment gardens, sites for houses, and playing fields. The result of this correspondence was disclosed when, at a special meeting of the District Council Wednesday (12 January) evening last week, a resolution was unanimously adopted accepting an offer from Sir James Roberts under which the Council become the owners of the whole of the remaining portion of Sir James’s estate, south of the River Aire, and extending from Saltaire Mills to the boundary of the district at Hirst Wood, an area comprising approximately 95 acres… While [the purchase of the land by the Council] was receiving consideration a further letter was received from Sir James, who was anxious that the question should be settled, stating that, should the Council decide to purchase what is known as the Saltaire estate at a price which he named, he would make the Council a free gift of the estates which he purchased in 1911 at the sale of the Rosse properties. The Council… has unanimously decided to accept this offer of Sir James, and an intimation to that effect has been conveyed to him. The purchase price for what is described as the Saltaire estate is £13,000. This estate consists of certain allotment plots in front of the Saltaire Mills, in Caroline Street, Saltaire, the Albert Road allotments, the land extending from Albert Road to Hirst Lane, the land lying between the railway and the canal west of the Saltaire Congregational Church, the land lying between the canal and the river extending from Victoria Road to 75 Smith and Coates op cit 32 Hirst Mill, and the boathouse situate on the opposite bank of the river to Roberts Park. The total area of this estate is 52 or 53 acres. The portion of the Rosse estate which the Council receives from Sir James as a free gift has an area of just over 43 acres and extends from Hirst Lane to the river boundary at Seven Arches. It comprises the whole of the area between the Midland Railway and the river west of Hirst Mill… No scheme in regard to the lay-out of the estate has yet been finally prepared by the Council, and when the plans are completed the schemes will have to be submitted to the Ministry of Health, which will be asked to grant the necessary borrowing powers. The general public of Shipley, will, in the meantime, however, be gratified to know that they have secured the control of a valuable estate, a considerable portion of which will be 76 available for all time for public recreative purposes. But it was not long before the Council sold “a considerable portion” of this land to Salts Mill, who planned to use it for allotments and sports facilities. Note that the local council already thought the land “very suitable for… the provision of allotment gardens”. Which is rather fortunate since the Saltaire Times report reveals that the front-of-mill allotments were part of the Roberts’ package and that they were in the lot purchased by Salts Mill: It is announced that the directors of Sir Titus Salt. Bart., Sons and Co., Ltd., Saltaire Mills, have acquired from the Shipley District Council a considerable portion of the Saltaire Estate recently purchased by the Council from Sir James Roberts, Bart., the former owner of Saltaire Mills. The directors intend to use the land for the provision of allotments and recreation fields for their employees. The Saltaire Estate bought by the District Council from Sir James Roberts comprised: The land between the river Aire and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal from Victoria Road, to Hirst Mill, an area over 21 acres. The land between the canal and the Midland Railway (9 acres). 76 Shipley Times ? Jan 1921. The article goes on to make a comment which, 100 years later, reflects a continuing debate: When Shipley possesses such lands of public usefulness [as] this estate, and the portion of the Rosse estate recently given to the town by Mr. H. Norman Rae (M.P. for the Shipley Division), it is no wonder that Bradford looks with envious eyes upon Shipley, and Sir James’ generosity should add stimulus to Shipley people to try at all costs to maintain the independence of the town, and to resist the annexation proposals of the city of Bradford. 33 The allotments facing Victoria Road and Caroline Street. The land between Albert Road and Hirst Lane (18 acres), a total of 49 acres. In addition, Sir James presented to the Council as a free gift the lands extending from Hirst Lane to the boundary at Seven Arches, comprising the whole of the area between the Midland Railway and the river west of Hirst Mill. The total area of the estate was about 83 acres. The land which the directors of Saltaire Mills have now acquired includes the land lying between the river Aire and the canal from Victoria Road bridge and Hirst Mill (17½ acres, excluding the river), and that between the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the Midland Railway line from the Congregational Church to Hirst Lane (8½ acres) and the Caroline Street Allotments (1¾ acres). The purchase price, it is understood, is about £6,500. The whole of the land purchased lies on the south side of the river Aire and, in addition to the boathouse the opposite side of the river from the Saltaire Park, it includes several old buildings. Of its original 83-acre estate the Council will retain about 62 acres. The idea of the directors, in addition to the providing of recreative facilities for their employees, is to beautify the immediate surroundings of the mills. Several old buildings situated on the land acquired will probably be removed, the allotments lying near the boathouse opposite Saltaire Park are to be done away with, and the Caroline Street Allotments will probably share a similar fate. The land lying behind the Congregational Church and Hirst Lane is to be laid out as allotments. About 100 allotments, from 260 to 400 superficial yards in area, have already been mapped out, and some of these will probably be ready for occupation early in February. Each allotment will have a cold frame, and every third allotment will have a greenhouse. The whole will symmetrically be laid out by the firm, who very likely will purchase the frames and greenhouses and sell them to the tenants of the allotments at a low figure. About nine greenhouses will be 9ft. by 15ft. and the remainder 6ft. by 12ft. Certain lands, probably about two-thirds of an acre in extent, lying between the canal and the Congregational Church on the east of the church, and on the north side of the church, are to be given to the trustees of the church, and will undoubtedly prove useful for open-air functions, such as picnics. 34 A most comprehensive scheme for the laying-out the land between the canal and the river Aire has been drawn up. The allotments situate near the boathouse are removed because of their unsightly appearance, and most of this site will be laid out as a sort of pleasure garden or little park. Following this, tennis courts will be constructed, while the central portion of the land will be laid out as a cricket field, which will be larger in area than that of the Saltaire Club. In addition, hockey fields, etc., will be provided. The District Council is laying a footpath from Victoria Road near Saltaire Bridge to Hirst Mill on the south side of the river Aire and intend fencing off a strip of land 15ft. wide for this purpose, the length of the river to that point, at the centre of this 15ft. strip they intend laying a footpath 4ft. wide. The scheme is being drawn up and supervised Mr. William Rhodes Minn, M.S.A., architect and clerk of works Saltaire Mills, and will be proceeded with as soon as the land can be secured from the existing tenants. When completed, through the generosity the Saltaire firm, the playing fields and allotments will doubtless enhance the spirit of goodwill which already 77 exists between the employers and workpeople of Saltaire Mills. The fact that the present-day allotments behind the Congregational Church were brought into existence suggests that Minn’s plan was implemented. An aerial photograph from 1937 shows both the allotments by the church and the original front-of- 78 mill group . 77 Shipley Times ?January 1921 78 From https://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EPW054197 35 However, this does not tell the whole story. Remember that the Shipley Times reported that “About 100 allotments, from 260 to 400 superficial yards in area, have already been mapped out” and that “the remaining portion of Sir James’s estate, south of the River Aire [extended] from Saltaire Mills to the boundary of the district at Hirst Wood, an area comprising approximately 95 acres…”. It transpires that what was proposed was far, far bigger than the ~28 allotments which now exist behind the church. The Salts Estate map dated October 1923 reveals all. The proposal was for no fewer than 95 allotments stretching from the church to Hirst Lock! At the time of writing, we have no evidence that this very ambitious plan was implemented but text and other features on the 1935 OS map suggest that it was not, and that all that was created in ~1923 was what we see today. 79 79 1934 revised 1935 published. Unfortunately this area is split across two OS maps which does not help the researcher. 36 The history of Saltaire’s allotments continues to evolve History never ends, and in recent years there have been developments in communal gardening that deserve a mention here. Concerned that the land on Caroline Street, formerly occupied by the village wash house, was neglected, the Saltaire Village Society used the 2008 Saltaire Festival to ask people what they thought should be done with it. The idea of a Wash House Garden emerged from this and around 2011, funds were made available from a pot of money managed by ward councillors – and the result was, and is, this delight. Three raised beds in the garden are now maintained by Veg on the Edge, a new mode of communal gardening which made its Saltaire entrance in 80 2012 . Local volunteers work together to create opportunities for community food growing. A key objective is to reclaim areas of underused land. Today the group also look after the Sunday School Garden in Caroline Street car park, raised beds at the junction of Caroline Street and Baker Street a plot at the railway station, and the Japanese Edible 81 Garden on Exhibition Road, supported by Shipley College . 80 https://vegontheedge.org/ 81 Thanks to Caroline Perry, Molly Kenyon and Rob Martin for much of the information in this section of the paper. A deadline for publication prevents the author from including information in this draft about the important role of the College in horticulture education and in a significant part of the front-of-the-mill allotments. 37 Saltaire continues to have a significant number of traditional allotments - in front of the mill and to the rear of the United Reform Church. As a result of the creation of a Shipley Town Council, governance of the former has recently transferred from Bradford District to Shipley. The ‘behind the church’ land is owned by Hartley Properties, the property vehicle of Alan Lewis, formerly chair and chief executive of Illingworth Morris who owned 82 and then closed Salt Mill in 1985 . Lewis’s ownership of the land echoes Roberts’ in the period after 1918. As we said above, “when he [Roberts] walked away from the mill and the village, in his pocket was a significant acreage of local land”. 82 Maggie Smith and Colin Coates op cit 38 ENDNOTES A 1852 OS map of the old halls of Shipley C October 1923 Saltaire estate office plan 39 40
Saltaire's Allotments: A second draft of their history: Second draft
Shipley College Photographs and cuttings 1948-1957
Book contains newspaper cuttings and photographs related to the Shipley Technical Institute and School of Art (the forerunners of Shipley College). Covers many aspects of college life, including prize givings, exhibitions of student works, gymnastics classes and much more.
The main site of the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition held in 1887 in Saltaire.
A group photograph recording the planting of a tree by Princess Beatrice and her husband Prince Henry of Battenburg when they visited Saltaire to preside at the opening of the new School of Art and Science in 1887. The Princess is at the front centre, with Prince Henry on her right and Titus Salt Junior on her left. Three other dignitaries stand behind them. They are stood partly on grass, partly on a rug next to a tree which has just been planted. The location may be Saltaire Park (now Roberts Park) although the Princess was staying at Milner Field, the home of Titus Salt Junior, so it may have been there.
Shipley Technical School, Textile Department, frontispiece of work book
First page from a Shipley Technical School work book for John Love of 26 Shirley Street, Saltaire. Book is for the subject of Spinning for the Winter session 1907-1908. Page is signed by teacher George Long.
Colour photo of outside of the main entrance of the Exhibition Building of Shipley College
Colour photo of Exhibition Road showing the Exhibition Building of Shipley College and a number of cars parked in the street.
Photograph of Shipley Technical School on Exhibition Road in Saltaire taken from nearby Caroline Street. The image appears in the Technical School prospectus for 1915-1916. The Technical School was originally named the School of Art and Science. It is now part of Shipley College.
H2-208.165: Baker Letters - regarding: measurements not completed; sale plan of Exhibition Land; boundary of Glyn Thomas land
Baker Letters - regarding: measurements not completed; sale plan of Exhibition Land; boundary of Glyn Thomas land
Surprised Sir Francis Watson hasnâ??t had the measurements completed; sending Sale Plan of Exhibition Land to show how the scale for other plans will be expensive to do; Boundary of Glyn Thomas land behind the farm and that the road belongs to Sir James to the end of the houses
H2-208.78: Baker Letters - regarding: Mr Normington wanted land
Baker Letters - regarding: Mr Normington wanted land
Mr Normington wanted land but then left so John is confused; Seems that Mr Normingtonâ??s father opposes land purchase; Messrs Jackson, Ellis & Crowther own land east of Exhibition Road
H2-208.99: Baker Letters - regarding: Brangwyn'??s picture
Baker Letters - regarding: Brangwyn'??s picture
Brangwyn'??s picture is with the Chief Accountant of Venice Exhibition
A research document from local historian Les Brook on the history of Sir Titus Salt before the move of his business to Saltaire in 1853. In four parts: Part 1: The investigation starts with snippets of evidence […in Part 2 onwards, I try to make sense of these] 3 Part 2: The Salts’ Early Years in Bradford 12 Part 3: Titus Salt’s Bradford mills 16 Part 4: A Cartographic Summary of Titus Salt’s Bradford before Saltaire
SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 1 Salt before Saltaire Notes on Salt’s Bradford mills and other Salt-related locations in the city 1 Les Brook Saltaire History Club April 2024 These notes were motivated by a question. “Titus Salt had five or so mills in Bradford, but where were they?”. Then it grew: “What other places were important to Titus in his Bradford years?”. And then it grew again, but this time veering sidewards: “What’s the story of this goit alongside which so much of early industrial Bradford developed?”. This may explain any tendencies to rambling that the 2 reader might notice. > SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 2 Contents Part 1: The investigation starts with snippets of evidence […in Part 2 onwards, I try to make sense of these] 3 Part 2: The Salts’ Early Years in Bradford 12 Part 3: Titus Salt’s Bradford mills 16 Part 4: A Cartographic Summary of Titus Salt’s Bradford before Saltaire 36 THANKS and POSTSCRIPT 37 APPENDIX: THE BRADFORD GOIT AND GOITSIDE 38 ENDNOTES AND REFERENCES 41 SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 3 Part 1: The investigation starts with snippets of evidence […in Part 2 onwards, I try to make sense of these] Daniel Salt, father of Titus Salt, from numerous sources 3 1822: “In the year 1822, Titus Salt came with his parents to Bradford, he being then about nineteen years of age” . 1822: 4 “[Bradford]… [List of] Woolstapler[s]... Salt Daniel, Market street…” . But was 1822 the year the Salts arrived? Hannah Salt, the youngest child of Daniel Salt, Sir Titus’ father, and sister to Sir Titus, was baptised at Horton Lane Congregational Chapel on 27 June 1821, having been born on 14 October 1820. The abode of the parents is given as ‘Bradford’. So the Salts were in Bradford by June 1821 at the latest. Turning to Baines’ ‘History and Gazetteer of The County of York’, the dedication to which is dated by the author as 1 January 1822, Daniel Salt is listed as a woolstapler in Market Street, Bradford. The data in the Gazetteer must have taken at least a whole year, probably more, to 5 assemble and print, so it is possible that Titus Salt arrived with his parents in Bradford as early as 1820 . 6 7 1829: “[List of] Woolstapler[s]... Salt Daniel & Son, 20 Cheapside” . “There is some evidence that the firm went into yarn spinning about 1829 in order to demonstrate to conservative customers the suitability of [Donskoi wool from Russia]” 8. 1834: 9 10 Daniel retired . 1843: died . 1845: “Salt, Daniel and Son, worsted spinners, Lilly croft mill, Manningham, warehouse, 11 Piccadilly, res[idence]. North parade [sic]” . 12 From the Saltaire Collection Salt and his father had started a spinning department of their wool stapling business, using rooms in Thompson’s Mill at 13 Goitside, Thornton Road, Bradford . They had been joined in the business by Edward Salt in 1834 and shortly after this Daniel Salt retired. Within a few months Titus had also left the firm and started to work on his own account. The family partnership was dissolved in 1835. Titus Salt started his new venture at Hollings Mill and quickly acquired premises on or near Hope Street. In 1836 he took over a large mill in Union Street, whose previous owner had been Daniel Illingworth, and this 14 became the headquarters of his rapidly expanding Alpaca manufacturing. SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 4 15 William Cudworth Round about Bradford Daniel Salt afterwards settled in Bradford as a wool dealer, and was for many years one of the most extensive dealers in that trade. In this business he was joined by his son Titus, the firm thenceforward being " Daniel Salt & Son". Donskoi wool was at that time exclusively used in the woollen manufacture, and the Salts were very large dealers in it. It occurred, however, to Mr. Titus Salt that it might with equal advantage be introduced into the worsted trade. He accordingly went round to the Bradford spinners, but they " turned up their noses" at it; at any rate, none of them could be induced to believe that what would make cloth was equally applicable to other descriptions of goods. Nothing therefore remained but to give up the scheme altogether, or else undertake it himself, and this Mr. Salt resolved to do. He accordingly commenced business as a spinner and manufacturer at Thompson's Mill, Silsbridge Lane, Bradford, subsequently occupying Hollings' Mill, Brick Lane Mill, Beecroft Mill, and Union Street Mill, besides giving out weaving by commission. It will thus be seen that Mr. Salt's commercial experiment with the Donskoi wool led to most important results, inasmuch as on leaving Bradford he had become one of the principal employers in the worsted trade. 16 Balgarnie’s Salt with commentary and additions by Barlo & Shaw What was to be done with the [Donskoi wool] on hand, was the problem that perplexed the [Daniel Salt] firm, and which Mr. Titus set himself to solve. He resolved that instead of asking the manufacturers to purchase it, he would utilise it himself. For this purpose he took “Thompson’s Mill,” Silsbridge Lane, Bradford, and having fitted it with suitable machinery, he proceeded to spin the Donskoi wool into yarn, and weave it into fabric. The result of the experiment was entirely successful; the fabric produced was such as to astonish and convince the most sceptical of its commercial value, and to place him in an enviable position before his fellow-townsmen. Successful in this first experiment, he added a larger factory in Union Street. Trade grew so rapidly under his hands that in a few years he was carrying on, not only the two mills above mentioned, but also Hollings’ Mill, Brick Lane Mill, and one in Fawcett Court. His intention when he commenced the manufacturing business, was to confine himself to spinning. This course he pursued for some time, and disposed of his yarns to the Messrs. Fison; but some misunderstanding having arisen with that firm, he, with his characteristic decision, resolved “to spin and weave for himself.” This is probably the source of the commonly quoted assertion that Salt had five mills in Bradford before moving to Saltaire. However, I have found no evidence that Salt used five mills simultaneously. SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 5 Moreover, I have found no evidence that Salt owned all the mills referred to. (It is clear from general reading about the mills in Bradford at this time that it was commonplace for industrialists to use mills owned by others and indeed, that several mills were built in order to be let). An 1871 article by James Burnley includes the statement that, before Saltaire, “[Titus Salt] was carrying on at two or three 17 18 small factories in Bradford”, not five . This ties in with reports in two 1849 editions of the Bradford Observer . They tell us that “The Workpeople of Mr. Titus Salt, at Holling’s Mill…”, at Union Street Mills and at Beecroft’s Mill had made donations to Bradford Infirmary. No mention of Thompson’s or Brick Lane or Hope Street. However, in Collinson’s West Riding Worsted Directory of 1851 (see below), Hope Street is added to the list. 19 1849: Salt instals smoke-reduction apparatus in two mills According to a Bradford Observer correspondent, these improvements were made to Salt’s mills in Union Street and Nelson Street. 1851 Collinson, Burton & Co’s West Riding worsted directory ALPHABETICAL CLASSIFICATION OF THE WOOLSTAPLERS, SPINNERS, MANUFACTURERS, MERCHANTS, DYERS, MACHINE MAKERS, &c., &c., RESIDING IN THE BOROUGH OF BRADFORD, AND OTHERS ATTENDING THE BRADFORD MARKET... Salt Titus, spinner, mohair, alpaca, and stuff manufacturer: works, Union-street, Hope-street, Beecroft and Hollings' mills : office Union-street, res. Crow-nest, 20 Lightcliffe. SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 6 21 Jack Reynolds The Great Paternalist 22 In summary, Reynolds tells us that Daniel Salt (aged 41) moved to Bradford in 1822 . House on North Parade. Had money to invest from sale of 100 acre farm at Crofton, Wakefield. Woolstapler: took office in Market Street. 1823: with brother (Leeds 23 24 ironfounder) bought land in Cheapside and built warehouse in Cross Street . Later built another warehouse in Piccadilly. 25 His was one of the largest in Bradford . Later (after 1834) had house further out on Manningham Lane (a continuation of North Parade). 26 After Titus’s marriage (1829 ), Caroline and he also had a house in North Parade, “a continuation of Manor Row, quite near to his father’s house”. Then, between 1836 and 1843, they had a home at the junction of Thornton Road and Little Horton 27 Lane . 28 Titus Salt came to Bradford in ~1821 after working in Wakefield with woolstapler “Mr. Jackson” . He then spent 2 years working for William Rouse and Sons under the instruction of John Hammond. Balgarnie is eloquent about the very close 29 30 relationship between Salt and Hammond, and with the Rouse family . William Rouse and Sons 1815: partnering with James Wade and Son, William Rouse and Sons built Bradford’s ninth mill (in this context, ‘mill’ means 31 32 ‘factory powered by steam’), at Canal Side . In 1829, Pigot records “Wade James, Son & Co. Mill street, Canal side” . Mill Street is later linked to Rouse. It was located close to the Bradford Canal – so we can take it that the 1815 mill was in Mill Street. 1822: “Wm. Rouse & Son”, located at ‘Canal Side’, appears in the 1822 Baines’ Gazetteer. This also records “Manufacturers attending the Piece Hall with their Inns houses [sic] in Bradford… 33 Rouse William & Son, Nag's Head… Salt, Daniel Do. [ie Nag’s Head]” 1824: the 18th mill in James’ list of 1833 mills is a Rouse mill: “When built: 1824-26. Situation: Canal Side. Occupiers in 34 1833: William Rouse & son… [Mill]18.-built and occupied by William Rouse & Son” . 1829: “Worsted Manufacturers… Rouse William & Son, 36 Commercial street” “Worsted Spinners… Rouse William & Son, 36 35 Commercial street” . SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 7 1833: “in the Factory Commission report of 1833 data was collected from three Rouse Mills [my emphasis], the oldest at 36 Canal Side being built in 1815” . 1845: “Rouse, William and Sons, worsted spinners and stuff manufacturers, Mill street, res[idence]. Eastbrook House… 37 38 39 Worsted Spinners, &c… Rouse, Wm. and Sons, Mill street, Canal road, and Market st.” . 1847: “in the 1840s, after the death of old William Rouse, a long and costly Chancery suit, following a dispute between the three remaining Rouse brothers, caused the mill to be closed down for two years and created much distress among the hands. By order of the Court the mill was divided and auctioned in 1847, the larger part being knocked down to Titus Salt who, to everyone's surprise, was found to be simply bidding on behalf of William Rouse Junior. The mill once again flourished and 40 James Hammond became William Rouse's partner” . 41 Bradford’s “unconsidered trifles” records this about old William Rouse and his successors: William Rouse snr. (1765-1843) was a significant name in Bradford textile history. He developed a wool combing factory in the years before this process was mechanised. With his son John (1794-1838) he employed hundreds of hand combers who worked for him producing the wool ‘tops’ that were needed for the worsted process. By the time of William’s death the writing was on the wall for the poorly paid hand combers whose trade was effectively destroyed by mechanical combs in the 1850s. It is known that the business continued despite the deaths of William and John. The 1853 White’s Leeds & the Clothing District Directory does not record Holdsworth Street as a Bradford thoroughfare name, but does mention a William Rouse, spinner & manufacturer, of West Lodge, Great Horton Road. His company is Wm. Rouse & Sons, Old Market & Canal Road. So there clearly was a William Rouse jnr. (1809-1868) who succeeded his father. In the 1851 census Rouse reported employing 400 combers, 100 boys & 150 girls… By the time of the 1879 PO Bradford Directory Holdsworth Street did exist but an unnamed ‘mill yard’ is the only relevant entry it boasts. Wm. Rouse & Sons, manufacturer, are still trading and are now placed at North Brook Street Mills… North Brook Street joins Canal Road… North Brook Mills are mentioned in Yorkshire Textile Mills 1779-1930… Unfortunately it had already been demolished when the mill survey was undertaken in the early 1990s. SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 8 42 Jack Reynolds The Great Paternalist (again) In summary: Salt and his father started a spinning department of their woolstapler’s firm in rooms in “Thompson’s Mill at the Goitside” where they shared facilities with Jowett and Smith and Robert Waud. Shortly after, Daniel retired and soon after that, Titus Salt started up on his own account (probably) at Hollings Mill in the Goitside. He quickly acquired further premises in or near Hope Street. By 1836, he had taken over a large mill in Union Street, just inside the Horton township. “It became the headquarters of a rapidly increasing alpaca empire to which were added three other mills before 1850”. ”He seems to have concentrated the work of the various mills by process or by product”. “… preliminary processes, including sorting and machine and hand combing, were controlled from Union Street where administration and financial matters were also seen to”. 43 Bradford Council’s Goitside Conservation Area Assessment The area around the goit and beck formed the site of Bradford’s earliest industrial development, which was the basis of the settlement’s wealth, influence and prestige during much of the 19th century. Holme Mill, the first factory in Bradford, was 44 constructed alongside the goit , on a meadow known as the Holme, at the turn of the 19th century. Following this a number of mills, factories and foundries, along with associated housing, were constructed in the vicinity… 45 According to James, Thompson’s Mill is likely to have been the second mill built in Bradford . This was constructed on the piece of land between Silsbridge Lane and the mill goit, which was purchased by Matthew and William Thompson in 1800, with the mill opening in around 1803. The Thompsons were the nephews of Benjamin Peile, who owned a dyeworks on Bradford Beck. The mill was originally a spinning mill, though expansion and redevelopment of the site over the course of the 19th 46 century mean that nothing of the original spinning mill remains (Sheeran, 2005 ). Thompson’s Mill, and consequently the goitside, had a strong association with Titus Salt. The weaving shed to the south of the goit provided room and power for the 47 weaving department of Salt’s firm, when it was still based in Bradford proper . SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 9 48 John James History of the Worsted Manufacture in England James gives us this wonderful table of Bradford’s early mills. In addition: * “On the 25th of March, 1804, Messrs. Ramsbotham and Swaine's extensive worsted-mill (the first 49 erected at Bradford) was nearly destroyed by fire” . Re-built, it was sold to Richard Fawcett soon after. * Thompson’s Mill was built by the dyer Peile “at two different periods, being in fact two mills”. * “3.- Union Street mill, built by Mr Richard Fawcett, and occupied by him until about the year 1832. The mill built in 1830 adjoins to the other, and was erected by Messrs. Illingworth & Murgatroyd”. *“11- Union Street mill was built by Messrs. Wroe and occupied by them” * Note that this means there were three ‘Union 50 Street mills’ * Note also that William Rouse & Sons’ Canal Side mills appear in the table. * The 1826 “Silsbridge Lane” mill is Holling’s Mill. SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 10 51 Ibbetson’s Directory 1850 “Worsted Spinners and Manufacturers… Salt Titus, spinner (mohair and alpaca), and stuff manufacturer, Brook street; works Union street, and Silsbridge lane ; house Crow Nest, Lightcliffe”. 52 Reports of the 1851 Great Exhibition’s juries . Occasionally, sources (such as Ibbetson) make minimal reference to raw materials (eg alpaca) used by Salt as well as some broad product categories (eg worsted), but in 1851, just as the construction of his Saltaire mill commenced, an external body summarised and assessed Salt’s principal products. 1851 was also the year of the Great Exhibition, the Exhibition of The Works of Industry of All Nations, at the Crystal Palace in London. Salt submitted a range of products in Class XII, Woollen and Worsted Manufactures. Subsequently, the reports of all the juries were published. The Class XII jury said this about the entry of Salt, Titus, Manufacturer, Bradford, Yorkshire: For a complete series of alpaca and mohair manufactures - (a branch of business carried on almost exclusively in England, - which illustrate, very strikingly, the great capabilities of these materials. The articles are of much variety, including fabrics composed of alpaca with cotton warps, and with silk warps yarn-dyed, and dyed in the piece: they are plain, twilled, figured, and Chinés, or made with printed warps. There are, also, goods composed of mohair with similar combinations. All are characterised by peculiar lustre and brilliancy, equal in many cases to silk; they are also remarkable for regularity of texture, softness, and fineness. It may be confidently stated that similar goods have never before been produced; and the great increase in the consumption of articles of this description among all classes of the community, renders the display an interesting and important one. Mr. Salt was one of the first to introduce alpaca wool into the Bradford trade, and by his enterprise and skill has mainly contributed to the extent and perfection which this department of industry has attained. In addition to the articles already mentioned, Mr. Salt exhibits an assortment of moreens used for furniture hangings; one series being made from English wool, and the other from the Russian Donskoi fleece wool. Both are worthy of notice for the perfection of their manufacture; the latter, especially so, considering the difficulties in the way of successfully working up so coarse a material, which had never been combed prior to Mr. Salt having effected that object. SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 11 Not quite ‘Salt before Saltaire’… After Salts Mill was built, Titus Salt and Sons Co maintained a 53 warehouse at Well Street in the centre of Bradford which was close to, and to the SW of, St Peters Church/Bradford Cathedral (see 54 map, right ) In 1861, we know that Salts shared number 30 with several other firms, including the Fosters of Black Dyke Mill (see 55 below) . 56 Below right is 30 Well Street today though the buildings pictured 57 are likely to be those designed by Eli Milnes in ~1865 . SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 12 Part 2: The Salts’ Early Years in Bradford In this, and Part 3, I will now try to make sense of the evidence presented so far. Titus Salt at William Rouse and Sons and Daniel Salt and Son 58 As we have seen , Daniel Salt, woolstapler and Titus’s father, moved to Bradford around 1820. Reynold says that his office 59 was in Market Street . Titus probably came to Bradford in 1820 and worked for the Rouses before joining his father’s firm two years later. It seems reasonable to assume that the 17-year-old Titus lived with his family at their house, no doubt the one on North Parade where we know Daniel and Grace were living 60 when they first arrived and where they 61 were still living in 1829 . After their marriage in 1829, Titus and Caroline took a house in North Parade, quite near his parents. By 1836, they were living at the junction of Thornton Road and Little Horton Lane. SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 13 In 1823, Daniel and his brother bought land. In this same year, there is a reference to Daniel purchasing land in Cheapside, and he is 62 said to have built a small warehouse in Cross Street . It seems likely that these all refer to just one land purchase, by the Salt brothers, in one location: as the map (right) shows, Cross Street and Cheapside are connected. Daniel is recorded as working at number 20 Cheapside in 1829. Nine other woolstaplers and many other trades were amongst his 63 64 neighbours . By 1845 , when he had been retired for ~11 years, his company “Salt, Daniel and Son, worsted spinners” was at Lilly 65 Croft Mill, Manningham , with a warehouse in Piccadilly. This warehouse seems to have been built well before 1845 and was his major business location. I suspect this was the warehouse which Reynolds says “was one of the largest in Bradford at the time”. We can be confident that Daniel’s son Titus would have been familiar with all of these locations. William Rouse and Sons, the company that Titus joined, was well established. In 1815, they already had a factory, at Canal 66 Side. When Titus joined, the company was “rapidly rising into prosperity” . This was Bradford boomtime and by 1824 the Rouses would be building a further mill, Bradford’s 18th. It too was at Canal Side. This place name appears to refer to the Bradford end of the Bradford Canal where there are four locations linked to their firm. These are Canal Road, Holdsworth Street, Commercial Street and North Brook Street, the latter three being streets near the canal’s terminus and close to Bradford city centre. All three adjoined Canal Road, a major thoroughfare which still exists today. Titus must have spent much of his two Rouse years at Canal Side which was only a 10 minute walk from his North Parade home. He may also have worked at Old Market (the company’s office?), in effect the junction of Westgate and Kirkgate, right in the centre of the city and only 5 minutes from home. SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 14 Titus retained a great regard both for the Hammonds and William Rouse jr. Early in his solo career he offered John Hammond a partnership. Later, when the Rouse family were at war, he put his own money on the line to secure significant Rouse property for Rouse jr, who then brought John Hammond into partnership. The Salts’ Congregational Chapels 67 “On coming to Bradford, [Titus Salt’s] family connected themselves with Horton Lane Chapel” says Balgarnie and for both 68 Daniel and Titus, this was not mere churchgoing. Both were very active lay members of congregations that became pivotal in Bradford’s political and municipal development. Both chapels were cornerstones of their Bradford lives. (Little) Horton Lane Congregational Chapel (?1782 - ~1960s) Little Horton Lane Congregational Chapel was opened in 1782 and demolished in the 1960's. Glyde House (below left) was originally the 69 Sunday School with the Chapel immediately to its north-east . 70 A rare image of the church is on the right , looming above Queen Victoria’s statue. SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 15 Salem Chapel (built 1834-6) “The increase of the congregation in Horton Lane Chapel and the consequent insufficiency of accommodation had been long felt before, in 1835, a new chapel was resolved on. The building was opened in 1836, by sermons from Rev. R. W. Hamilton, 71 Theophilus Lessey, and Dr. Raffles. The cost of the building was about £7,000” . “Salem Chapel opened in 1835 and among 72 its first members were the Salts…” . At the junction of Manor Row and Salem Street, Salem Chapel is now Kenburgh House. SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 16 Part 3: Titus Salt’s Bradford mills Thompson’s Mill This was the Salt family’s first mill, the location of Daniel Salt and Son’s spinning department. Whilst it was the first mill that they used, there’s no evidence that they owned it. The date of the Salts’ move to Thompson’s is not known, but Reynolds says it was probably around 1829 - and it was certainly before 1834 because that was when Edward Salt joined the family firm at 73 this same mill. Around 1835, Titus left both the firm and Thompson’s Mill . Curiously, I have not been able to find ‘Thompson’s Mill’ on any Bradford maps. Nor does it appear in the many lists that name, and then explain in some detail, the location of mills that are often of much less historical significance than Thompson’s 74. However our search for Thompson’s gets a helping hand from the sources quoted above and from Cudworth’s piece on the history of Thompson’s below. The mill was 75 • on Silsbridge Lane, Bradford 76 • at Goitside, Thornton Road, Bradford 77 • at the Goitside 78 • on the piece of land between Silsbridge Lane and the mill goit 79 • in the fields on the high side of the Goit . These references are not at odds. The goit runs along land with a pronounced incline. Silsbridge Lane was on the high side of the goit. However, the distance between goit and Lane is over 150m in most places 80 so the mill could have been situated some distance from the Lane – and actually much nearer to another significant thoroughfare, Thornton Road. Whilst our sources are not identifying the location of the mill precisely, the area in which it will be found is clear and it is not large. Moreover we have a detailed description of the mill’s origins. William Cudworth - the local historian writing about C19th Bradford in the C19th - identifies Thompson’s Mill in his Round About Bradford and tells its story. SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 17 Matthew and Benjamin Thompson were the sons of the Rev. John Thompson, incumbent of Castleford… At about the 81 ages of fourteen and twelve respectively, the brothers Matthew and Benjamin were sent to Bradford , there to take part in the active business of life, being entrusted to the care of their uncle, Mr. Benjamin Peile, who was a dyer. To this business Matthew Thompson was brought up, while his brother Benjamin was apprenticed with Mr. Richard Fawcett to the worsted trade. That business, which has since so conduced to Bradford's greatness, was, however, then in the "day of small things." [sic] The work, such as it was, was done by hand, and there was not a single factory in the town! In 1798 Messrs. Ramsbotham & Co. erected one in Thornton Road of fifteen-horse power, and three years after one was erected in the Holme for Mr. Richard Fawcett. In 1803 the brothers Thompson, having acquired a knowledge sufficient to justify them in "setting up" business, commenced worsted spinning in partnership with their uncle in a mill built for them by Mr. Peile, who, being a bachelor, had in a measure adopted them, and chose this mode of furthering the interests of his charge. The mill was of twenty-horse power, and was situate in the fields on the high side of the Goit. These premises, still called Thompson's Mill [in 1876], have been greatly extended by the present owner, Mr. M. W. Thompson 82 . There is much overlap here with what is said in the Goitside Conservation Area Assessment. Not surprising, because Cudworth is a much-quoted, unique and trusted source. But the Assessment adds that “… Thompson’s Mill is likely to have been the second mill built in Bradford” and not the third as Cudworth implies. Early historian John James certainly identifies Thompson’s 83 Mill as second which makes it historically significant. And the fact that the mill was so early means that, if there are maps of the early 1800s when Bradford was very small and large factories were few and far between, we are likely to gather some helpful prompts from them. SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 18 This is from a map of Bradford 84 dated 1800 . Silsbridge Lane is marked 1, the “MILL RACE OR 85 GOIT” 2, and Bradford Beck 3 . On Silsbridge Lane, there are a few buildings. On the top side of the goit, there’s a solitary building (or buildings?) G, and a further building or buildings B on the Beck. We will explore Thompson’s Shed next but at this stage note that its future site shares with G a distinctive rectangular parcel of land, most likely a farm field and perhaps, “the piece of land between Silsbridge Lane and the mill goit” referred to in the Goitside Conservation Area 86 Assessment ? Reader, please note… This map and its numbers/letters will be referred to again later. SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 19 Thompson Shed In the evidence presented above, no mention is made of Thompson Shed – but since we have so little to go on to pin-point Thompson’s Mill, the name ‘Thompson’ and the location of the Shed cannot be ignored. It is a large building which is named on the 1908 25” OS 87 map . It stood on Silsbridge Lane, by this time re-named 88 as Grattan Road. What do we know about the Shed? Not much, though a couple of sources identify it 89 as a mill . And we know (from the ~1800 map) that it shares the same, distinctive, rectangular parcel of land as G - but the Shed was not there in ~1800 whilst G was. 90 On this 1908 map, G (immediately south of the Shed) is identified as “Woollen Mills” . The original parcel of land stretched from the Lane to the goit, the line of which is here named (in the tiniest of letters) as “GOIT SIDE”. The parcel would likely have been purchased as a unit and therefore there’s a chance that the Shed and the building immediately to its south originally had 91 common ownership . We may be closing in on the location of Thompson’s Mill! SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 20 Because it (uniquely?) features Thompson’s Shed, we have already looked at the 1908 OS map. Now we need to look at an 92 earlier OS map (~1850 ) to see what this area was like when Salt’s entire business was located in Bradford. The area is heavily urbanised, much changed since ~1800. The known location of Thompson Shed (red block, on Silsbridge Road in green) is occupied by several buildings which are not identified. Immediately to the south of that red block is B, Thompson’s Mill. It is labelled Mill with what I take to be Wor, an abbreviation for 93 ‘worsted’. Also worthy of note on this map is a mill immediately across the goit to the south of Thompson’s Mill (B). Watch out for WS below! SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 21 “Salt and his father had started a spinning department of their wool stapling business, using rooms in 94 Thompson’s Mill at Goitside, Thornton Road, Bradford” The Saltaire Collection’s website gives “Goitside, Thornton Road” as the location of Thompson’s Mill. In Salt’s day the course of Thornton Road was much as it is now - between the 95 goit 2 and Bradford Beck 3 . No doubt the Collection found this address in John James’ list (on the right) identifying all the 96 mills that existed in Bradford in 1833 . James has the “SITUATION” of Matthew Thompson’s mill not on Silsbridge Lane but on “Thornton Road”. This is plausible because of what was said earlier. Silsbridge Lane is on the high side of the goit but the distance between goit and Lane is over 150m in most places. So Thompson’s Mill may have been situated some distance from the Lane. Indeed, if it were on the goit itself, the mill would have been closer to Thornton Road than to the Lane. This adds weight to the proposition that the solitary building or buildings at location G on the goit itself on that very early (1800) map, is Thompson’s Mill. SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 22 Holme Mill: Bradford’s first There appears to be no connection between Salt and Bradford’s first mill, Holme Mill, but whilst undertaking this research it was difficult not to discover information about Holme. And as it happens, that information may help us to firm up the location of Thompson’s Mill. James’ list of mills (copied above) is spectacularly unhelpful in identifying where Holme Mill was. Holme Mill’s “SITUATION” is said to be ‘Holme Mill’! But James also tells us that “the land adjoining between the Mill-race and the Beck was anciently called the Holme (signifying a piece of 97 ground enclosed by water) [sic]” . “Enclosed by water” does not describe location G: there is no water to the north of G. But it does describe B which sits on the Beck with the goit to the north. Unfortunately, that conflicts with what the Assessment says: that “Holme Mill, the first factory in Bradford, was constructed alongside 98 the goit” . However, the Assessment is in turn contradicted by a further source, a list of mills which supplies co-ordinates for what it believes is the 99 actual location of Holme Mill . SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 23 The left-hand image applies those co- ordinates, the blue teardrop pin-pointing the alleged mill site. Note that it is south of Thornton Road and on the Beck not the goit. But then the Assessment says that “Holme Mill was constructed by Messrs Ramsbottom [sic], Swaine and Murgatroyd in 1800, close 100 to the present Holmfield Street” and, as the right-hand map shows, that suggests Holme Mill’s location is north of Thornton Road! The right-hand map also shows that there are two ‘Holme’ streets. Westholme Street is south of Thornton Road and close to the Beck. Moreover, ‘close to the present Westholme Street’ is consistent with the location shown on the left-hand map. It seems to me that the blue teardrop is likely 101 to give the best indication of Holme Mill’s actual location not least because of the existence on the ~1800 map of a literally outstanding building (B) in exactly that position – and no building at all in the location favoured by the Assessment. Metaphorically outstanding too. Bradford’s first mill would surely have a claim to a place on that map. But perhaps the most telling evidence for the Assessment being wrong is that, fixed to the Culture Fusion building (see right- 102 hand map above), there is a heritage plaque commemorating Holme Mill ! Having rejected some of its account, I am not above cherry-picking one further Assessment statement which sounds plausible: “Following [the building of Holme Mill] a number of mills, factories and foundries, along with associated housing, were 103 constructed in the vicinity” . And if Bradford’s second mill, Thompson’s was located at G, it would appear to be very much “in the vicinity”. 104 G is only ~125m from Holme . SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 24 Thompson’s Mill continued: “when [Salt’s firm] was still based in Bradford proper”, “Thompson’s Mill, and consequently the goitside, had a strong association with Titus Salt. The weaving shed to the south of the goit 105 provided room and power for the weaving department” This statement has the potential to give us the final piece of the Thompson’s Mill jigsaw. The Assessment indicates that part of Thompson’s Mill - the weaving shed - was south of the goit. This is plausible, not least because the 1852 OS map on the right shows there is a large building (marked WS by me on this extract to the right) south of the original site of Thompson’s Mill (G). It stands between the goit and Thornton Road. If Thompson’s had the need to expand, what better than doing so next door? There is therefore this possibility: that in the early 1830s, the spinning department of Daniel Salt and Son was located in Thompson’s Mill (G) and that, at a later unknown date, Titus Salt’s company occupied the building (WS) next door to Thompson’s Mill for the purposes of weaving. After ‘discovering’ this, I found that others had gone before me: [Thompson's Mill] was built over two separate periods, the first, a worsted spinning mill was built to the North of the mill goit and commenced production in 1803. The second half was a worsted weaving shed and built [later] to the South of the spinning mill on the opposite side of the mill goit… [Titus Salt] leased part of Thompson's spinning mill, whilst working for his fathers [sic] business, and successfully spun the [Donskoi] wool…Eventually he would spin it under his own name at Hollings Mill…, his first mill when he went into business on his own account following his father’s retirement in 1834…Titus went on to weave worsted cloth at Thompson's Mill weaving shed under a 'Room and Power' agreement before eventually moving his entire workforce out of Bradford to the new model industrial village of 106 Saltaire... . SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 25 107 Moreover, the 1852 OS town plan of Bradford seals the deal as it were. Both ‘Thompson’s Mill (Worsted)’ and ‘Thompson’s Mill (Worsted) Weaving Shed’ are marked on either side of the goit, and even more important ‘Thompson’s Buildings’ is splashed north to south along the rectangular parcel of land. It could not be much clearer that, earlier in the century and/or late in the last, the Thompson dynasty purchased the lot as they became key players in the founding of Worstedopolis. SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 26 Thompson’s Mill: Summary We now return to the ~1800 map with a cartographic summary of what has been found. SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 27 Thompson’s Mill: A researcher’s lament I started the Thompson’s section of these notes with this statement: Curiously, I have not been able to find ‘Thompson’s Mill’ on any Bradford maps. Nor does it appear in the many lists that name, and then explain in some detail, the location of mills that are often of much less historical significance than Thompson’s. As a result, I have spent a great deal of time using multiple scraps of information to identify the mill’s location to my satisfaction. As soon as that was completed, a fellow local historian wrote to me about the goit. Rose Reeve included a document in which 108 she described what she found when walking the goit west to east in 2012 . And when she reached the neighbourhood of Tetley Street, formerly Prospect Street, the western boundary of that early C19th, small, rectangular parcel of land, she recorded this: At Soho Street walk down to Thornton Road, turn left, and then left again into Tetley Street, where the other end of the gated stretch [of the goit] can be found. Opposite this is the site of Thompson’s Mill, which burned down in October 2011. This site is being demolished and cleared, and the works have exposed a length of the goit between Tetley Street and the NCP car park which is at the top of Goit Side. The goit is gated at Tetley Street The goit is visible on the Thompson’s Mill site SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 28 So author Rose not only visited Thompson’s Mill (G, on the high side of the goit) in 2012 but (unlike me) she knew precisely where Thompson’s Mill was – and that it had been destroyed in 2011. This in turn led to further searches, this time for images of Thornton’s Mill . And what a bonanza, starting with a heritage plaque! Photographer Mark Davis took a series of photos just before arson assassinated G 109.The plaque was on the northern side of 110 the mill, on Sunbridge Road . Mark’s interior photos paint a vivid picture of the workplaces that launched Bradford on the road to Worstedopolis. And you are looking at an actual room in which young Titus embarked on the road to legendary status! In this image, Thompson’s is the taller, darker building to the left. SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 29 111 And finally, a fellow historian then drew to my attention a 1936 aerial view of Goitside on which I was able to identify Thompson’s Mill (G) and show it in a context which will be reasonably familiar to today’s Bradfordians. The other features in the photo are • three principal streets, 1 Grattan Road (formerly Silsbridge Lane) 2 Sunbridge Road 3 Thornton Road • and two significant buildings that still exist, O the Odeon cinema, now re-purposed as Bradford Live WW Woolston Warehouse (now flats). For non-Bradfordians, the Odeon is very much part of central Bradford. Its frontage (to the right in the photo) is at the very end of Thornton Road and you can walk from there to City Hall in less than 4 minutes. SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 30 In search of Union Street… “In 1836 he took over a large mill in Union Street, whose previous owner had been Daniel Illingworth” “[Titus Salt] added a larger factory in Union Street… Trade grew so rapidly under his hands that in a few years he was carrying on, not only the two mills above mentioned [Thompson’s and Union Street], but also Hollings’ Mill, Brick Lane Mill, and one in Fawcett Court” 112 “He quickly acquired further premises in or near Hope Street” Union Street features three times in James’ list of Bradford’s oldest mills. These include the third oldest in Bradford 113 (construction started 1807), the eleventh (1818), and finally one in 1830 . It seems clear that it is this last Union Street mill that Titus Salt occupied. It was built and initially occupied by Illingworth and Murgatroyd. Salt had strong political connections 114 with both . 115 Reynolds says that the premises in Union Street became “the headquarters of a rapidly increasing alpaca empire” . 116 Ibbetson’s 1845 directory confirms Salt to be at Union Street in that year . In 1856, an advertisement in the Bradford Observer shows Salt offering some of these 117 premises “TO BE LET” . This indicates that a significant amount of Union Street property - an 80 horse power factory, “extensive warehouses” and a “large new” warehouse - was owned by Salt. The last two premises were “lately in the occupation of Messrs. Titus Salt, Sons and Company”. So now we have evidence that, 3 years after the completion of the mill at Saltaire, Salt had “lately” been operating a mill and 118 warehouses in Bradford. SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 31 Not only that but the advert makes clear that ‘Union Street’ was big, and the maps of the time suggest that the term ‘Union Street’ may well have been used to refer to part or all of a large, more or less self-contained, industrial estate. On this extract from the 1852 OS town map Bradford 119, I have outlined it in yellow. It was big enough to include: 3 worsted mills at least 3 chimneys warping rooms 8 combing rooms a sorting room a wash house 2 weighing machines 2 reservoirs a cistern a boiler shed a timber yard stables and a large building called Bolton’s Place, plus the Neptune Inn and the Sion 120 chapel and school! This map also reinforces that ‘Union Street’ was very close to other Salt mills - at Fawcett Court (F), Nelson Street (N), and 121 “in or near Hope Street” (H) . It was also close to Titus Salt’s family house in the 1830s (in the area marked TS) and his 122 beloved (Little) Horton Lane Chapel (HC) . SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 32 But Union Street may have had even greater significance for Salt than simply being his Bradford HQ. In May 1845, the Bradford Woolcombers Society set up a committee to report on their trade’s housing conditions. In June 1845, the Bradford Observer wrote about the meeting at which the evidence was presented 123. As can be seen from this cutting, it included references to Union Street and Nelson Court, locations closely connected with Salt - and its content was stark. The report had an immediate effect. Several prominent men called for a town meeting and from that a committee was established. Salt was a member. Regrettably, concerns over other matters, such as the proposed 10-hour Bill, were to steal the subsequent 124 headlines . But, for Salt, it was conditions like these that were a key factor in his migration to Saltaire – and most importantly, in the construction of a ‘model village’ which was the polar opposite of Bradford’s appalling conditions. SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 33 125 Hollings’ Mill or Holling's Mill or Hollings Mill? Firstly, Hollings’ Mill. This version of the name is found in Balgarnie but elsewhere I have only been able to find references to Holling’s Mill and Hollings Mill. So, to Holling’s Mill. The location of this mill, north of Legrams Lane 126 (see map to left ), does not commend it as a Salt’s mill. It is in a very different part of town from the Union Street complex. 127 Thirdly, Hollings Mill, pictured right . This is highly significant in Titus Salt’s career as an entrepreneur: his first mill working on his own account. Moreover, as the 128 photo above shows, it still exists – the only Salt’s mill left in the City of Bradford! It is on Lower Grattan Road, ie part of . 129 what was Silsbridge Lane, the latter being the “SITUATION” quoted by James . If more evidence were needed, the area it inhabits adds to the conviction that this is the Hollings Mill used by Salt. It is in Goitside, sitting only 0.5m from those Salt’s mills in Bradford the locations of which we can identify with some confidence. SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 34 The view of Hollings Mill above, seen from Lower Grattan Road, belies its size. The mill is uphill from Thornton Road, and looking at it from there (right) shows it to be very large indeed. However, the mill has changed significantly since the mid-C19th. The 1852 OS map of Silsbridge Lane (above) suggests that the western end of this complex was not the rectangular building we see here. And there is a problem with this being a Salt’s mill, in 1845 at least. Adolphus Tremel, stuff manufacturer and a resident of Eldon Place, occupied Hollings Mill in that year, which might suggest that Salt did not. Moreover, in that year, Salt is recorded in Ibbetson’s directory as 130 occupying Union Street and only Union Street . This does not seem plausible and a report in an 1849 edition of the Bradford Observer tells us that “The Workpeople of Mr. Titus Salt, at Holling’s Mill…” (and at Union Street Mills and Beecroft’s Mill) made donations to Bradford 131 Infirmary . In addition, we learn from the testimony of Henry Stolworthy that his father John was working for Salt at Hollings from ~1843 right through to ~1853. Moreover, Henry tells us that from 1843 his family actually “lived in the [Hollings] mill yard, and the keys of the mill used to be left at our house”. The Stolworthy/Salt link was not broken in ~1853. Both John and Henry went to 132 work at Saltaire and the family moved there . SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 35 Brick Lane Mill 133 Brick Lane Mill, pictured right , is marked on the 1852 OS map below. Although close to Thornton Road, it was further out of Bradford than any of Salt’s mills, half a mile from Hollings, and just under a mile from Union Street. We have the two statements above indicating Salt used this mill – but there is no evidence in support of them. 134 Beecroft Mill I cannot find this mill. Could it be Beehive Mills? This was very close to both Hollings and Thompson’s, but it was not a Salt’s mill. SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 36 Part 4: A Cartographic Summary of Titus Salt’s Bradford before Saltaire 135 This summary map can be viewed in greater detail by following the link in this endnote . SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 37 THANKS and POSTSCRIPT Many people have helped me put this together. They include Derek Barker, Colin Coates, Mark Davis, Chris Hand, Mark Hill, Rose Reeve and Dave Shaw as well as the authors of the numerous books/booklets/websites etc that I’ve consulted. Thank you! A couple of issues arose as I learned more about Bradford in the C19th and, in an ideal world, they would have been tackled in these notes. The first is that there were innumerable warehouses in Bradford at the time and that they were of considerable importance. For example, woolstaplers like Daniel Salt were key players in the city’s textile industry and operated from warehouses, not mills. But (as we have seen) the great millowners like Salt also had warehouses. In the case of Salts Mill which was a vertical mill – meaning it encompassed all the clothmaking processes - warehousing was a feature of the mill itself, and I can’t imagine that was any different to a very significant number of the later, second and third generation mills. The second issue that I haven’t tackled is the multi-occupation of mills, and warehouses for that matter. It’s common to come across mills in multi-occupation – and that links to a further issue: that use and ownership are not one and the same. James knew this: it is reflected in his table of the earliest of mills which includes an ‘Occupied by’ column. And it has become clear to me that, as the C19th progressed, many entrepreneurs went into industrial property – and that included buildings factories specifically to rent. It would also be valuable to identify those locations that were of significance to the public Salt… the philanthropist, the campaigner, the mayor, the MP etc etc. SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 38 APPENDIX: THE BRADFORD GOIT AND GOITSIDE The Bradford goit or mill race is a fascinating feature that makes an appearance several times in our search for Salt’s Bradford mills. It deserves its own section in this story. The goit is mediaeval in origin. Its purpose was to redirect water from Bradford Beck to power the water wheels of one or more manorial water 136 mills. The ‘soke mill’ which was later called Queen’s Mill “stood above Aldermanbury for centuries”. This was in the very heart of old, and new, Bradford. Remarkably, given C19th Bradford’s dramatic urbanisation, it was not until 1870 that Bradford Corporation bought out the feudal rights from the Ladies of the Manor, Mary and Elizabeth Rawson. The 137 138 mill was only demolished in 1871 . This 1828 map shows a building clearly marked ‘Soke Mill’. However, Industrial Heritage Online says that there was a fulling mill alongside – and we shall see later that this is correct. The map shows the tailrace returning water back to the Beck. And it is, I think, unique both in identifying the mill’s dam and that the 139 Soke Mill was built on the mill pond . SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 39 Unfortunately for the researcher wishing to present a consistent picture, two other maps from the period just before and after 140 the Soke Mill was demolished, do not fit neatly with the 1828 map . 141 The left-hand map shows the ‘Queen’s Mills’ to include ‘worsted’ and ‘corn’ which confirms there were two mills. However, it is difficult to work out the relationship between mills and mill race/goit. The ‘Soke Mills’ map to the 142 right shows the mills below the wide ‘Soke Mill Goit’ which looks to be the dam on the earlier map. It is not known precisely when the first water mill was built in Bradford but the manor’s accounts show repairs were made to a 143 mill in 1295 . It is plausible that the mill was built in the C13th since in 1246 Edmund de Lacy obtained a charter for holding a market. This was ratified in 1251 and thus Bradford gained manorial status. With that came feudal rights, for example the right of the lord to have a ‘soke mill’, a cereal-milling monopoly. The 1277 inquisition for the Hundred Rolls does not mention 144 a mill . This evidence implies that the first mill may have been built between ~1280 and ~1290. SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 40 Within ancient Bradford, I’m not aware of any water mill locations other than that above Aldermanbury. Nor of any that get their power directly from the Beck. So if there were a mill in that location in ~1280 to ~1290, it was presumably getting its water power from the goit – which must therefore be a C13th century creation. The early existence of two mills supports that. 145 By the 1311 inquisition, there was a ‘water mill’ and a fulling mill in the parish of Bradford and Empsall agrees that by the 146 C14th there were two mills, one for corn and the other for fulling cloth . This challenges the proposition by Ared and Brown that the goit was constructed to power a mill built around 1530 in Millergate, ie above Almondbury. The prior existence of two 147 mills suggests that the goit was constructed much earlier and it seems probable that the 1530 creation could be a 148 replacement . After all, the original mill was likely to have been over 200 years old. The goit was (is!) more than 800m in 149 length and as we have seen above, the ~1800 map of Bradford shows it clearly as it largely runs through farmland. But even as Bradford grew exponentially, it could still be recognised as the 1852 OS map shows. SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 41 Today, it has been swamped by buildings, culverted over virtually all of its length, and many stretches have been gated and rendered inaccessible . But its route can still be seen occasionally as this GoogleMaps satellite image shows. The top middle car park has been identified as the former location of 150 Thompson’s Shed and the aerial shot exposes the line of the ancient goit in the blocks to the south and south-west of the Shed site - and 151 especially on the grass in the southern block , the upper part of which was the site of Thompson’s Mill (G). But this exposure is unusual. More numerous and obvious indications of the goit’s route are the streets, ginnels, boundaries and building lines that pay homage to a feature that may be 800 years old. One example which can also be seen on this map is ‘the top of the T’ in the T-shaped street called Goit Side. That top aligns almost perfectly with the goit’s route. SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 42 ENDNOTES and REFERENCES 1 Don’t be afraid to get in touch with the author with comments. Additions, criticisms and corrections will be welcomed. Email les.brook@yahoo.com 2 http://www.mark-davis-photography.com/explore/thompsons-mill-bradford/. Big thanks to Mark for allowing me to use his excellent photos. The image to the right is of Thompson’s Mill. Read on and all will be revealed! 3 Balgarnie’s Salt with commentary and additions by BARLO & SHAW 2003 p28. The original publication date of Balgarnie’s book – Sir Titus Salt Baronet His Life and Lessons - was 1877. 4 Edward Baines Baines’ Directory: History, Directory & Gazetteer of Yorkshire Vol. I: West Riding 1822 p155. A woolstapler (or wool-stapler) was a dealer in wool. 5 David King Who was your grandmother, Titus, and when did you arrive in Bradford? https://saltairevillage.info/saltaire_history_0070_Debunking_myths_concerning_Sir_Titus_Salt_050620.html. I think David may be wrong to assume Titus “arrived with his parents”. I also think there is no evidence for the 1820 arrival of the entire family, and good reason to think that Titus might have been otherwise engaged: in 1820, he was 17 years of age and recently employed by a Mr Jackson in Wakefield. 6 Pigot and co.'s national commercial directory for 1828-9: extracts to be found at https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/YKS/WRY/Bradford/Bradford29Dry 7 The locations in red in these early, reference pages are those I will seek to identify. I return to each of them later. 8 Jack Reynolds The Great Paternalist Titus Salt and the Growth of Nineteenth-Century Bradford 1983 p47 John Reynolds, always known affectionately as Jack, was one of the most highly respected of Bradford's twentieth-century local historians. Keith Laybourn Jack Reynolds (1915-1988) First published in 1991 in volume 5, pp. 91-93, of the third series of The Bradford Antiquary, the journal of the Bradford Historical and Antiquarian Society https://www.bradfordhistorical.org.uk/reynolds.html 9 Ibid p70 10 Balgarnie op cit p58 11 Ibbetson's General and Classified Directory of the Borough of Bradford 1845 p71 SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 43 12 Website of the Saltaire Collection https://www.saltairecollection.org/portfolio-item/sir-titus-salt-1803-1876/ 13 The goit and Goitside will appear many times in these notes. A goit or mill race is a small artificial channel carrying water taken from a stream or river. This water is then used (usually in mills or factories) for power and/or for water-hungry processes like washing raw wool. In the present case, ‘the goit’ is a specific channel from Bradford Beck at a point to the west of the centre of Bradford. It passed through an area that became known as Goitside. See the APPENDIX for more, including a map. 14 On the Saltaire Collection’s website, this information is presented without a reference so the sequence of mills may not be accurate. 15 William Cudworth Round about Bradford A Series of Sketches 1876 p310 16 Balgarnie op cit p46. On this page, Barlo and Shaw have a footnote. In summary, they observe that an ~1854 map by Rapkin (in Bradford libraries’ Local Studies department) shows the location of all the mills mentioned in the extract. They go on to indicate these locations in broad terms. I failed to spot this before embarking on my research but have rectified that mistake by contacting the department. I’m told in an email from them that on the map catalogued at BRA 1854 RAP “there are no specific mills indicated or mill names”. 17 James Burnley A Yorkshire Colony in All The Year Round Vol.5 Charles Dickens (ed) January 21 1871 p185. Burnley was a prolific Bradford writer working in the second half of the C19th and contributing many articles to local newspapers. Amongst other books, he wrote Sir Titus Salt And George Moore. https://biblio.co.uk/james-burnley/author/79834 18 Bradford Observer 19 July 1849 and 23 August 1849 19 This letter appeared in the Halifax Guardian on 20 January 1849 but refers to its previous publication in the Bradford Observer 20 1851 Collinson, Burton & Co’s West Riding worsted directory https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=dple2AjuarcC&pg=PA363&dq=samuel+ellis+ossett+cloth+manufacturer&hl=en&sa=X& ved=0ahUKEwjxvPOlz8rpAhUQM8AKHYIgBXk4HhC7BQhDMAM#v=onepage&q=samuel%20ellis%20ossett%20cloth%20manuf acturer&f=false 21 Reynolds op cit pp 41 onwards 22 Reynolds follows Balgarnie’s lead 23 Later, we’ll see that Reynolds got this wrong. It was Daniel’s father who supported the purchase. SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 44 24 It seems very likely that Cheapside and Cross Street refer to the same location. On the 1852 OS map, Cross Street runs at a right angle, eastwards from Cheap Side. 25 But which one of his warehouses was the largest? 26 Reynolds op cit p47 says the marriage was in 1829 but Balgarnie says 21 August 1830 (op cit p43). It was 1829. 27 Reynolds op cit p47 28 Thompson identifies Salt’s first employer as “Jo Jackson”, “an important woolstapler”, who had a warehouse in King Street. W J Thompson (ed) A Brief Guide to the Industrial Heritage of West Yorkshire (1989). Joseph Jackson appears in Baines's Directory and Gazetteer Directory of 1822 which can be found at https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/YKS/WRY/Wakefield/Wakefield22Dry 29 Balgarnie op cit p 30: “For his practical knowledge of wool-sorting he was chiefly indebted to John and James Hammond, two brothers, in the employment of the firm. He once acknowledged this in our hearing, when the name of Hammond was mentioned. “It was John Hammond,” he said, “who taught me to sort wool.” As evidence of the value attached to the services of these two brothers, by the firm, they were both remembered in Mr. John Rouse’s will, and one became afterwards a partner in the business”. Balgarnie op cit claims that the Hammond connection continued after he left the Rouses to join his father’s business, Salt frequently travelled to buy wool: “To him was entrusted the duty of attending the public wool sales in London and Liverpool, and effecting purchases from farmers in Norfolk and Lincolnshire, after the season of sheep-clipping. John Hammond, who travelled on behalf of the Rouse’s [sic], was frequently his companion in these journeys, and his judgment was sought in any emergency” p31. Little wonder then that, not long after Titus left his father’s firm, he “made overtures to John Hammond to join him in partnership… But these overtures were respectfully declined on the ground that the Rouses having always treated him with kindness and liberality, he must remain in their employment as long as he lived. It was in Garraway’s coffee rooms, London, that these two early friends had the interview for the consideration of the above proposal, which ended by Mr. Titus Salt saying “Well, John, I am going into this alpaca affair right and left, and I’ll either make myself a man or a mouse” ”. Balgarnie op cit p49. 30 Titus Salt’s son Edward would marry Sarah Amelia Rouse, daughter of William. 31 John James History of the Worsted Manufacture in England 1857 [hereafter James 1857] available free at https://archive.org/stream/historyofworsted00jame/historyofworsted00jame_djvu.txt James’s list of mills and his comments on that list will be referenced throughout these notes, often in detail. On p 592 of James 1857, he uses the words “wrought by steam” to describe the mills in the list. The table and comments are repeated in other James books and other editions of these books. His The History of Bradford and its Parish 1866 [hereafter James 1866] is particularly useful. Can be downloaded from SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 45 https://books.googleusercontent.com/books/content?req=AKW5Qad8i94XjtYAeaOC2lCkeNs5i9DsMTChudW5WRrylteALUEiOjFY fONSlGJACoiKv0XDDqH2N5iz8DhJaq_lmy7bRiOcFmB1VkRRMv_- NYhdcYQ2hkL059rn_201QMQv0xMc1x3UOP0C12T5TZ0x9etfkwTRdlFc-77zKnM_Ls7- jXr06EPLHbqLgeUjm9hOVrtLVDvjcEHazQOmvkUpHfKIon8sRMSar8LDaTbOZ8HwPQ4jlh_NksrwySeR1GzZnjrmhRGaFA8IakbG- lVXB6BrHoiqzVqhZt1_vC1prHqnbtNWMYQ 32 Pigot op cit 33 Baines op cit p157. ‘Inn houses’ refers to the pubs that they used for business meetings 34 James 1857 p605 35 Pigot op cit. Commercial Street no longer exists but it appears to follow the route of today’s Valley Road, to the east of Forster Square station and sharing a junction with Canal Road. Very close to many other Rouse addresses. 36 https://bradfordlocalstudies.wordpress.com/tag/industry/ 37 Ibbetson’s op cit p70 and p131 38 Mill Street was parallel to Commercial Street and only metres away. Holdsworth Street was very close and all shared a junction with Canal Road 39 Eastbrook House was located east of Bradford Cathedral and close to the extant Paper House. With extensive grounds, it is clearly major and is probably the grandest house close to the city centre. It stands out on the 1852 OS map. For more, see https://bradfordunconsideredtrifles.wordpress.com/2018/04/11/eastbrook-house/ 40 Catherine Thackray Brunswick Place – Bradford A study based on the Census 1841 to 1881 in The Bradford Antiquary 1986. Available at http://www.bradfordhistorical.org.uk/brunswick.html. It is unclear in Thackray’s account which of the Rouse mills was being auctioned. 41 https://bradfordunconsideredtrifles.wordpress.com/tag/bradford/ 42 Reynolds op cit pp 69 on 43 Bradford Metropolitan District Council Goitside Conservation Area Assessment (hereafter, BMDC GCAA) 2005 https://www.bradford.gov.uk/media/3237/goitsideconservationareaassessment.pdf 44 This is incorrect. It was built by Bradford Beck as we shall see later. 45 In James 1866, it is also reported that “in 1798 Messrs. Ramsbotham , Swaine, and Murgatroyd erected [a worsted mill] in the “Holme.” [sic] The engine which supplied the propelling force was of fifteen horses' power”. SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 46 46 George Sheeran The Buildings of Bradford: An Illustrated Architectural History 2005 47 This is not an explicit statement that the weaving shed was part of Thompson’s Mill – but I think that is implied 48 The table and the statements made on this page are from James 1857 pp605-606 unless stated otherwise 49 James 1866 op cit p161 50 XXX 51 Ibbetson's General and Classified Directory, Street List and History of Bradford, 1850 52 The full title of this document is Exhibition of The Works of Industry of All Nations 1851 Reports by the Juries on the Subjects in the Thirty Classes into which the Exhibition was Divided. London. Printed for the Royal Commission, by William Clowes & Sons, Stamford Street and Charing Cross. MDCCCLII. Available online at https://library.si.edu/digital- library/book/reportsjurieson00grea 53 The Builder 19 February 1898 54 OS 1852 map. Image is from GoogleMaps 55 White’s Directory and Topography of the Borough of Bradford 1861 available at https://www.bradfordfhs.org.uk/_resources/tradedirectories/white-directory-for-bradford-1861.pdf 56 Image from GoogleMaps street view 57 See Bradford Heritage Trail at https://mediafiles.thedms.co.uk/Publication/YS- Brad/cms/pdf/Bradford%20Heritage%20Trail.pdf 58 See evidence presented earlier. In this section, I have duplicated some of the info already given but not all of the references 59 Baines op cit seems to confirm this 60 Reynolds op cit p42 61 Pigot’s op cit 62 Thackray op cit “Among the many Deeds relating to the Cousen & Thackray quarries is one of 1823 recording the sale of land to Titus Salt of Hunslet and his son, Daniel, grandfather and father of Sir Titus, respectively. The Salts had opened a small warehouse in Bradford in 1822”. It seems this transaction might have been for the Cheapside/Cross Street land. Thackray’s reference to Titus’s grandfather is a mistake. At this time, the grandfather would have been ~100 years old. The error probably occurred because the grandfather and Daniel’s brother were both called Titus. It was brother Titus who put money into the 1823 transaction. SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 47 63 Pigot op cit 64 Ibbetson’s op cit p71 65 BMDC GCAA op cit “In 1837 Ellis Cunliffe Lister [father of the more famous Samuel Cunliffe Lister] built his last mill, a factory in Manningham, Manningham Mill (known as Lilly Croft Mill on some maps) for Lister and his elder brother John. Lister supervised the on site building and the quarrying of the stone from his father’s quarry at Daisy Hill. The mill opened in 1838 and had been fitted out by James Ambler who was made a partner with Lister and his brother John, the company being named Lister and Co. There are no clear records of what this mill looked like, although it was large by local standards…. Ellis Cunliffe Lister then built a row of 12 cottages to the east of the mill and a year later added another row facing onto Heaton Road …. The mill and two rows of housing are clearly visible on the Ordnance Survey Map published in 1852 as an island of development to the northwest of Manningham village”. See extract from 1852 OS map after the conclusion of these endnotes. 66 Balgarnie op cit p 30: “The manufactory of Messrs. Rouse and Son had commenced in 1815, and was rapidly rising into prosperity”. 67 Balgarnie op cit p32 68 Reynolds op cit pp 42 and 47 69 https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2669351/congregational-chapel 70 https://photos.bradfordmuseums.org/view-item?i=2402 71 https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/YKS/WRY/Bradford/Bradford-SalemChapelCongChurch 72 Thackray op cit 73 There are some differences between the sources on which was the first mill Titus occupied when working on his own account. Balgarnie quoted above does not explicitly say that Titus struck out on his own and moved into Thompson’s, but that’s certainly implied. In the passage quoted at length above, Cudworth appears categorical - He accordingly commenced business as a spinner and manufacturer at Thompson's Mill. Since there is considerable agreement that Daniel Salt and Son started their spinning business at Thompson’s and that this was several years before Titus set up a business of his own, I’m inclined to think that Reynolds is right: Titus certainly worked for Daniel at Thompson’s but Hollings was the son’s first mill. 74 However ‘Thompson’s Shed’ does appear… more of that later 75 Balgarnie op cit 76 Website of the Saltaire Collection op cit and Cudworth op cit 77 Reynolds op cit SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 48 78 BMDC GCAA op cit 79 Cudworth op cit 80 Calculated using GoogleMaps 81 I have not found dates for these brothers – but the tale of their setting up business in a new mill in 1803 suggests that they may have been born around 1780. So they probably came to Bradford at the very start of its factory era. 82 Cudworth op cit pp424-425 83 James 1857 p606 84 From Bradford and District Libraries Map Collections https://bradfordlibrariesmap.wordpress.com/ and see Bradford Local Studies Library Local History from Maps and Plans at https://www.bradford.gov.uk/media/2926/local-history-from-maps-and- plans.pdf The map here was actually published much later than 1800 with some additions (notably, more buildings) but these do not alter the specific area in which we are interested. 85 I have marked the approximate route of Thornton Road which is not on the original map. This is odd because it surely existed by 1800 as it is on the Jefferey map of 1775. John Jefferey made the first large scale map of Yorkshire, published 1771-72. The map’s new edition of 1775 which I rely on is in the Bradford Local Studies Library. 86 BMDC GCAA op cit 87 This map contains the first (and only?) documentary mention of it. 88 This paragraph needs some qualifying (and perhaps further research). It is highly unlikely that this is one building. Firstly, because the map shows the outlines of several smaller buildings. Secondly, because we know that later maps show several buildings on the site, most if not all of which were built before this 1908 map. And thirdly, because the goit goes through the parcel of land, and certainly at a date most likely before 1908, there were two separate buildings above and below the goit. Why then does the map show a single building? Simply because it is a small scale map. So what was Thompson’s Shed? Probably a local name for a bundle of buildings on a distinct parcel of land that was owned by Thompson. 89 http://yorkshire.u08.eu/bradford/62494/ and https://tools.wmflabs.org/geohack/geohack.php?pagename=List_of_mills_in_Bradford&params=53.79476_N_1.75874_W_&tit le=Thompson+Shed 90 Given the dramatic developments in Bradford during the C19th, it is highly likely that the building on this map is not that on the 1800 map – and in any event the shapes of the buildings are different. On the 1893 6” OS map, the buildings that are here “Thompson’s Shed” and two “Woollen Mills” appear much the same as on this map but they are not named. SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 49 91 I say “likely have been purchased as a unit” because of what I’ve learned from Ian Watson’s research published in The Land Acquisitions of Titus Salt in 2011. Ian describes how one major capitalist (Salt), driving the transformation of agricultural into industrial land (in what became Saltaire), did so field by field. In Bradford, a ~1800 plan of the area (which we shall see later) shows the land south of Silsbridge Lane to be a patchwork of narrow rectangular fields, each stretching from north to south. 92 Published 1852 but surveyed from 1847 to 1850, ie it shows the area as it was before Salts Mill’s construction started. It is available from the National Museum of Scotland’s website, https://nls.uk/maps/. The town plan is especially large-scale and detailed. For Goitside, see Bradford Sheet 4 at https://maps.nls.uk/view/229405260 93 Though it does not prove or disprove anything, it is not possible to reconcile what we see here with James’s statement that Thompson’s Mill was built “at two different periods, being in fact two mills” – though later (on the 1908 map) two mills can certainly be seen on the original parcel of land. 94 12 See endnote 95 A very short stretch to the northwest does not run between them and beyond that, the road leaves both behind. 96 James 1857 p606. Whilst in this list Holme Mill is said to have been built in 1800, as we have seen elsewhere (James 1866) 1798 is also given. 97 James 1866 p288 98 BMDC GCAA op cit. My emphasis. 99 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mills_in_Bradford#Bradford 100 BMDC GCAA op cit. The 2007 BMDC Goitside Conservation Area Appraisal repeats the ‘near Holmfield Street’ proposition. 101 … and BMDC GCAA op cit was wrong when it stated that “the Holme Mill, the first factory in Bradford, was constructed alongside the goit”. 102 Sighting reported to me by Rose Reeve 103 BMDC GCAA op cit 104 Calculated using GoogleMaps 105 BMDC GCAA op cit 106 www.industrialhistoryonline.co.uk/yiho/shortform.php?Trans_ID=WYK02352 Note ‘leased’ - an indication that Salt did not own the mill. 107 https://maps.nls.uk/view/229405260 SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 50 108 Rose Reeve Tracing the Bradford Goit 2012. Unpublished report. 109 http://www.mark-davis-photography.com/explore/thompsons-mill-bradford/. Davis quotes from the Telegraph and Argus 10 October 2011: “A blaze which destroyed one of Bradford’s oldest mills was started deliberately, fire chiefs confirmed today. The fire ripped through the five storeys of Thompson Mill in Tetley Street, off Thornton Road, last week, leaving it so badly damaged that it had to be demolished. Traffic was brought to a standstill as firefighters fought the blaze last Tuesday night. Crews were able to prevent it spreading to nearby properties but could not save the mill”. 110 Personal communication from Mark Davis 111 Thanks go to Chris Hand. The photo can be found at https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EPW052165 112 These three quotations are included in earlier parts of this paper, and they are referenced there 113 Copied from the text above: “3.- Union Street mill, built by Mr Richard Fawcett, and occupied by him until about the year 1832. The mill built in 1830 adjoins to the other, and was erected by Messrs. Illingworth & Murgatroyd”. “11- Union Street mill was built by Messrs. Wroe and occupied by them”. James 1857 pp605-606 114 Based upon other research undertaken by myself. 1837 Dec 28 Bradford Observer (BO): death near Salt's dam in Union Street. 1838 Apr 19 BO: ref to death at work of washing machine engine tender in the employ of Messrs D Salt & Son in Union St. Caught in belts. 1839: room&power ad for Providence Mill by D Illingworth also mentions Edward Salt acting as one of assignees of bankrupt James Holdsworth. 1839: Salt's employees have Blaize 'do' at Union Street pub. 1851: "Titus Salt, Esq., it is rumoured, is about making most extensive improvements, in regard to his property in Union Street". 115 Reynolds op cit 116 Ibbetson's op cit: “Salt, Titus, Union street mill” and “Salt, Titus, spinner of mohair and alpacha [sic] yarns, and manufacturer of moreens, Union st. mill, res. Hipperholme [sic].” Hipperholme is very close to Salt’s beloved Crow Nest. 117 Bradford Observer 19 June 1856, 118 The advert also tells us that there are “TWO good PIECE ROOMS in Peel Place” to let. My guess is that a ‘piece room’ was a place where customers could inspect pieces of material produced by a textile firm. So, some years after his move to Saltaire, Salt was still keeping hold of this Bradford property too. But we knew that. See what was said about Well Street above – and after consulting the maps of the time, I have concluded that ‘Peel Place’ and ‘Well Street’ refer to the same location. 119 OS Bradford town map published 1852 but surveyed in 1848 120 I am not arguing that Salt occupied, let alone owned, the entire Union Street complex. Indeed, the 19 June 1856 ‘to let’ advert suggests just the opposite. SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 51 121 On this map, close to N and F, there are two images labelled ‘Worsted Mill’. It is tempting (and maybe correct) to identify these as Salt’s Nelson Street and Fawcett Court mills. 122 Reynolds op cit p42. The connection with this Chapel starts with Titus’s father. There are many other refs in Reynolds. 123 Reynolds op cit p126-127. I find the alleged speed of compiling/publishing the report unconvincing, but there is no doubt that it was published in June 1845. 124 Reynolds op cit p128 125 Hollings appears to be a well-established Airedale, landed-family name. It appears in Cudworth op cit on p102 (dated c1660) and on many other pages. It is closely associated with the Aire valley in locations including Shipley, Baildon and Cullingworth. In the 1800s, the Hollings were also linked to the worsted trade. Cudworth calls Hollins Hill, one of Baildon main roads, Hollings Hill, and https://www.bradford.gov.uk/media/2046/tongparkdamwalk.pdf tells us that close by it is Hollings Head. Later note: more or less parallel to Hollins Hill is a road called Old Hollings Hill. 126 https://tools.wmflabs.org/geohack/geohack.php?pagename=List_of_mills_in_Bradford&params=53.79308_N_1.77378_W_&tit le=Holling%E2%80%99s+Mill 127 The mill is identified by James as the 19th mill built in Bradford. James 1857 op cit p606. It dates from 1826 and was most likely the work of Thomas Hollings and Sons since James says they were occupying it in 1833. 128 … though it is highly likely to have been amended in the last ~170 years! 129 This location is also confirmed by https://tools.wmflabs.org/geohack/geohack.php?pagename=List_of_mills_in_Bradford&params=53.79441_N_1.76163_W_&tit le=Hollings+Mill and https://www.thebradfordsockcompany.co.uk/ 130 Ibbetson's op cit The directory offers a further variation on Hollings – Hollings’s. It also tells us that William Maud was the mill manager for “A. Tremel, worsted spinner &c., Holling [sic] mill, Silsbridge lane [sic]” 131 Bradford Observer 23 August 1849 132 Shipley Times 31 August 1923. The Stolworthys’ house “in the [Hollings] mill yard” also still exists! Further information on the Stolworthys can be found at https://saltairevillage.info/Mill_workers_biography_S.html 133 This image is from https://www.flickr.com/photos/93176113@N03/8666027826/in/album-72157633124214092/ and there is a brilliant set of photos of the derelict Brick Lane Mills at https://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/threads/brick-lane-mills- bradford.17752/ SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 52 134 Beecroft is a family name. Cudworth op cit references a couple of Beecrofts and they are associated with Leeds/Pudsey. G S Beecroft was MP for Leeds in mid-century. 135 To see this map in all its glory, go to https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/e3i157rznjq1mtdplosbr/1852-OS-MAP-Bradford-crop- feat-Salt-mills-v33-cropped-annotated.jpg?rlkey=7gqolmwan3x2sgcdwkp4qt6zn&dl=0 This version can be enlarged significantly without losing clarity. 136 “the right of soke – that is, the right to charge the villagers for grinding their grain”. Mills were owned by the monarchy, although day-to-day control was delegated downward, eventually resting in the hands of the lord of the manor http://www.castlefordheritagetrust.org.uk/TheMill.php. Local people were bound by law to take their corn to the soke mill for grinding, giving a portion of the grain in payment to the Lord of the Manor. HTTPs://www.ossett.net/beyond/Horbury_Junction.html 137 https://bradfordunconsideredtrifles.wordpress.com/tag/bradford/ 138 The illustration is from William Scruton Pen and Pencil Pictures of Old Bradford 1889. Thanks to Derek Barker. 139 www.industrialhistoryonline.co.uk/yiho/shortmedia.php?Image_ID=WYK02339.877: “Extract from a map of the land belonging to the Rev. Godfrey Wright drawn by Joseph Smith, Land Surveyor of Bradford in 1828. This shows the Soke Mill and goit very clearly. Many thanks to Bradford Libraries for permission to reproduce this”. 140 “after”, because an older map which show the mills was used as a base for illustrating planned highway changes 141 https://bradfordlibrariesmap.wordpress.com/2020/01/11/the-development-of-late-nineteenth-century-bradford/ 142 https://bradfordlocalstudies.wordpress.com/2016/03/15/map-of-the-week-goitside/ 143 Kathleen Ared and Jean J K Brown Manorial mills of Bradford and the people connected with them 2006. I am relying on notes made by Rose Reeve when she read this book. 144 Ibid 145 Scruton op cit 146 T Empsall Bradford in the middle of the 14th century 1888. http://www.bradfordhistorical.org.uk/fourteenth.html. However, there were places where two mills occupied the same building: “two mills of Castleford under one roof” (http://www.castlefordheritagetrust.org.uk/TheMill.php) 147 Ared op cit says that the new 1530 mill was a second mill which seems to be contradicted by the evidence for two earlier mills. They also say that it involved creating a dam at Brownroyd, ~1.2 miles further along Thornton Road out of central SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 53 Bradford. This seems to be confusing the goit/dam for the Bradford mill(s) with the goit/dam for Manningham soke mill? This was very close to Brownroyd. 148 www.industrialhistoryonline.co.uk/yiho/shortform.php?Trans_ID=WYK02339 has it that the mill demolished in 1871 was that built in 1530. 149 Calculated using GoogleMaps 150 http://yorkshire.u08.eu/bradford/62494/ 151 I have picked out the route by adding three blue marks SALT BEFORE SALTAIRE April 2024 v1 54
2024.34: 1872: When samurai came to Saltaire
A research document from local historian Les Brook on the visit in 1872 of the Japanese Iwakura Embassy visit to Saltaire. The Iwakura Embassy was a high-level governmental group from Japan who toured the world to investigate the latest developments in industry and technology. They visited Saltaire to view the renowned Salts Mill and the model village of Saltaire. Contents include: What was the Iwakura Embassy? The Embassy’s historical backstory The members of the Embassy The Embassy in the USA Four months in Britain The visit to Bradford and Saltaire DAY 1: Thursday 24 October 1872 DAY 2: Friday 25 October 1872 DAY 3: Saturday 26 October 1872 DAY 4: Sunday 27 October 1872 DAY 5: Monday 28 October 1872 From Yorkshire to London The Embassy in continental Europe, and beyond
1872: WHEN SAMURAI CAME TO SALTAIRE The Iwakura Embassy’s visit to Bradford and to Titus Salt’s model village Compiled and edited by Les Brook with support from members of the Saltaire History Club Special thanks to Colin Coates and to Tomoe Murai of the Iwakura Mission Society March 2024 1 Leaders of the Iwakura Embassy photographed in San Francisco in 1872 L-R: Kido Takayoshi, Yamaguchi Masuka aka Yamaguchi Naoyoshi, Iwakura Tomomi, Itō Hirobumi, Ōkubo Toshimichi 1 https://www.historyofjapaneseinny.org/blog/artifacts/iwakura-mission/ 1872: WHEN SAMURAI CAME TO SALTAIRE 2 CONTENTS PREFACE ................................ ................................ ......................... 3 What was the Iwakura Embassy?................................ ........................ 4 The Embassy’s historical backstory ................................ ..................... 5 The members of the Embassy ................................ .......................... 14 The Embassy in the USA ................................ ................................ . 16 Four months in Britain ................................ ................................ .... 18 The visit to Bradford and Saltaire ................................ ..................... 20 DAY 1: Thursday 24 October 1872 ................................ ............... 20 DAY 2: Friday 25 October 1872 ................................ .................... 22 DAY 3: Saturday 26 October 1872 ................................ ................ 30 DAY 4: Sunday 27 October 1872 ................................ .................. 31 DAY 5: Monday 28 October 1872 ................................ .................. 32 From Yorkshire to London ................................ ................................ 32 The Embassy in continental Europe, and beyond ................................ 33 SOURCES AND FURTHER READING ................................ ................... 37 1872: WHEN SAMURAI CAME TO SALTAIRE 3 PREFACE This paper summarises what we know of a remarkable event that occurred in 1872, when Titus Salt’s now universally-celebrated Saltaire 2 played host to a group of Japanese dignitaries. However, Saltaire’s ‘remarkable event’ was just one small episode in the extraordinary story of the Iwakura Embassy. Whilst I shall set out the details of the Embassy’s visit to Bradford and Saltaire, it is essential that readers understand what the Embassy was and the context of its many visits, in order to appreciate the high significance of the Embassy, for Japan and for the world. The original account of the Iwakura Embassy’s global odyssey was compiled by Kume Kunitake (pictured), secretary to the Embassy’s leader and chronicler of its travels. In 1878, it was published in Japanese in five volumes under the title Tokumei Zenken Taishi Bei-O Kairan Jikki 「特命全権大使米欧回覧実記」. In this paper, Kume’s account is often mentioned or quoted and this invariably refers to text from the full English translation, also in five volumes. A full translation into English was published by The Japan Documents in 2002. It was edited by Graham Healey and Chushichi Tsuzuki and entitled The Iwakura Embassy 1871-73. A True Account of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary's Journey of Observation through the 3 United States of America and Europe . The translators were Andrew Cobbing, Martin Collcutt, Graham Healey, P F Kornicki, Eugene Soviak and Chushichi Tsuzuki. Japan Rising, Cambridge University Press 2009, is a one-volume abridgement of the English translation. It was prepared by Chushichi Tsuzuki with the assistance of R. Jules Young. It includes an introduction 4 by Ian Nish. 2 now universally-celebrated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 3 I believe this to be a faithful translation of the original title. 4 I acknowledge a heavy reliance on Nish’s introduction in drafting The Embassy’s historical backstory. I have not made multiple individual references to that work. 1872: WHEN SAMURAI CAME TO SALTAIRE 4 What was the Iwakura Embassy? ‘Iwakura Embassy’ (or ‘Iwakura Mission’) refers both to a group of leading Japanese statesmen and their support staff, and also to their round-the- world diplomatic voyage that lasted for more than 20 months, from 23 December 1871 to 13 September 1873. The aims of the Embassy were threefold: • to gain recognition for the new Japanese imperial dynasty under the Emperor Meiji • to begin preliminary renegotiation of unequal treaties with the dominant world powers and • to make a comprehensive study of modern industrial, political, military and educational systems and structures in the United States and Europe. ‘Iwakura’ refers to Iwakura Tomomi, the Embassy’s leader. He was 5 Japan’s Foreign Minister . He was also Minister of the Right: in effect, the 6 Deputy Prime Minister . For the purposes of the Embassy’s journey, he was ‘Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Europe and the United States’. 5 When the Embassy set out, Taneomi Soejima was made Japan’s Foreign Minister. Thanks to Tomoe Murai for this information, and for that in the next footnote. 6 At this point in history, the most senior ministerial post was the Daijō-daijin (Grand Minister) and his deputies were the Minister of the Left (Sadaijin) and Minister of the Right (Udaijin). The Sadaijin was the more senior of the two, but the post was vacant. As a result, Iwakura was second in command of Japan’s government. His importance and qualities are made plain in the following, from https://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e- culture/sannomaru/zuroku-79.html : The young Emperor still in his teens, was to face many difficult situations, supported by [Grand Minister] Sanjo Sanetomi… and Iwakura Tomomi… [Iwakura] was from a family not so highly ranked [as the Grand Minister], but he stood out with his brilliance and became a close advisor of [the Emperor]. 1872: WHEN SAMURAI CAME TO SALTAIRE 5 The Embassy’s historical backstory 7 The Embassy’s backstory is one of national revolution. Until 1867-1868 - and for 700 years!- Japan was governed by the shōgun 8 based at Edo, later called Tokyo. The shōgun was the representative of a warrior family which kept Japan under strict control. Not the same family: there were three distinct periods in which different families held sway. At the time of the revolution, the Tokugawa family was at the helm – as it had been since 1603. The shōgun was the lord at the apex of a feudal system (the han system) of roughly 280 hereditary land holdings (domains or fiefdoms) throughout 9 Japan . Power was split between the shōgunate in Edo and the feudal lords. The lords had a degree of local sovereignty in exchange for loyalty to the shōgun who was responsible for foreign relations, national security, coinage, weights, and measures, and transportation. The extent of Japan’s revolutionary change can be gauged from the fact that the han system was abolished. Roughly 280 fiefdoms were turned into 72 prefectures, each under the control of a nationally-appointed governor, not a local lord. The dramatic incident which precipitated upheaval in the years building to revolution was the visit, on 8 July 1853, of the US East India Squadron. The expedition was commanded by Commodore Matthew Perry, under orders from President Millard Fillmore. The USA’s primary goal was to force an end to Japan's 220-year-old policy of isolation and to open Japanese ports to American trade - through the use of gunboat diplomacy if necessary. Perry's 'Black Ships' sailed into a small port at the entrance to Tokyo Bay. The vessels were symbols of the technological progress being made in other nations. It scared the Japanese. The shōgun accepted a US presidential letter brought by Perry. 7 Note that the Japanese do not use the term ‘revolution’ for this change – but looked at from a European standpoint, the scale of the changes were certainly ‘revolutionary’. 8 Shōgun (= Commander-in-Chief of the Expeditionary Force Against the Barbarians) was the title of the military dictators of Japan during most of the period spanning from 1185 to 1868. Though nominally appointed by the Emperor, shōgun s were the de facto rulers of the country. Shōgun ate = government of the shōgun . 9 Han = fiefdom or domain. 1872: WHEN SAMURAI CAME TO SALTAIRE 6 By this bold step, the USA broke the seclusion which had marked Japan for over two hundred years. Equally dramatically, the event lit the fuse for 10 huge national, social and constitutional change in the country. Perry returned on 13 February 1854 with eight vessels and 1600 men. By the time of Perry's return, the Tokugawa shōgunate had decided to accept 11 virtually all the demands in Fillmore's letter. 12 10 Pulitzer prize-winning US historian John Dower has described the two Perry missions as a moment when the world stood on the cusp of phenomenal change. Note ‘the world’. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Mission_of_Commodore_Perry_to_Japan_i n_1854_%28BM_2013%2C3002.1_105%29.jpg 11 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perry_Expedition 12 Perry’s fleet. A contemporary image. Wikipedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ca._1853_Kawaraban_- _Commodore_Perry%27s_Arrival_in_Edo_Bay.jpg 1872: WHEN SAMURAI CAME TO SALTAIRE 7 13 Perry called for a response to US President Fillmore's letter and presented a draft treaty. Though impressed by the opulence and resources of the Americans, the shōgunate was not inclined to talk, and procrastinated. As a result, it took until 31 March 1854 to conclude the US-Japan Treaty of Peace and Amity (the Convention of Kanagawa). The main provisions were for two small ports to be opened, primarily for refuge, and for the opening of a US consulate in Japan. A further US-Japan treaty was concluded in 1858. It opened five more ports to international trade. Within six months of the earlier treaty, the fears of the Japanese about yet more foreign intrusions were confirmed. The British Far East Squadron visited Tokyo Bay. Pursuing Russian ships in East Asian waters as part of the Crimean War of 1854, they asked for access to Japanese ports for the repair of their vessels and the shōgunate opened the ports of Nagasaki and Hakodate. Within months, the Dutch, Russian and French governments sent their representatives to negotiate treaties. 13 https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/Commodore-Perry-Visit- Kanagawa-1854.jpg 1872: WHEN SAMURAI CAME TO SALTAIRE 8 But the shōgunate ’s compliance with the foreigners ran into domestic 14 opposition, especially from the emperor's court in Kyoto . Attacks took place on foreigners and their Japanese associates. The samurai of the Chōshū and Satsuma fiefdoms in Japan’s far southwest were heavily implicated in these attacks. In 1863, following the killing of a British merchant in Satsuma, the British government authorised the bombardment of Kagoshima, Satsuma’s capital. Later, in retaliation for attacks on American and French ships off Shimonoseki, Western powers took punitive action against this Chōshū port too. 14 Since the late C12th until this period, there were two ruling classes in Japan: the emperor who acted as ‘chief priest’ of Shinto, the official religion, and the shōgun , head of the army who also enjoyed civil, military, diplomatic and judicial authority. Although in theory the shōgun was the emperor's servant, the shōgun was the power behind the throne. 1872: WHEN SAMURAI CAME TO SALTAIRE 9 15 The response of the clans was surprising: they changed their attitude. Sonnō jōi (尊王攘夷), ‘Revere the Emperor, expel the barbarians’, was the rallying cry and slogan of a political movement in Japan in the 1850s and 1860s. But with the increasing number of incursions by foreign ships, the 16 17 sakoku (‘closed country’) policy came increasingly into question. The ‘expel the barbarians’ portion of sonnō jōi, changed into a reaction against the Convention of Kanagawa which opened Japan to foreign trade. Signed under duress, it was vehemently opposed, not least in the Imperial court. The Tokugawa shōgunate was seen to be powerless against the foreigners, and this was taken as evidence that ‘revere the Emperor’ was not being observed. The conclusion? That the shōgunate must be replaced by a government loyal to the Emperor. This philosophy was thus adopted as the battle cry of the rebellious regions of Chōshū and Satsuma. And surprisingly, from being seclusionist and hostile to foreigners, they developed a desire to catch up with the West. They even started to send their ambitious young men overseas to learn foreign skills – and they sought help from Western experts. 15 I find confusing the use of the term ‘clans’ in the literature. There were “ancient clans” which appear to have faded into history by the C19th, a “royal clan”, and four “noble clans” (see https://en. wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_clans) – but in descriptions of the revolutionary period, ‘clan’ appears to be used to mean people from a particular fiefdom. 16 The key points of the 1635 edict included: • The Japanese were to be kept within Japan’s own boundaries. Anyone trying to leave the country, or who managed to leave and then returned, was to be executed. Europeans who entered Japan illegally would face the death penalty too. • Catholicism was strictly forbidden. Those found practising the Christian faith were subject to investigation. Prevention of missionary activity was also severely restricted. • Trade restrictions and strict limitations on goods were set to limit the ports open to trade, and the merchants who would be allowed to trade. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakoku_Edict_of_1635 17 Japanese passports only became freely available in 1866 after the long-standing ban on leaving the country was removed. The Iwakura Mission in Britain, 1872 John Breen, Oliver Checkland, Andrew Cobbing and Akiko Ohta 1998 1872: WHEN SAMURAI CAME TO SALTAIRE 10 In 1865, the Satsuma fiefdom sent a mission to England, one of the aims of which was to request assistance from Platt Brothers of Oldham to instal a modern cotton textile factory. Thus, the first mechanized cotton spinning and weaving mill in Japan started operating in Kagoshima in 18 1867. 19 In his introduction to the story of the Iwakura Embassy in Japan Rising, Nish sees this as “an essential ambiguity about the Embassy itself”: On the one hand, the Japanese leaders of the time were fearful and suspicious over the imperialist ambitions of the West. On the other, they admired the West and wanted to learn from it. So their fundamental object was to study the West in order to resist the West. 18 As the visit to Bradford/Saltaire shows, the Embassy was deeply interested in mechanised textile production. A very interesting reference is https://galleryoldham.org.uk/oldhams-incredible-mark-on-japanese-industry/. See also Andrew Cobbing The Satsuma Students in Britain: Japan's Early Search for the essence of the West, and Serguey Braguinsky and David A. Hounshell Spinning Tales about Japanese Cotton Spinning: Saxonhouse (1974) Then and Now 19 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platt_Brothers 1872: WHEN SAMURAI CAME TO SALTAIRE 11 This action by Satsuma clearly challenged sakoku and this confrontation was typical of Japan in the late 1860s. The shōgun was losing control but still in power: • in January 1868, the court proclaimed the restoration of imperial rule; • agreements between the shōgunate and the rebels were made and then collapsed; • the fiefdoms on the periphery of the country took up arms against the shōgun and civil war (the Boshin War) ensued; • it was November 1868 before the shōgun resigned, but his followers 20 resisted and were not defeated until late 1869. 21 The Tokugawa family handed power to a coalition of rebellious clans. Mutsuhito, the teenager occupying the national throne, was invited to become head of state. The court of the emperor had for centuries been in Kyoto. Mutsuhito moved his capital to Edo which was renamed Tokyo. He 22 was given the title of Meiji (‘enlightened rule’). 20 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Meiji 21 Image from the civil war aka the Boshin War. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Ueno 22 For the non-Japanese observer, the use of Meiji is a little confusing. As well as being used as Mutsuhito’s imperial name, it refers to a period and to the emperor Mutsuhito’s ‘posthumous name’. ”On 23 October 1868 the era was changed from Keiō to Meiji, or "enlightened rule", which was later used for the Emperor's posthumous name”. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Meiji 1872: WHEN SAMURAI CAME TO SALTAIRE 12 23 This tumultuous change of government, after centuries of tranquility, was (and is) described in Japan as the ‘Meiji Restoration'. It heralded a 24 transformation, from the old to the new Japan . But the impact of the Meiji Restoration would not be confined to the homeland. It was global: 25 today, Japan has the fourth largest economy in the world . On the domestic front, the new government made huge and fundamental social changes, abolishing the han system, ending feudalism and bringing 26 an end to the role of the samurai . It centralized national administration. Feudal lords, court nobles and government officials were pledged to support the Charter Oath which set out the programme of modernization. The Restoration government felt confident that its new progressive measures to abolish feudalism would be welcomed in Western countries. As early as February 1868, the head of Japan’s Board of Foreign Affairs 23 The palanquin and procession of Emperor Meiji, from Kyoto to Edo/Tokyo. https://www.lesleydowner.com/jsnw-online-talk-on-17th-september/ 24 The New York Times summarized this transformation at the emperor's funeral in 1912: "the contrast between that which preceded the funeral car and that which followed it was striking indeed. Before it went old Japan; after it came new Japan". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Meiji 25 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Japan. The extent and speed of Japan’s modernisation during this period is well described at http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/special/japan_1750_meiji.htm 26 Samurai were the hereditary military nobility and officer caste of medieval and early- modern Japan from the late 12th century. They were the well-paid retainers of the great feudal landholders. They had high prestige and special privileges. Many of the Iwakura Embassy had been samurai. 1872: WHEN SAMURAI CAME TO SALTAIRE 13 called together the diplomatic corps at the port of Kobe and informed them of the restoration of rule by the emperor. Foreign governments duly recognized the new administration. The new government thought that the treaties of earlier years were humiliating and 'unequal'. It blamed the Tokugawa rulers for their weakness in agreeing to them and emphasized its desire to renegotiate them. The idea had been maturing that an exploratory embassy from the new government to its treaty partners was necessary. On 29 August 1871, Iwakura Tomomi - an aristocrat and former court official who had come to accept the need to open Japan to trade - was appointed Foreign Minister. He announced that he would head a special mission to observe Western countries at first hand and exchange views on treaty revision. The Embassy set off on 23 December 1871, carrying letters from the Emperor to heads of state. Iwakura was clearly charged with the task of discussing the treaties, but the authority he had was somewhat ambiguous. This led to complications, especially in the United States. 27 27 The ship in the background is the SS America which carried the Embassy to the USA. 1872: WHEN SAMURAI CAME TO SALTAIRE 14 The members of the Embassy The members of the Iwakura Embassy were young. Apart from Iwakura, their average age was 32 – but the revolution had given them government experience. Although Kume’s report refers to these members as ‘we' and tends to omit mention of individuals by name, they were significant statesmen and strong-minded individualists. They were not always in agreement over policy, and they squabbled. Ambassador Extraordinary Iwakura was supported by Vice-Ambassadors: • Kido Takayoshi and Ōkubo Toshimichi represented the Restoration government. They were the most prominent politicians from Chōshū and Satsuma respectively; • Itō Hirobumi of Chōshū was from the Ministry of Public Works. The most Westernised of his senior colleagues, Itō had already spent 28 time as a student in London , and six months in Washington in 1870 as a finance official. As a result, he was able to speak passable English and was the deputy ambassador often called upon to deliver formal addresses at receptions; and • Yamaguchi Masuka aka Yamaguchi Naoyoshi of the Hizen clan was assistant vice minister of foreign affairs. Itō Hirobumi’s participation in the Embassy indicates its heft and the longevity of its impact on Japan. As a 29 young man, he was the samurai we see here , but by the early days of the Meiji era, he was leading the writing of a constitution for the newly-formed Empire of Japan. He has been described as “the most powerful figure in the Meiji government”. Little wonder: he was Japan’s first Prime Minister and went 30 on to become Prime Minister, a further three times! In addition to these leaders, there were staff charged with writing specialist reports, and junior officials and students who ran errands. The retinue of councillors and officials from various ministries totalled forty- 31 eight in all . In total, 108 people left Japan's shores – but it would be inaccurate to say that the Embassy consisted of that number. For 28 See the UCL references listed in SOURCES AND FURTHER READING below. 29 In the 1860s, when in his early 20s? 30 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It%C5%8D_Hirobumi 31 This figure is somewhat flexible! 1872: WHEN SAMURAI CAME TO SALTAIRE 15 example, 6 year old Tsuda Ume (later, Tsuda Umeko) was on board, 32 destined to be schooled in the USA. 33 It was remarkable that, in a country like Japan which had recently come through civil war and revolution, so many important leaders could be spared for such a lengthy journey. At the point of departure, of course, it could not be foreseen that the Embassy would encounter the very lengthy delays that occurred in both the United States and Britain. But the sheer size of the group was amazing, and created many administrative problems. It goes without saying that there were acute jealousies between those who were able to join the deputation and those who were left behind in Tokyo. 32 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsuda_Umeko 33 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsuda_Umeko 1872: WHEN SAMURAI CAME TO SALTAIRE 16 34 The Embassy in the USA On the morning of 15 January 1872, the SS America, a US-owned mail steamer, arrived at San Francisco with its 108 Japanese passengers. That the Embassy could start in the USA was facilitated by the fact that its advancing frontier had by this time reached California, a neighbour of Japan on the coastline of the Pacific Ocean and one that was, from 1869, linked by a trans-continental railroad to the States’ eastern seaboard. This spectacular railroad gave the ambassadors their first major experience of the advanced technology of the outside world. Unfortunately, the Union Pacific railroad on which they embarked in February could not cope with the heavy snowfalls in the Rocky Mountains and beyond. The ambassadors were snowed up in Salt Lake City for eighteen days, visiting the famous Mormon Tabernacle and meeting Brigham Young. Despite the snow and the floods that followed, Kume reported enthusiastically that Thanks to the admirable engineering achievement of the Central Pacific Railroad Company, we were able to cross much of this vast territory in a train, comfortably relaxing or sleeping. Japan was not industrialised and had only small-scale agriculture. The delegates were astonished at the agricultural states they passed through. But they were equally amazed at the smoke rising from chimneys of factories in the urban centres. They unquestionably suffered culture shock. The delegation arrived in Washington DC at the end of February. On 4 March, ten of its principal members met US President Ulysses S. Grant. When they had arrived in San Francisco, the Embassy had received a warm and generous welcome: Kume wrote that The citizens of San Francisco had learnt of the Embassy’s visit from newspaper reports, and the news of our actual arrival was telegraphed from the Golden Gate to City Hall and to our consul. As a result, when we passed Alcatraz Island we were greeted with a fifteen-gun salute from the battery on its cliffs. 34 The main focuses of this paper are on the Embassy, its historical context, and the visits to Bradford and Saltaire, so the Embassy’s journey through the USA is not described in detail. 1872: WHEN SAMURAI CAME TO SALTAIRE 17 Now, they were in the US capital and the doors of the White House were open to them. Their status and importance had been recognised from the start – and was now confirmed, at the pinnacle of US power. But there was a problem. Whilst there appeared to be a distinct possibility that the State Department might be responsive to the idea of revising the 1858 treaty, the Embassy had not been given a specific mandate to negotiate and had not brought adequate powers of accreditation. The crucial decision was made that two senior members, Okubo and Itō, should return to Japan in order to procure the necessary documents. They left Washington on 20 March for their daunting journey of 8,000 miles by land and sea. This meant a significant hiatus which Mission members filled by taking what Kume entitled 'The Journey Through the Northern States'. On their return to Washington on 22 June, they found that diplomatic business was almost at a standstill. Such a lengthy stay for such an enormous retinue was a burden for the Americans. However, Congress had made an appropriation of $50,000 for the purpose and so part of the Embassy's expenses was paid by American leaders who clearly saw great potential in looking after a delegation which was likely to include the next generation of Japanese leaders. Okubo and Itō did not return until 20 July. They brought better credentials but were given instructions not to conclude a new treaty solely with the United States, and to propose convening an international conference on the subject. Secretary of State Hamilton Fish would not agree to negotiations alongside other powers, especially if they were to be held in Europe. The result was that the Embassy did not pursue re-negotiation during the rest of its world tour: its members ventilated the issue but merely explored the views of the countries they were visiting. Two days later Iwakura went to the White House and announced that his party would soon be leaving the country. On 6 August, after short visits to Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York, the ambassadors left from Boston for Liverpool. 1872: WHEN SAMURAI CAME TO SALTAIRE 18 35 Four months in Britain The Mission landed in Liverpool on 17 August 1872. It had travelled from a pioneering society moving rapidly towards industrialisation to a country which had already experienced an industrial revolution - and its dire consequences. No sooner had Kume reached the south bank of the Mersey than he records: [T]he smoke of coal fires billowed up in dense clouds [over Liverpool] to a height of two or three hundred feet, permanently darkening the blue sky. Our escorts pointed to this and said, 'The people of the city have to breathe in the midst of that black haze.' Between September and early November the delegates travelled over 2,000 miles and visited twenty British cities - either individually or in groups. It is important to note this last point, because whilst Kume might record that ‘we’ visited a particular place, it might have indicated that only a handful of ambassadors and/or junior staff did so. Young-Suk Lee of South Korea’s Guangju University has written an overview of the Embassy’s itinerary in Britain – and perhaps most importantly, has set out solid information on how this itinerary was 36 devised . Lee tells us that it was immediately after their arrival in Liverpool that the Iwakura Embassy left for London by special train. On August 20, Iwakura visited Lord Granville, the British Foreign Minister, and requested a formal audience with Queen Victoria. At the time, the Queen was at Balmoral Castle, her Summer residence. The mission decided to stay in Britain until the Queen’s return… and, with a different timetable in mind, began to amend the existing itinerary. The new itinerary would reflect the Embassy’s latest priorities. As a result of their frustrating experience of treaty revision in the USA, many had almost given up on revision of the UK-Japan trade treaty. Their interests were pivoting towards the collection of information on industry, technology, or commerce in the major industrial cities of Britain. 35 Much of this section of the paper relies on Kume’s account. This is supplemented by local newspaper reports when we get to Bradford and Saltaire. 36 Young-Suk Lee The Iwakura Embassy and British Industrial Cities…Gwangju University, South Korea …Downloaded from Brill.com 12/07/2022 09:49:41PM via free access. I have drawn extensively from the work, and what follows in this section, in italics, is an edited version. 1872: WHEN SAMURAI CAME TO SALTAIRE 19 The re-planning of their itinerary was largely the work of Sir Harry Parkes, the British envoy to Japan, and William Aston, a diplomat who had been 37 translator to the British legation in Japan since 1865… On June 3, before the Mission arrived in Britain, there had been an exchange in the House of Commons. Arthur Kinnaird MP asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, George Byng, “whether the Government are preparing to take steps to receive the eminent Japanese statesman Iwakura and the other distinguished persons composing the Japanese Embassy”. Byng’s reply was that “Sir Harry Parkes and Mr. Aston, interpreter to the Legation in Japan, have been appointed to attend to the Japanese Embassy on their arrival and during their stay in 38 this country”... Meanwhile, Parkes was selecting the cities and factories that the Mission could visit, and organising a schedule of all the events that they would attend. This cannot have been easy for him because his personal life was demanding. His health was very poor and his wife was pregnant. His elder son hung between life and death, suffering from a fever during his return home, and his elder daughter died of diphtheria immediately after her mother’s delivery. In spite of this misery, he continued the planning and then accompanied the Mission throughout their round-Britain journey. After they had stayed in London from August 17 to September 28, the Mission started out. Between September 29 and November 9 they visited 39 Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, the Highlands , Newcastle, Bradford, Sheffield, Staffordshire, Coventry, Birmingham, and Cheshire, 40 and returned to London. 37 On May 22, 1871, writes Lee, Parkes left Japan by steamship for America and he only reached Britain on 8 August. He emphasized to the Foreign Office that, in Japan, Britain’s trade rival would not be European countries but the United States. The National Archives (Kew), Foreign Office 391/15, Hammond Papers, June 15, 1871. ‘Parkes to Hammond’. William George Aston (9 April 1841 – 22 November 1911) was a British diplomat, author and scholar-expert in the language and history of Japan and Korea. He wrote Shinto (“the way of the gods”). Shinto is the indigenous faith of the Japanese people and as old as Japan itself. It remains Japan’s major religion alongside Buddhism. 38 In addition to Parkes and Aston, the Foreign Office asked G G Alexander, Major- General of the Royal Marines, to act as escort to the Mission. However, he does not appear to be travelling with them when the Mission arrived in Bradford. 39 When they reached Edinburgh, they were so exhausted by the daily round of receptions, factories and offices that their escort urged them to visit the Scottish Highlands and relax says Lee op cit 40 Kume reported that The view of the flat English landscape and of the Scottish lowlands was one of unrelieved monotony. The hills of Edinburgh were pretty enough, but there was more than this to the beauties of the Scottish landscape. 1872: WHEN SAMURAI CAME TO SALTAIRE 20 The visit to Bradford and Saltaire 41 DAY 1: Thursday 24 October 1872 Kume tells us that, at 10 in the morning, the Embassy left Newcastle and travelled ninety miles south through County Durham to West Yorkshire, arriving in Bradford at 2.30 in the afternoon. 42 In the C19th, Bradford became ‘Worstedopolis’ , the worsted capital of the world. Its global pre-eminence in woollen textiles made it a required place for an Embassy visit. Kume described Bradford thus: The city of Bradford… lies in Yorkshire… [and] is rich in coal and iron… manufacturing is carried on there on a very large scale… In prosperity it rivals Lancashire, which lies on the other side of the mountain range… [It is] possible to transport goods by water all the way to the sea… Bradford is noted in Britain for the spinning and weaving of wool and the production of sheepskins… We saw that all round the city, on the hills and in the valleys, were great heaps of spoil from the mines, staining all the earth black, and that a forest of factory chimneys darkened the sky with black smoke. Bradford’s much smaller but very close neighbour, Saltaire, is today a World Heritage Site, but in 1872 it was not even complete! However, it was gaining a reputation for the innovative approach of its capitalist founder, the recently-ennobled Sir Titus Salt. Alongside a colossal factory, he was only 4 years away from completing the construction of an entire village, primarily for his workers. Saltaire had good quality services and a remarkable range of splendid public facilities. That Parkes chose to include Saltaire in the itinerary surely indicates he regarded it as amongst the best of Britain. The Embassy was welcomed at Bradford’s station by the town’s leading citizen, the Mayor, Matthew William Thompson - indicating the importance Bradford accorded this encounter. 41 The Bradford Daily Telegraph 25 October 1872 is a significant source of the text that follows. 42 A word coined by Bradford historian William Cudworth in 1888 1872: WHEN SAMURAI CAME TO SALTAIRE 21 43 The visitors then went by carriage to the Victoria Hotel . Bills had been posted in the streets announcing Japanese Ambassadors Will Arrive On Thursday, Escorted By The Mayor and, both inside the station itself and lining the street leading to the hotel, was what Kume describes as an uninterrupted throng of onlookers. Crowds turned out to see us in every other city we visited, both before and after, but this was the largest such reception we received. When they arrived at the hotel, the ambassadors found lunch had been prepared for them at the Mayor's behest and, after the meal, he came in person to present an address of welcome. “His hospitality knew no bounds”, Kume reports. In the evening, the Mayor hosted a formal dinner at the hotel and there were speeches. In reply to addresses by Bradford Corporation and the Chamber of Commerce, the “Chief Ambassador” responded in Japanese. He expressed gratitude for the cordial welcome the Embassy had received and said he realised that one nation cannot maintain the highest prosperity without the co-operation and sympathy of others. He said that the Embassy was charged with searching out the sources of the wealth and prosperity now enjoyed to so great a degree by “our brethren of a Western Civilisation”. The Japanese had made their journey in order to select, from amongst the various institutions in “enlightened nations”, which of them are best suited to Japan’s present condition. They planned to adopt them through gradual reforms and improvement. But they were not there just to examine factories, mines and shipbuilding. 43 Almost certainly the present Great Victoria Hotel in Bridge Street (pictured). According to the hotel’s current administration, the building dates from 1867 and is the oldest in Bradford. Its first name was The Great Northern Victoria Hotel. 1872: WHEN SAMURAI CAME TO SALTAIRE 22 They wanted to make personal contact with the people in order to establish relations of peace and friendship and a feeling of lasting brotherhood between the two countries. DAY 2: Friday 25 October 1872 Kume records that At ten o'clock in the morning we travelled about [three] miles by train to the village of Saltaire, and his co-traveller Kido Takayoshi tells us in his diary that The scenery is superb [and the] most 44 famous woollens [sic] factory in England is here. Introducing Saltaire, Kume noted that Until twenty years ago this had been open moor-land, used only for the pasturing of sheep and cattle. But since Sir Titus Salt had built a mill for weaving the wool of the animal called the 'alpaca', industrial and commercial enterprises had flocked there from all quarters, eventually creating a village. It was now a considerable town with a population of 5,000. Kume explains what an alpaca is before recounting the story, popularised 45 by Dickens , of how Titus came across “useless” alpaca wool in a warehouse in Liverpool and went on to work out how it could be used to make cloth. This innovation was to make him immensely rich. Kume explains the building of Salt’s Mill and the village, and Salt’s elevation to the baronetcy. 46 The Bradford Daily Telegraph reported that The members of the Embassy left the Midland Station at twenty minutes to ten and travelled by special train to Saltaire. Considerable preparations had been made for their reception but the number of people who assembled was not large. The station platforms were kept clear, and the crowd was therefore confined to the lodge and Albert Terrace. Comparatively few men were present, they being mostly 44 Kido Takayoshi The Diary of Kido Takayoshi. For more on ambassador Kido, see https://alchetron.com/Kido-Takayoshi#Early-life 45 A footnote in the translation of Kume’s A True Account… says this: “The story of how Salt, having examined a handful or two of alpaca from bales which he had found abandoned and rotting on the Liverpool docks, bought up the whole consignment - to the gratified astonishment of the owner - for eightpence a pound, first gained wide currency in a version by Charles Dickens, embellished with characteristic comic effects, published in Household Words”. 46 Bradford Daily Telegraph 25 October 1872. The report has been lightly edited. 1872: WHEN SAMURAI CAME TO SALTAIRE 23 at work in the mill, which was kept running all day. Titus Salt’s son Edward, and Charles Stead, partner and senior director of Sir Titus Salt and Co, received the Embassy on the platform. Their Excellencies were accompanied by Matthew Thompson, the Mayor of Bradford, and Alderman Law, president of the Bradford Chamber of Commerce. After the formal introductions, the Mayor and his Excellency the Chief of the Embassy, took the lead and proceeded to view the village and then repaired to the schools. They first visited the boys’ school, where they found all the scholars at work - some ciphering, some reading, some writing, but all clean and orderly. Mayor Thompson, who was with Iwakura, drew His Excellency’s attention to a map of Asia that hung on the wall, and pointed out Japan with his umbrella. His Excellency was evidently pleased with the compliment the Mayor had paid him. The Ambassadors were delighted with the orderly and intelligent appearance of the children, and asked several questions of Messrs. Edward and George Salt, who accompanied the party, answers to which were given by the interpreter. Before leaving the room, the lads gave three hearty cheers. The party then went to the infant school in which they seemed particularly interested. Some of the children are fine looking. When a question had been asked by the Ambassador and answered by the schoolmistress, one little girl was called out, and the whole of the children lifted their hands as she did, clapped, cheered, and were silent at her command. The girls' school was then visited, and here as in the other departments considerable interest was taken by the Ambassadors in the occupations of the children. After leaving the school the party repaired to the almshouses, and visited the domicile of Elizabeth Gill, No. 26. Her sitting room, bedroom, &c., were each viewed, and some surprise was felt when it was explained to the Ambassador and his associates that these buildings were endowed for ever by the munificence of Sir Titus Salt, and that the only thing required to fit for entrance [sic] was good 47 moral character. 47 Colin Coates informs me that number 26 Almshouses in 1872 is 30 Victoria Road today. In this photo, it is through the left arch of the facing pair of cottages in the very middle of the photo. 1872: WHEN SAMURAI CAME TO SALTAIRE 24 48 The Infirmary was the next place of interest that was visited. There are only two patients present, and both of these were seen. The party afterwards went through the Saltaire Institute [now Victoria Hall], beginning with the reading room. They appeared to take great interest in the Gymnasium, and a remark from Sir Harry Parkes to one of the members of the Embassy, that if he had been brought up to exercise his muscles he would have been twice as big, seemed to be relished extremely. The gentleman addressed was the most diminutive of the 49 party. The visitors afterwards went to the Dining Hall adjoining the station, over the entrance of which the Japanese flag was hoisted, and then the whole party went to the works where they were shown the whole process, from carding up to 50 finishing. 48 Some of the almshouses at Saltaire today. Author’s photograph. 49 !!! 50 Not an image from 1872 of course, but a playful view of what the Dining Hall might have looked like. Author’s photograph, photoshopped by Judy Robinson. 1872: WHEN SAMURAI CAME TO SALTAIRE 25 Note that Sir Harry Parkes was with the Embassy on this visit, and actively participating. Earlier, this paper mentioned him as a key player in developing the British itinerary which the Embassy adopted, and it will be remembered that Sir Harry Parkes and Mr. Aston, interpreter to the Legation in Japan, have been appointed [by the British government] to attend to the Japanese Embassy on their arrival and during their stay in this country. We now have evidence that he was doing just that in late October 1872 in West Yorkshire. The party then lunched with Sir Titus Salt, reports the Bradford Daily Telegraph. But maybe it didn’t!? Kume tells us that on the day of our visit he was away from Bradford and we were not able to meet him. [However] we were conducted round [the mill] by Sir Titus's sons. And Kume’s record is supported by fellow ambassador Kido: Salt was 51 absent today. Kume adds details the Bradford Daily Telegraph omits. Lunch was in the boardroom52, and afterwards they walked to a park on the edge of the village [Saltaire Park, now Roberts Park]. This, too, had been provided by Sir Titus as a gift to the workers. It occupied a sloping site on the banks of the river Aire, backed by rolling hills, and presented a very fine prospect. Kume is full of admiration for what Salt has done: “At none of the factories we saw before or after [my emphasis] were there such provisions as these” he writes, in a lengthy eulogy: Sir Titus had built a primary school in the village and arranged that the villagers' children, both boys and girls, went to the factory to work at their trades for half of each day and for the rest of the day attended school to receive an education. By this excellent method, practical skills and theoretical understanding progressed side by 51 Kido Takayoshi op cit 52 Like so many of the Saltaire locations visited by the Embassy, the Mill’s boardroom still exists. The fact that the C19th village is largely intact was one of the reasons it was awarded World Heritage status by UNESCO. 1872: WHEN SAMURAI CAME TO SALTAIRE 26 side. Moreover, not only did the children benefit by receiving a wage from the mill, but their work there was, in return, of benefit to the enterprise. The British regard it as a point of honour to look after their employees and to do their utmost to succour the poor [sic]. The provisions made by this factory-owner are to be admired… In front of the school were the almshouses. Those among the workers who were no longer able to work because of old age were placed there to be cared for. There were [sic] also a hospital, which treated those in the village who were ill, and a church, which the residents of the village attended in order to hear sermons and thus 53 rectify their moral natures . At none of the factories we saw before or after were there such provisions as these. Every one of the five thousand inhabitants of the village looked up to the Salt family. This way of organising the town in which the mill-hands were housed was of great significance as a way of encouraging work. At the end of their visit to Saltaire, the ambassadors boarded a train which took them to Manningham station in north Bradford, and then a carriage to Manningham Mills (better known today as Lister, or Lister’s, 54 Mill) . Kume notes that the mill, which had stood on this site for 27 years, had been destroyed by fire in the previous year and there were 55 plans to re-build it on a larger scale. Indeed, whilst the Embassy was visiting, building work must have been continuing and well advanced. The fire took place in February 1871 and 56 building was completed two and a half years later . The new mill was opened, complete with a magnificent coat of arms and the completion year. 53 The positioning of this reference to a church suggests Kume is referring to the small chapel that was in one of the almshouses. Indeed, it was next door to Elizabeth Gill at No. 26 and was for almshouse residents’ use. 54 This, and most of what follows, is from an article headlined The Ambassadors at Manningham Mills in the Bradford Daily Telegraph, 26 October 1872 55 The resulting factory was colossal, and along with its huge chimney, dominated and still dominates the skyline in the north of Bradford. 56 The original was called Lilycroft Mill. A very good newspaper article tells the story of the 1871 fire and the re-build: https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/19891658.look-back-lilycroft-mill-fire/ 1872: WHEN SAMURAI CAME TO SALTAIRE 27 Notwithstanding the building work, it is clear from Kume’s account that the Mission was able to see a factory which was in production. Moreover, this visit must have been particularly interesting because Lister’s was a silk mill. Commodore Perry’s arrival in 1853 played a key role in taking Japan’s silk market on to the international stage. At the same moment that Japan was opening its ports, the demand for its raw silk greatly increased. In 1855, French silkworm nurseries became infested with disease which eventually spread across Europe. In addition, China was experiencing the Taiping Rebellion (1850-1864) in which the sericulture regions were greatly damaged. Thus, at this time, Japan had hardly any competition in the silk 57 markets and profited tremendously. The Bradford Daily Telegraph 58 tells us that The Embassy was welcomed by several partners of the firm - but not by [the firm’s founder and owner] Mr Lister who was confined to his office with a sprained ankle. The party went to his office to meet him. 57 https://samurairevolution.omeka.net/exhibits/show/vtj/section2/cmo 58 Bradford Daily Telegraph 26 October 1872 1872: WHEN SAMURAI CAME TO SALTAIRE 28 They then visited the store-house where the raw materials were kept, as they are received from the East Indies, China and Japan. The Ambassadors had in this department the pleasure of seeing several bagfulls [sic] of cocoons, which had been exported from their own country. This must have been of special interest to the visitors! The tour lasted 2.5 hours and encompassed every stage of silk/velvet production – and 59 included inspection and explanation of the very latest machinery. Kume’s description of the use of silk to make textiles is typically technical and detailed. Little wonder that, as the Bradford Daily Telegraph reports, One of the [Japanese] party took voluminous notes during the walk through the works, and he seemed to write with considerable rapidity. This description starts with a link to a Salt innovation: This mill wove velvet in particularly large quantities. The ingenuity of the process exceeded even that of the process used to weave 60 alpaca… and continues with an epic, 1,000 word description of spinning waste cocoons and waste silk yarn… 59 I have deliberately included some long passages, in part to indicate what accurate observers and note-takers Kume and his team were, but also to demonstrate just how much detail was reported. Goodness knows how much was actually recorded! For example, There were several kinds [of raw wool]…First, the hair of the 'angora' goat, which is also called ‘mohair’. This is produced in 'Asia Minor' (a region which belongs to Turkey…). Its price was from three to four shillings a pound. It has a long staple and a high gloss. Second, 'alpaca' wool, which comes from South America. Its value was three shillings and sixpence a pound. It resembles mohair, but its lustre is somewhat inferior…… and so on, and so on… 60 Titus Salt solved the problem of how to use alpaca wool in the production of textiles. 1872: WHEN SAMURAI CAME TO SALTAIRE 29 … concluding with the revelation that, currently, Lister’s eldest son had gone to Yokohama in Japan to acquire silk raw material! 61 The party returned to central Bradford and in the evening, Alderman Law, President of the Chamber of Commerce and the members of the Council entertained their Excellencies the Japanese Ambassadors. the Mayor and Corporation of Bradford and a select 62 party of gentlemen, to dinner in the Victoria Hotel. The President of the Chamber of Commerce occupied the chair, supported on the right by his Excellency the Chief Ambassador, and on the left by his Worship the Mayor of Bradford, Matthew William Thompson, Esq. Among the guests at the dinner table were Sir 63 Harry Parkes KCB, Gen Henderson, Major Aston… Amongst the “select party of gentlemen” was one of Bradford’s most 64 famous, Jacob Behrens , plus the German Consul, the President of the Halifax Chamber – and Titus Salt… but not ‘Sir Titus’ so I assume it was Titus Jr. It appears that the meal itself was very special: “The dinner was of the most recherché description” according to the local news report. 61 What follows (in italics) is a lightly-edited version of the report headed The Banquet at the Victoria Hotel in the Bradford Daily Telegraph of the 26 October 1872. 62 James Law was the President of the Bradford Chamber of Commerce according to ambassador Kido Takayoshi in his diary, referenced above. I assume that ‘Alderman Law’ indicates that he was also a Bradford Council alderman, but the ‘Council’ referred to here was the Council of the Chamber. 63 I cannot identify Gen[eral] Henderson but he could be a soldier assigned by the British Government to support/protect the Embassy. Major Aston must be William Aston mentioned earlier. 64 https://behrens.co.uk/our-story/biography-of-sir-jacob-behrens/ 1872: WHEN SAMURAI CAME TO SALTAIRE 30 DAY 3: Saturday 26 October 1872 At five to ten in the morning we boarded a train near our hotel to travel 8 miles to Halifax… Law [James Law?] took us to Halifax at 9.30… [We] returned to the 65 [Bradford] hotel at 3… The Embassy’s target was Dean Clough, the famous and huge carpet factory of John Crossley and Sons. It sits in the very centre of Halifax. 66 They returned to Bradford in the afternoon and then three of the ambassadors - Yamaguchi Masuka aka Yamaguchi Naoyoshi and Hayashi Tadasu aka Hayashi Touzaburō, together with scribe Kume Kunitake – took themselves off to Bolton Abbey, a local beauty spot. Kume says that it was Parkes who “invited us to have a short excursion” and they left at 67 4pm by train, and stayed in the Bolton Bridge Hotel , now the Devonshire Arms. That Parkes recommended Bolton Abbey is unsurprising: it is a beautiful and very interesting spot. But it is also the property of the Duke of Devonshire. Only a few days later, the Embassy would visit Chatsworth in Derbyshire, one of Britain’s most famous ‘stately homes’ - and the home of the Duke of Devonshire! A coincidence perhaps, but it is not improbable that, when Parkes was in London and planning the Embassy’s itinerary, the Duke (or one of his household) had shown an interest in the Iwakura Embassy and had offered hospitality at two of his properties. 65 The first quotation is from Kume. The second, from Kido Takayoshi op cit 66 https://www.visitcalderdale.com/attachment/david-glover-crossley-sons-1200x800/ 67 This excursion is confirmed by The Times, October 28, 1872, quoted by Lee op cit 1872: WHEN SAMURAI CAME TO SALTAIRE 31 DAY 4: Sunday 27 October 1872 From 10 am, ‘Team Bolton’ visited the (then) 700 year old Bolton Abbey 68 (where they attended a service), then walked upstream along the River Wharfe and its “fall” (probably the Strid 69). 70 Further upstream, we rounded a bend in the river where the banks rose to a considerable height above the stream, and here we came upon an old ivy-clad bridge across the river. Before us was revealed a high hill. Midway up it stood an old castle, a thread of smoke rising from it. This was also an entrancing view… [The Duke of Devonshire] had planted trees and laid out paths so that they were in harmony with nature, and had thus created by human artifice a landscape of great natural beauty. 68 Bolton Abbey takes its name from the ruins of the 12th-century Augustinian monastery now known as Bolton Priory. The monastery was founded close by at Embsay in 1120. Led by a prior, Bolton Abbey was technically a priory. It was founded in 1154 by the Augustinian order. The priory was closed during the 1539 Dissolution of the Monasteries. 69 Where the River Wharfe is dramatically, and very dangerously, funnelled into a very narrow, 2m wide, set of rocks, pictured on the screenshot. 70 This screenshot is from the Iwakura Mission Society’s online exhibition celebrating the th Embassy’s 150 anniversary. https://youtu.be/sAzaqEzo7Rs?t=4373 1872: WHEN SAMURAI CAME TO SALTAIRE 32 Kume’s description is suitably lyrical for such a lovely corner of the Yorkshire Dales. Sadly, the three visitors were not told that the “old castle” was actually the (remarkably large and ancient) hunting lodge called Barden Tower. DAY 5: Monday 28 October 1872 Kume reports that th The next morning [ie on Monday the 28 ] at half past ten we left the village of Bolton Abbey by the eleven o'clock train, arriving back in Bradford at one o'clock in the afternoon. Just in time! At 1:30pm, the Embassy left Bradford, arriving in Sheffield at 4pm. From Yorkshire to London The Embassy proceeded onwards to London, but by a very lengthy and roundabout route. They took in Chatsworth in rural Derbyshire and major industrial locations in Cheshire and the English West Midlands. In London, Iwakura met Foreign Secretary Lord Granville on 22 November and again five days later, making it clear that Japan's ultimate objective was to negotiate certain modifications to the existing treaties in order to bring them into line with the political transformations that had taken place in Japan since 1868. He also asked for the British troops stationed in Yokohama to be withdrawn. For his part, Granville complained about the lack of religious toleration in Japan and the inability of foreigners to go upcountry... The delegation, which had waited long for Queen Victoria's return from Balmoral, eventually had an audience with her at Windsor 71 72 Castle on 5 December and presented a letter from the Emperor Meiji. The Embassy also met the Prince of Wales at Sandringham on 9 73 December. A week later, on 16 December, they left for France. 71 Japan Rising op cit 72 These Glanville/Iwakura meetings are also addressed in John Breen, Oliver Checkland, Andrew Cobbing and Akiko Ohta The Iwakura Mission in Britain, 1872 March 1998 http://sticerd.lse.ac.uk/dps/is/IS349.pdf 73 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iwakura_Mission 1872: WHEN SAMURAI CAME TO SALTAIRE 33 The Embassy in continental Europe, and beyond Although the major purposes of this paper are to indicate the significance of the Iwakura Embassy and to document in detail its time in Bradford/Saltaire, it would be remiss not to complete the story of the Embassy’s circumnavigation of the globe. The introduction to Japan Rising offers a masterly summary of the post- Britain part of their journey. So good that I make no apology for copying 74 much of it below : The Embassy arrived in Calais from Dover on 16 December at the start of its tour of Europe. Rather than deal with its visit to continental Europe country by country, let us examine in particular the general map of their travels and try to analyse what aspects interested them. The timing of their arrival in France over the Christmas period was not ideal. The initial of their activities was on Paris; and the visitors took part in talks with officials on treaty revision and on religious freedom for Japanese Christians. This was followed by shorter visits to Belgium and Holland, which naturally had a special link with Japan because of the existence of a Dutch settlement at Deshima in Kyushu island over the previous centuries. The Embassy allocated three weeks for its initial stay in Germany but it in fact returned to tour the north and south of the country later in its schedule. The delegates' stay included influential interviews with Otto von Bismarck who gave them a memorable speech which was transcribed by one of the commissioners and reproduced in full in Kume's report… The impact of the German Chancellor certainly had a considerable effect on the thinking of politicians of the Meiji period on military, constitutional and other matters. By late spring the domestic situation in Japan was causing the government that remained there some alarm. It was sufficient for them to call for the return of the deputy leaders, first Okubo and then Kido. The latter, the intellectual of the Embassy, did not want to miss visiting Russia and delayed his departure accordingly. The main party continued its circuit to Russia, which was only allocated two weeks because it was not thought to have much relevance to the problems of the emergent Japan. After this Iwakura led his members to Sweden, while Kido's group travelled round Austria-Hungary, Italy, Switzerland and France at a leisurely pace before arriving at Marseilles to board the ship for home. Iwakura with Kume went to Italy and Austria-Hungary where they 74 Japan Rising op cit 1872: WHEN SAMURAI CAME TO SALTAIRE 34 paid several visits to the Vienna Universal Exposition. This was the first exhibition in which Japan had taken part, albeit in a modest way, and was to have a great influence on its attitudes towards exhibitions later in the century. Kume expresses pride in the Japanese artifacts on view. The full Mission received instructions to return to Japan on 9 June so it could not complete its coverage of Europe by visiting Spain and Portugal. After spending a few weeks in Switzerland and southern France, it joined its ship on 20 July at Marseilles. As representatives of a new nation born out of a civil war, the Japanese were anxious to visit countries with similar experiences. While in the United States they had seen changes brought about by the civil war of 1861-5, they were the witnesses of more dramatic changes in Europe. As Kume observed, they arrived in Paris in 'France's hour of deepest mis-fortune'…. It was its defeat by Prussia which brought about the fall of the empire of Napoleon Ill. When President Thiers received his guests, he was beset by the problem of pushing through a republican constitution which would address the concerns of the Paris Commune and the urgent issue of raising the indemnity payable to Germany in order to secure the evacuation of German troops from French soil. Meanwhile Prussia used her victory over France to declare the foundation of the German Empire in 1871. This German unification brought together the various divergent principalities which made up the German Confederation. But, if German unification had been the result of a short, sharp shock, that of Italy had been created slowly over the previous decade. It reached its culmination when the Papal territories, the last link in the chain, were brought within the fold of a new Italy and Rome became the new national capital. These radical changes were very relevant to Japan where the problems of creating a nation out of a congeries of clans and the centralization of government in a new national capital at Tokyo were very much in the minds of Iwakura's delegates. Although European countries approached these issues differently, the members of the Iwakura team took pains to study their common problems… On its return journey the party travelled through the Suez Canal. They paused at Aden and the port of Galle in Sri Lanka (then British Ceylon). After they were forced to pass by Singapore because of an outbreak of typhoid, they did manage to visit hotels in Saigon, Hong Kong and Shanghai. This afforded them the opportunity to see 1872: WHEN SAMURAI CAME TO SALTAIRE 35 colonialism and the spread of the great European empires at first hand. By 13 September 1873 when the main body reached Yokohama, most of the other delegates had already returned. They found Japan in a dangerous state and not very welcoming. They made it clear that they favoured the cause of reform but found that Japan had to establish peace and stability before they could deal with the implementation of the findings reached during their travels. Kido, the deputy leader of the group, prepared an important memorandum in October advocating constitutional government, perhaps the single most significant outcome of the Mission. But reforms took time, and the leaders were determined not to rush them. In any case, Kido, who returned home as a sick man, retired from politics in 1874 and died three years later. His colleague, Okubo, died at the hands of an assassin in 1878. Prince Iwakura, who survived an attempt on his life in 1874, died in 1883. It was, therefore, the youngest of the leaders, Itō Hirobumi, who became an imperial councillor and steered through the developments in Japanese politics and industrialization for the rest of the century. Itō had had a large hand in the preparation of the Mission and was able through his public-works connections to make significant appointments of foreign nationals to posts in Japan. After four decades of public service, his life eventually ended in assassination in 1909 by a Korean. Japan itself remained a dangerous place to be a politician… Kume's report had an impact on a Meiji Japan which was ambitious for change. The lessons he drew came not from any one country but from the cumulative impression of the countries which the Embassy had visited. These formed the database for the remarkable grassroots transformation that took place in Japan as the reign of the Emperor Meiji progressed. Apart from Kume's work, but associated with it, were the many specialized reports compiled by the junior officials who accompanied the Mission. It seems to have targeted certain countries on its itinerary as special areas for study, e.g. Britain for information on the industrial revolution, and Germany for military information. In the United States it would appear that the officials were particularly trying to understand its forms of government, local, state and national, and its educational methods. They painstakingly studied the basic laws of the American constitution with the help of Japanese scholars already at US universities and paid many visits to legislatures. These comparative studies, ranging over the northern hemisphere, were to lead in time 1872: WHEN SAMURAI CAME TO SALTAIRE 36 to far-reaching constitutional amendments and to the introduction of universal education which was vital to nation-building in Japan… Kume himself merits a final word. His report was an outstanding piece of work, containing shrewd analysis and compelling observations. This was recognized by the Japanese government; and he was appointed to various official posts connected with compiling Japan's national history. 1872: WHEN SAMURAI CAME TO SALTAIRE 37 SOURCES AND FURTHER READING Kume Kunitake Tokumei Zenken Taishi Bei-O Kairan Jikki 「特命全権大使 米欧回覧実記 1878 Graham Healey and Chushichi Tsuzuki (eds) Translation by Andrew Cobbing, Martin Collcutt, Graham Healey, P. F. Kornicki, Eugene Soviak and Chushichi Tsuzuki The Iwakura Embassy 1871-73. A True Account of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary's Journey of Observation through the United States of America and Europe The Japan Documents 2002 Chushichi Tsuzuki with the assistance of R. Jules Young with an introduction by Ian Nish Japan Rising Cambridge University Press 2009 … W G Beasley Japan Encounters the Barbarian: Japanese Travellers in America and Europe New Haven: Yale University Press 1995 Serguey Braguinsky and David A. Hounshell Spinning Tales about Japanese Cotton Spinning: Saxonhouse (1974) Then and Now 1974 John Breen, Oliver Checkland, Andrew Cobbing and Akiko Ohta The Iwakura Mission in Britain, 1872 LSE STICERD Research Paper No. IS/1998/349 1998 Download free from http://sticerd.lse.ac.uk/dps/is/IS349.pdf Sidney Devere Brown and Akiko Hirota (translators) The Diary of Takayoshi Kido vol 2 1871-1874 Tokyo: Tokyo University Press 1985 Sydney Checkland The Elgins, 1766-1917 Aberdeen: Aberdeen University Press 1988 Andrew Cobbing The Satsuma Students in Britain: Japan's Early Search for the essence of the West Routledge 2000 Martin Colcutt Education for a New Japan: Kume Kunitake's Observations on Education in 1872 America in Collcutt, Kato and Toby (eds) Japan and Its Worlds Tokyo: International House Press 2007 1872: WHEN SAMURAI CAME TO SALTAIRE 38 Asia for Educators, Columbia University The Meiji Restoration and Modernization http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/special/japan_1750_meiji.htm Gordon Daniels, Sir Harry Parkes, British Representative in Japan, 1865- 83 Folkestone: Japan Library 1996 Negley Harte, John North, and Georgina Brewis (eds) The World of UCL 2018 Takaaki Inuzuka (translated by Haruko Laurie) Alexander Williamson A Victorian chemist and the making of modern Japan 2021 Iwakura Mission Society Online exhibition celebrating the Embassy’s th 150 anniversary https://www.jacar.go.jp/english/iwakura_en/index.html Kido Takayoshi The Diary of Kido Takayoshi 1983 https://archive.org/details/diaryofkidotakay0000kido Shigekazu Kondo Kume Kunitake as a Historiographer in Ian Nish (ed) The Iwakura Mission in America and Europe: A New Assessment Folkestone: Japan Library, 1998 Charles Lanman The Japanese in America New York: University Publishing 1872 Young-Suk Lee The Iwakura Embassy and British Industrial Cities Gwangju University, South Korea Download from Brill.com Marlene Mayo The Western Education of Kume Kunitake 1871-6 in Monumenta Nipponica 28 1973 William McOmie The Opening of Japan, 1853-5 Folkestone: Global Oriental 2006 Hiroshi Mitani Escape from Impasse: The Decision to Open Japan Tokyo: International House Press 2006 Masao Miyoshi As We Saw Them: The First Japanese Embassy to the United States (1860) Berkeley: University of California Press 1979 Samuel Mossman New Japan: The Land of the Rising Sun London: John Murray 1873 Ian Nish The Iwakura Mission: The Issue of Treaty Revision Japan Society, Proceedings (London) 122 1993 th University College London UCL celebrates 150 anniversary of Japan’s Choshu five https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2013/jul/
The Saltaire Club and Institute opened in 1870 and was based in a large new building on Victoria Road, above Salts Mill. The building is now referred to as Victoria Hall. Although not part of the temperance movement, Titus Salt was staunchly opposed to the construction of a public house in his village, having seen many workers in Bradford drink their wages away as soon as they were paid and fail to provide for their families. Residents were free to drink at home or at pubs outside the village but Salt hoped they would be attracted by the more immediate Social Club and Institute. The founding rules of the Club and Institute stated that its objects were 'to afford to the inhabitants of Saltaire, and its neighbourhood, the means of social intercourse, mutual help, mental and moral improvement and rational recreation, also to afford facilities for holding meetings of Friendly and other Societies'. There was a small quarterly charge for membership, whch was open to men, women and young people over the age of 13. The building housed rooms for billiards, bagatelle, chess and drafts, reading, classrooms, an extensive library, a laboratory and a large hall for lectures and concerts. In the 1880s it housed the Schools of Art and Science before they moved to the purpose-built Exhibition Building.
Wikipedia page on Victoria Hall, the building hosting the Club and Institute
Blank invitation cards for Royal visit in 1887
Assorted papers relating to Isabel Salt and her mother Catherine Salt, [1887]-1968. 2 Blank invitation cards From 'Mr & Mrs Titus Salt', Milner Field, 'To meet Their Royal Highnesses The Prince & Princess Henry of Battenberg.' [1887].
2022.95: Bradford Antiquary Third Series No.4 1989
Bradford Antiquary Third Series No.4 1989
Bradford Historical and Antiquarian Society
The Bradford Antiquary The Journal of the Bradford Historical and Antiquarian Society Third series No.4 1988. Chapter entitled " Cartwright Hall and the Great Bradford Exhibition of 1904" mentions Titus Salt. Contains mention of Salts Mill Records c.1920s to 1980s. Also mention of Saltaire in the Editorial p.85 on the acquisition of the mill by Jonathan Silver.
Copyright Bradford Historical and Antiquarian Society
Bradford Antiquary Third Series No.4 1989: Front cover
Bradford Antiquary Third Series No.4 1989: Contents page
Library Resource Centre Staff Guide 1981
Shipley College Library Resource Centre Staff Guide 1981. A folded black and white leaflet
Library Resource Centre Staff Guide 1988
Shipley College Library Resource Centre Staff Guide 1988. A folded leaflet
Library Resource Centre Staff Guide 1982-3
Shipley College Library Resource Centre Staff Guide 1982-3
Library Resource Centre Staff Guide 1987
Shipley College Library Resource Centre Staff Guide 1987
3 colour photographs of greenhouses at north side of the Exhibition Building of Shipley College in summer 1986
The Bradford Antiquary The Journal of the Bradford Historical and Antiquarian Society Third series No.16 2012. Contains chapter entitled "The Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition, Saltaire, 1887" by Letitia Lawson and a review of "The Land Acquisitions of Titus Salt in Shipley and Baildon " by Ian Watson
The Bradford Antiquary 2012: Front cover
The Bradford Antiquary 2012: Back cover with contents
Certificates for creative craft skills courses
8 NCFE certificates and 2 OCNW (Open College of the North West) certificates, awarded to Ann Stuart between the years 2004-2008. These include 1. NCFE Foundation Certificate in Creative Craft (awarded 22 July 2004) 2. NCFE Certificate in Creative Craft in Drawing and Painting (awarded 22 July 2004) 3. NCFE Level 1 Certificate in Creative Craft (awarded 2 August 2005) 4. OCNW certificate Level 1 Progression Unit Yorkshire Countryside (awarded 19 Sep 2005) 5. NCFE Level 1 Certificate in Creative Craft in Mosaics (awarded 2 August 2005) 6. NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Creative Craft (awarded 19 October 2006) 7. NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Creative Craft In Mosaics (awarded 19 October 2006) 8. OCNW Certificate Level 2 Creative Textile Techniques (awarded 19 July 2007) 9. NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Creative Craft (awarded 27 June 2008) 10. NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Creative Craft in Textiles (awarded 27 June 2008)
Portfolio labelled Ann Stuart Shipley College Art Access Creative Textiles. It consists of a large blue sketchbook with an orange and cream felt house attatched to the front cover.The portfolio includes her work investigating colour and pattern through printing and dyeing; investigating textures through construction and manipulation; investigating decoration of surfaces through applying new and traditional methods and investigation of the design process.
Portfolio labelled Ann Stuart Introduction to Creative Textiles. Spiral bound large dark blue sketchbook investigating media and materials and different techniques and processes. Includes some work on Saltaire Congregational Church
16 paper prints produced by Ann Stuart as patterns for fabrics created on courses
16 paper prints produced by Ann Stuart as patterns for fabrics created on courses. They include the following: 1. A large brown and green Japanese textile design 2. A black and gold Japanese textile 3. A yellow, grey, black and red floral design numbered 320 4. A blue,red, black and beige pattern with a diamond in the centre with Ann Stuart's signature on the back 5. A red, black and cream pattern with birds and leaves on the front and green and blue paint on the reverse 6. A grey pattern numbered 335 7. A 12 squared blue and white pattern 8. A green orange and blue pattern consisting of circles and squares 9. 3 coloured baubles with leaves 10. A blue and grey willow pattern design 11.A blue, black and red design of flowers and birds 12. A bird with blue flowers, green leaves and red fruit 13. Green, red, blue and yellow leaf pattern 14. Green, red, blue and black circular patteren with diamonds 15. Green, blue, red and yellow rain drop shapes 16. Green, yellow, red diamond pattern with coloured circles
4 paper prints produced by Ann Stuart as patterns for fabrics created on courses. They include the following : 1. Large green, yellow, red and blue floral painting 2. Large green and blue painting 3. Large green, blue, red, yellow diamond and circular painting with number 327 on the reverse 4. Large black, yellow, red and green diamond painting with circles and triangles
Articles about the 1998 Great Bradford Beer Exhibition
Articles celebrating the success of Saltaire's first time hosting the Great Bradford Beer Exhibition in 1998 in Victoria Hall.
Beer tokens for the 1998 Great Bradford Beer Exhibition
Beer tokens for the 1998 Great Bradford Beer Exhibition, the first year that Saltaire hosted the festival in Victoria Hall.
Booklet for the 1998 Great Bradford Beer Exhibition
The official booklet for the 1998 Great Bradford Beer Exhibition, the first time this exhibition was hosted in Saltaire (Victoria Hall). It features a history of Saltaire and the list of beers available at the festival.
Booklet for the 2000 Premier Beer Festival
The official booklet for the 2000 Premier Beer Festival, the first time this exhibition was hosted in Saltaire (Victoria Hall). It features an introduction to and history of Saltaire, the making of the festival, and the list of beers and entertainment available at the festival and Bradford-based supporting companies.
Booklet for the 2001 Bradford Beer Festival
The official booklet for the 2001 Beer Festival hosted in Saltaire (Victoria Hall), called '2001 - A Beer Oddity'. It features the list of beers and entertainment available at the festival and Bradford-based supporting companies.
Posters for the 1998 Great Bradford Beer Exhibition
The official posters for the 1998 Great Bradford Beer Exhibition, featuring dates and admission prices.
Collection of 17 & 3 posters Prospectuses for Shipley Technical Institute and School of Art 1948-1959 (Including Shipley, Bingley & Baildon) a) Further Education in Shipley - Orange cover 1948-49 b) Further Education in Shipley - Light blue cover 1949-50 c) Shipley Technical Institute & School of Art - Green cover 1950-51 d) Shipley Technical Institute & School of Art - Cream cover 1951-52 e) Shipley Technical Institute & School of Art - Pale Blue cover 1952-53 f) Shipley Art & Technical Institute - Cream cover 1953-54 g) Shipley Institute of Further Education - Green & White Stripes cover 1955-56 h) Further Education in Bingley - Speckled grey cover 1955-56 i) Shipley Art & Technical Institute - Pale Green cover 1956-57 j) Bingley Technical Institute - Salmon cover 1954-1955 k) Further Education in Shipley & Baildon - Speckled Green cover 1956-57 l) Further Education Programme for Shipley & Baildon - Light Green cover 1957-58 m) Further Education Programme for Bingley Eldwick Harden Cullingworth Denholme Wilsden - Light Green 1957-58 n) Saltaire Road Evening Institute - Cream cover - 1954-55 o) Further Educationi Programme for Shipley & Baildon - cream cover - 1958-1959 p) Adult classes for Baildon Leaflet - 1958-1959 q) Further Education Programme for Bingley etc. - light blue cover 1958-1959 r) 3 posters for Further Education 1958-1959 (3 items)
A large A1 photograph-print (a); A4 mounted-board (b) & A 4 cream lamainated (c) of Princess Beatrice arriving for the opening of the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition and the School of Arts & Science (6th May 1887)
1 laminated with cream border & 1 1 Photograph of the Exhibition Building of Shipley College from the 1970s. The front of the bulding on Exhibition Road is shown