Pen and Pencil Pictures of old Bradford, etc

Front matter

%}en anfr pencil yictitres OF ©to Irabfori. Scene oh the Bradford Canal. /' .. ' 3 ''y PEN AND PENCIL PICTUEES OF (Bib §raMnr£t. (W. R. YORKS.) By William Scruton, Author of " The Birthplace of Charlotte Bronte," etc. [See page 245.] With Plan, Porteaits, and other Illustrations. SSra&ford : THOMAS BREAR & Co., Limited. May be had also from WM. SCRUTON, West Bowling, Bradford. 1889. [All Rights Reserved.] BINGLEY : T. HARRISON & SONS, PRINTERS, BOOKBINDERS, ETC, QUEEN STREET BULL. 1889. The Right Honbi.e. VISCOUNT CRANBROOK. {From a Photograph by Alexander Bassano, London.) To THE EIGHT HONOURABLE THE VISCOUNT CRANBROOK, G.C.S.I. Lord President of the Privy Council, This MEMORIAL of HIS LORDSHIP'S NATIVE TOWN. IS most respectfully pcMcsttci> bi) THE AUTHOR. Bradford, November 1659. ILLUSTRATIONS WHOLE page PICTURES.

FACING PAGE FACING PAGE Toll Booth and Old Shops in Ivegate 109 Old Market House 118 View on Bradford Canal ... iii. Bierley Hall Title Lord Cranbrook ... Dedication Wool Packs' Inn 164 Map of Bradford in 1800 ... 1 First Bradford Factory— The "Holme" (Thornton Road) 19 Parish Church, middle of last Aid. Angus Holden, Mayor of Bradford 172 Bee-Hive Inn, Westgate ... 174 John Hardy, M.P 179 Century 21 Parish Church, in the time of E. Cunliffe Lister, M.P. ... 180 Vicar Crosse ... ... 23 Rt. Hon. W. E. Forster, M.P. 195 Parish Church, Interior, before Restoration ... 25 Ripley's Dyeworks, 1807 ... 197 Stott Hill House 203 Parish Church, Interior, after Restoration ... ... ... 26 Manor Hall, Kirkgate 204 Rev. W. Atkinson 207 Rev. David Clarkson, B.D. ... 209 Benjamin Seebohm ... ... 214 Parish Church and Vicarage in the year 1810 28 Old St. John's, Manchester Rd. 43 S. Cunliffe Lister, J.P., D.L.... 216 Old Unitarian Chapel 47 Boiling Hall 218 Johu Nelson in the Bradford Dungeon ... ... ... 57 Broadstones ... ... ... 223 Old Shops, bottom of Kirkgate 225 Rev. Benj.

Godwin, D.D. ... 60 Horton Lane Chapel and Minister's House... ... ... 70 Old Ivegate 226 Old Shops, bottoi-n of Westgate 234 W. Byles. Esq 236 Rev. Jonathan Glyde ... , ... 72 William Overend Geller ... 240 Baptist College, Horton ... 101 Blind Jimmy 249 OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS Page Birth-place of Prophet Wroe . . . . Title Church Steeple hung with Wool packs 15 "Pity poor Bradford" 18 Gatewav, Unitarian Chapel . . . . 22 Pulpit, Old— Parish Church .. .. 26 Vicarage, Old— Church Bank . . . . 27 Eev. John Crosse 32 Rev. W. Scoresby, D.D 35 Chiist Church, Old 39 St. Mary's, Old— Stott Hill . . . . 45 Rev. Joseph Dawson 50 Rev. N. T. Heineken 51 Quaker Chapel, Goodman's End . . 55 Cock-pit, Old 58 Octagon Chapel, Horton Road . T . . 60 Sion Chapel, Old, Bridge Street.. .. 66 Wesley preaching from steps of the Old Cock-pit 76 Grammar School, The Old . . . . 79 Mechanics' Institute, Old . . . . 85 Original Airedale College, The . . . . 98 Airedale College, Underclifie . . . . 100 Back of Old Paper Hall 108 Justice Court, Old 110 Workhouse, Old, Bai-kerend . . . . 118 Piece Hall, Old 114 Market Cross.

Preface

. I HAVE no apology to make in submitting this work to my numerous subscribers and the public. That there is abundant scope for it, and that the proper time for its appearance has arrived, I am fully assured. That it will meet with a favourable reception I have very little doubt. More than twenty years have elapsed since the publication of Mr. James' "History of Bradford with Additions and Continuation," and during that period so great a transformation has taken place, and the old has so completely given way to the new that anyone revisiting Bradford after an absence of a quarter of a century or so, would fail to recognise it, and would require the magic aid of Alladin's Lamp or Fortunatus' Cap in wandering through its labyrinth of newly-formed streets and thoroughfares. Few indeed are the relics of "Old Bradford" that remain to revive the "lingering memories" of its old inhabitants, or to awaken the curiosity of its "young and rising generation."

The unceasing activity of a wealthy and enterprising Corporation in the work of "street improvements" has obliterated almost every trace of the old " nooks and corners " and the familiar landmarks that served as connecting links between Bradford as a small rural town, and Bradford as a large commercial metropolis. While this great change was being made, it occurred to me that unless an effort were made, and made speedily, to secure views of the principal objects of interest in the old streets, the opportunity of rescuing these from complete annihilation would be lost for ever. With such artistic ability as I possessed, and the aid of some know ledge of the history of the town, I succeeded in securing sketches of many places of great historic interest. These sketches, with some few exceptions, form the illustrations to the present work.

It is far from my wish, however, to claim all the honour of having secured pictorial mementos of the Bradford that used to be. Mr. McArthur, a local artist of considerable ability, took several water-colour sketches of places of great interest, and was fortunate in securing views of such as the Union Passage, the Old Market House, the Woolpacks' Inn, the Old Butter Market, etc. Mr. Appleton, the photographer, has more recently brought out a fine set of photographic views of the principal public buildings of Bradford, while Mr. Bottomley, photo crrapher, has been very successful in commemorating some recent public events, such as the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the Town Hall ; the uncovering of .the Lister Statue, etc. As to my qualifications for the task of producing such a work as this, I need, perhaps, only state that my tastes have always had a strong tendency towards local historical research, and that I have for several years past contributed sketches to the local press bearing upon the historv of Bradford. Referring to a paper contributed by me to the "Bradford Antiquary "—the journal of the Bradford

PREFACE.

. Historical and Antiquarian Society — the Bradford Observer said : "Mr. Scruton has a proper reverence for old places, old families, and old associations, and in his remarks contrives to arouse a deep interest in the mind of the reader. He is a most entertaining cicerone through the regions of the local past." As it was impossible to attempt anything like a complete history of Bradford within the limits of a work like the present, I have confined myself to subjects of the most general interest, and such as afforded the widest and best scope for pictorial illustration. With this end in view, I have substituted an intended chapter on "Early Bradford Wills" (kindly contributed by Mr. J. Horsfall Turner), and one on " Strikes and Biots " for others of a more interesting character. The reader will please note this explanation, as reference has been inad vertently made to these subjects in the letter-press, (see pages 29 and 114).

It will be seen at a glance that the illustrations form a very special feature of this book. No true book-lover can be insensible to the additional charm given to works of this character by the introduction of authentic and artistic pictures. The re-drawing of several sketches, and the making of the blocks of the illustrations have been entrusted to Mr. Alexander Shepherd of this town, the excellence of whose workmanship may be left to speak for itself. Among the names of other artists, whom I am proud to mention as associated with the pictorial adornment of these pages, are those of Angelina Geller, John Sowden, A.M., Arthur North ("Ant."), G. A. Gaskell, A. M'Arthur, Harold Furniss, J. W. Knight, H. Cragg, and S. Ward. Foremost among those to whom I am indebted for generous and gratuitous help, I have to name my dear friend and antiquarian colleague, Mr. J. Horsfall Turner, of Idle.

My thanks are also due to Miss Geller, Mr. Sowden, Mr. Joseph Margerison, and Mr. J. W. Knight, for artistic work most cheerfully given, and to Mr. W. Maw for the loan of two scarce pictures. The excellent portraits of S. C. Lister, Esq. and Aid : Angus Holden are from the photographs by Mr. Albert Sachs ; and that of the Right Hon.W. E. Forster is from the admirable photograph taken by Mr. Appleton, Manningham Lane. I gratefully acknowledge my obligations to Mrs. Arthur Tempest, of Coleby Hall, Lincoln, for historic notes relating to the Tempest family. Mr. William Cudworth has been to me a " Friend in Council." I cannot forget the words of encouragement received from him when making my first literary venture. " I hail with pleasure," he wrote, "your proposal to give something to the antiquarian world, as I feel sure you will not stop after your first essay."

Among those who have manifested their kindly interest in my project by inducing friends to become subscribers, I very gratefully mention the names of Mr. Lewis Hainsworth, Mr. William GIossop Mr. Bennet Carter, Mr. John Braithwaite, Mr. John Schofield Mr! iS. E. Dean, and Mr. George Newboult. W.'s. CONTENTS.

Chapter I

—* Qtatovical SxtvtrciT. Page. Brigantian Period.— Etymology.— Romans, Saxons, Danes, Normans.— De Lacies.— Inquisition (1277).— Right of Gallows.— Free Court.— Assize of Bread and Beer.— Evam, weaver, of Gomersal.— Frizinghall.— Inquisition (1311).— Hall.— Water and Fulling Mill.— Market.— Fair.— Castle.— Church.— Inhabitants Classified.— Inhabited Portion of the Town. — Social and Domestic Condition of the People.— Manor.— John, of Gaunt. — Hornblowing Tenure.— Wild Boar, of Cliffe Wood.— Plantagenet Period. —Incursions of the Scots.— The "Black Death."— Poll Tax of Richard II-— Population.— Leland.— Civil Wars.— Fairfax.— First Siege.— Lister's Narrative.— Captain HoJgson.— Attack upon the Church.— Second Siege. —Earl of Newcastle at Boiling Hall.— Flight of Fairfax.— Boiling Hall Ghost.— Bradford spared. — Restoration. — William and Mary. — Woollen and Worsted Industries.— Volunteer Corps (1794).— Commercial Prosperity. — Bradford in 1800. 1 22

CHAPTER IL

— ®ljc *}Jrtvtalj ffiljurcij. Date of Erection. — " Kirk in the Wood." — Advowson.— Rectory. — Tythes, Easter Dues, etc. — Interior, before its Restoration and since. — Old Vicarage. — The Vicaks of Bradford. — Early Wills.— Richard de Halton. — Henry de Latrynton. — William Rodes. — Caleb Kemp. — Francis Corker. — John Crosse. — Henry Heap. — William Scoresby, D.D. — John Burnet. D.D. —Vincent W. Ryan, D.D., Bishop.— Canon Bardsley.— Church of "S.S. Peter and Paul." — Chapel of St. Sitha. — A re -Bridge. — Catalogue of Vicars. 23—38 CHAPTEB III.— pto&evn (LTljitvcljcs. Old Christ Church.— Position. — No Church Yard.— Foundation Stone laid. First Incumbent, Rev. William Morgan. — Double Wedding. — Mr. Morgan as an Author. — Items from old Account Book. — Rev. W. Kamsden Smith. — Rev. Vincent John Ryan, M.A. — Church and Site purchased by Corporation. — Last Service. — St. James' Church. — St. John's (Manchester Road). — St. John's (Bowling). — St. Jude's. — St. Matthew's. — St. Andrew's. — The Ten New Churches.

Romas Catholics. — Room hired in Commercial Street (1822). — Mass celebrated in Roebuck Inn. — Opening of St. Mary's, Stott Hill (1825). — Public Discussion. — Erection of other Churches. 39—16

CHAPTER IV.

— mjc glteaentcra. English Presbyterians and Unitarians. — Uniformity Act. — Ejectment. — Sharps, of Horton Hall. — Chapel Green, Horton. — Chapel erected in Chapel Lane (1719).— Material brought from Howley Hall. — Abraham Sharp. — Ministers at Chapel Lane. The Quakers. — Gained early footing in Bradford. — Registers.- — Gift of Land in Goodman's-end, by Matthew Wright. — John Wynn. — Persecution. — First Chapel built.— Scriptural Names. — Trades. —Old Families. — New Chapel erected (1811). — Enlarged (1825). — Sale of Site to Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Co. — The Hustlers. — Andrew Pearson. Wesleyan Methodists.— John Nelson. — Lodged in Bradford Dungeon. — Wesley's first Visit to Bradford (1744.) — Formation of first Society. — Old Cock-pit. — Erection of Octagon Chapel, — Wesley's last Visit to Bradford. — Revival. — Kirkgate Chapel erected (1811). — Eastbrook (1825).— Primitive Methodists. — New Connexion Methodists. — Methodist Free Church. — Wesleyan Reformers.

The Baptists. — Meetings in House at Manningham. — First Minister, WilUam Crabtree.— Old Cock-pit.— Westgate Chapel built (1755).— Fawcett.— A CONTENTS. IX Page. Public Discussion.— Rev. W. Steadman.— Sion Chapel built (1823L— Dr. Godwin. — Rev. Henry Dowson. — Rev. J. P. Chown. — New Sion Chapel opened (1875).— Trinity and Halltield Chapels built.— The General Baptists. — Strict Baptists. The Congregationai.ists. — Origin ic Brad ford. — Edward Hales. — Rev. Joseph Cockin. — Paper Hall. — Malt Chamber in Old Brewery. — Chapel in Horton Lane erected (1781). — Rev. James Crosley. — Rev. Thomas Holdgate. — Rev Thomas Taylor. — Sunday School. — Rev. Jonathan Glyde. — Rev. J. R. Campbell, D D. - Salem Chapel built (1835). -Rev. J. G. Miall. — College Chapel built (1838). — School at Little Horton. — Greenfield Chapel. — Lister Hills Chapel. — Bowling Chapel. — Erection of New Chapel and Schools in Horton Lane. — Progress.

Other Denominations. — The Moravians. — Presbyterian Church of England. — New Church (Swedenborgian). — German Evangelical Church. — The Bradford Synagogue. — Catholic Apostolic Church. — Bible Christians. ------------ 47—70

CHAPTER V.

— ©Mu-ntiottstl & Qitevavtj Free Grammar School. — Its Antiquity. — Charter. — Link between Church and School.— Playground. — School Well. — School in Manningham Lane built (1818).— Early Masters— Hall, Sturdy, Clapham, Butler.— Thomas Wright. — Henry Hopper. — Edward Baldwyn. — Contention as to Lectureship. — Slack. — Early Sports. — Distinguished Pupils. — New Scheme. — New Schools. — Gifts for Scholarships, etc. — High Rank of the School. — The Girls' Grammar School. The Mechanics' Institute. — Origin, (1832). — Prejudices against Popular Education. — First Room engaged. — Institute in Leeds Road opened (1840). — Debt cleared off (1850). — Generous Gifts. — Progress. — Foundation Stone laid of present Institute, by Lord Houghton. — Opened by Rt. Honble. W. E. Forster. — Inner Life. — Library. —Lectures and Lecturers. — Classes. — Teachers.

Church Literary Institute. — Origin. — " The Church Institution." — Constitution. — Library. — Foundation Stone of New Institute laid (1871). — Classes, etc. — Bazaar to clear off debt. The Philosophical Society. — Early attempts to establish a Philosophical Society. — Distinguished Honorary Members. — Lectures. — Society re-established in 1864. — Its Constitution and Objects. — Purchase of Mr. Bichardson's Geological Collection. — Society resuscitated in 1884. Bradford Subscription Library. — Began 1774. — Rev. John Dean. — First items of Expenditure. — First Librarian. — First Books purchased. — First Printing in Bradford. — The Nicholsons. — The Library, where located. — Its Librarians. — Old Bradford Gentry. Airedale College. — "Mr. Scott's Academy" (1756), Heckmondwike. — James Scott, Tutor. — First Pupils. — Academy at Northowram. — College at Idle. — Rev. W. Vint, Tutor.— Salary.— College at Undercliffe built (1834).— Rev. Walter Scott.— Rev. D. Fraser, LL.D.— Rev. A. M. Fairbairn D.D.— College at Heaton.

Horton Baptist College. — Origin of the Institution. — Its Object. — Dr. Steadman, first Tutor. — Benefactors. — Rawdon College. — Horton College ; its Associations. Sunday Schools. — Apologised for. — Rev. John Crosse. — Early Schools. — Treasurers' Accounts. — Gifts.— Paid Teachers. — Methods of Instruction. — Church School, Bolton Road. — Wesleyan Methodist, Congregational, and Baptist Sunday Schools. — The Object of Sunday Schools. Modern Institutions. — The " Quakers' School." — Parochial Schools. — Dr. Scoresby. — Borough West Schools. — Female Educational Institute. — Bradford Long-Pledged Teetotal Association. — Reading by Charles Dickens. ------ 77 — **_()£

CHAPTER VI.

— ©lb -pxtbltc gttUtfn0#. The Old Law Courts, Prisons, &c. — Toll Booth and Hall of Pleas. — Old Court Rolls. — Old Modes of Punishment. — Ancient Officials. — Court House, top of Westgate. — Old "Justice Room." — Some "Cases." — Mr. Lister's Court at Spotted House, Manningham Lane. — First Prison. — Nelson's Incarceration. — Old "Lock-up," Sun Bridge. — Court House, CONTENTS. XV. Hall Ings.— Its Associations.- Manor Court.— "Will Lee Hoil."—"Cry ing the Fair." The Old Workhouse.— Erected 1738.— Vagrant Office. —Cock-pit.— Relief. — Bradford Union, (1837.)— Opposition to the New Poor Law.— Workhouse at Little Horton erected 1851. The Old Piece Hall.— Erected 1773.— Old Bradford Tradesmen.— Piece Hall described by James Hartley.— Enlarged.— Stringent Bye-laws. — "Rules and Orders." — Political Associations.

Old Market House. — Its Quaint Architecture.— Market Street, called after it.— Its Surroundings.— " Bartle's Corner."— Thompson's Theatre. — Barracks.— Old Market Cross. The Old Ex change.—Erected 1828.— Lecture by William Cobbett (1831).— Dr. Outh waite. — Committee.— Cost of the Building.— Its Architecture. — Exchange Street— Grand Ball. — Foundation Stone of New Exchange laid by Lord Palmerston. The Dispensary and Infirmary.— Distress in 1825. — Dispensary established. — House in High Street engaged. — Building in Darley Street erected (1827). — How Funds were raised. — Benefactors. — Present Infirmary. — Friends and Patrons. — Physicians and Surgeons. The Old Theatres. — First Theatre.— L. S. Thompson. — Room in King's Arms Yard.— "Bartle's Corner." — Poet Nicholson, Dramatist. — "Jemmy" Wild. — Smedley's Theatre. — Skerret's Theatre. — Strolling Companies. — •' Old Wild's."— Wallet.— Mrs. Chatterton's Theatre.— The Old Theatre Royal.— Distinguished Actors. — Rough Audiences. — Messrs. Mosley & Rice. — First Performance in " Old Royal." — Mr. and Mrs. Nunn. — Lysander Thompson. — Local Plays.— Richelieu.— "Old Mackay."— Mr. Phillips. — Mr Robinson. — Mr. Roughton. — Mrs. and Miss Kirk. — John Mosley- Maria B. Jones. — First Pantomime. — Benefits. — J. D. Stoyle.— Amy Sedgwick. — Mr. and Miss Vandenhoff. — Mrs. Fitz-wilLiam. — Sims Reeves. — The Misses Cush man.— Macready. — Helen Faucit. — Phelps. — Kean. — G. V. Brooke.— Morton Price. — " Old Royal" closed (1867). — "Royal Alexandra Theatre" opened (1864). — Madge Robertson (Mrs. Kendal). — Buckstone & Wilde. — Charles Rice. — Mrs. Rice. — Prince's Theatre opened (1876).

The Odd fellows' Hall — First stone laid 27th June, 1836. — Large hall. — Its uses. The Post Office. — Early Post Offices in Bradford. — Memorial to Post master-General. — New Mail. — Thomas Inkersley. — Post Office matters in 1835. — John Hudson. — Union Passage. — First List of Boxholders. — Old Exchange purchased. — The New Building in Forster Square opened Sept. lst, 1887. The Old Banks.— " Leach, Pollard & Hardcastle," (1760).— The "Old Bank" established 1803.— Edmund Peckover. — The Harris Family. — Wentworth i Co.'s Branch Bank. — Bradford Banking Co. es tablished (1827).— Yorkshire Banking Co. — Bradford Commercial Bank. — Bradford District Bank. — Exchange and Discount Bank. — Halifax Joint Stock. — Halifax Commercial.— Craven Bank, Limited. — East Morley and Bradford Savings Bank, etc. — Some Modern Buildings & Institutions. 109 — 163

CHAPTER VLL

— ©Jje ©lb & tlje Coacljutfl £)a»ja. Old style of Hostelry.— Ancient Drinking Customs. — "Ye Swanne" — Pack Horse Inn, Westgate. — List of Hotels, &c. in 1822 and by whom kept — Church Steps Inn — Bowling Green Hotel— Bull's Head Inn — The New- Inn— Sun Hotel— The Talbot— The George— Hope and Anchor— White Swan— Three Horse Shoes— Bee Hive— Bermondsey.— Inns in Market Street — Wool Packs — Ship — White Horse and Malt Shovel — White Lion —Shoulder of Mutton — Nag's Head— Manor House — Roebuck— Fleece — Dramshops. — The Coaching Days—" Rockingham Bob." — Bad Roads- Turnpike Act. — " Rebecca " Riots.—" Posting " Houses in Bradford.— Old Coachmen. — Decline of the Coaching Days. 164—178

CHAPTER VIIL

— ©arltj tyavliamentavt) ©Iccticme. Bradford Enfranchised (1832).— First Nomination of Candidates — Mr. John Hardy— Mr. E. C. Lister— Mr. Geo. Banks.— Questions of the Day.— Result of Election. — Reform. — Dissolution of Parliament in 1834.— Mr. Geo. Hadfield— Meeting at the Sun Hotel.— Peter Bussy.— Election, January CONTENTS. Page 1835— Hadfield defeated.— Death of King William IV. and accession of Queen Victoria.— Election, 1837— Four Candidates.— Tory Candidates defeated.— Election, 1841— John Hardy and W. C. Lister elected.— Death of W. C. Lister— W. Busfeild elected in his place.— Election, 1847— Candidates, Gathorne Hardy, H. W. Wickham, W. Busfeild, and Col. Thompson— the two latter elected.— Death of W. Busfeild (1851).— Election of Robert Milligan.— Election, 1852— Free Trade Question— Exciting Contest— Milligan and Wickham elected.— Retirement of Mr. Milligan in 1857— Col. Thompson elected.— Election, 1859— Candidates, Messrs. Wickham, Salt and Hams— Wickham and Salt elected.— Election Expenses.— Mr. Salt resigns, January 1861— Mr. W. E. Forster elected.— Biographical Notice of Mr. Forster.— Death of Mr. Wickham, 23rd September, 1867— Edward Miall and Mr. W. Thompson brought forward to contest the Seat— Party Strife— Great excitement— Mr. Thompson elected. —Election, Nov. 1868— Mr. Miall defeated by Mr. Ripley.— Petition against the latter.-— Mr. Ripley unseated.— Counter-petition against Mr. Forster unsuccessful.— Election, February 1874— Forster and Ripley elected.— Mr. Forster appointed Chief Secretary for Ireland.— Elections since Re-distribution of Seats' Act.— Right Hon. W. E. Forster.— List of Bradford Parliamentary Elections. ------- 179 — 199

CHAPTER IX.

— ©lb grnbforb i-amtltea, & tljciv ijomca. Bradford in 1311. — House-building in time of Elizabeth and James. — Dugdale's "Visitation." — Families in 1798. — Paper Hall. — Stott Hill House. — Manor Hall.— The Rawson and Hardy Families. — Market. — Miryshaw. — Boldshay. — " Town-end." — The Rands. — Old Houses, bottom of Horton Road. — Rev. W. Atkinson's. — Houses in Westgate. — " Fayre Gappe." — Clarkson Family. — David Clarkson. — The Bartletts. — Hustlers. William Wilson. — James Ellis. — John Priestman. — The Biltons. — William Maud. — Benjamin Seebohm. — North Parade. — Sh- Titus Salt. — S. Cunlift'e Lister. — Mannville. — Richard Fawcett. — Horton Hall. — The Sharps. — Horton House.— Mr. Wood and Richard Oastler. — Ten Hours' Bill. — Families connected with the Iron Industries. — "Town Hill House." — Boiling Hall. — The Boiling Tempest, and other Families. — Bierley Hall. Dr. Richardson. - 200—222

CHAPTER X.

-§omr ©lb << Jtctobe anb Corners." Broadstones.— Old Shops. — Kirkgate. — " Mally." — " Dumb John." — " Brown Cow Shop." — Shops and Shopkeepers in Kirkgate, Westgate, Ivegate and Market Street. — Mrs. Brown. — Aid. Henry Brown. — Horse Fair in Bridge Street. — "Pleasure" Fair. — Site of New Market Street, Town Hall, &c. — Old Foundry. — Old Brewery. — The Whitaker and Thompson Families. — Soke MiM. — Goit. 223—232

CHAPTER XL

— ©stvhj grabforb •gttcvittttvc & 3Ut. Local talent not encouraged. — Early Printers — The Nicholsons — John Blackburn & Son — John Stanfield— Thomas Inkersley — Henry Wardman — Spencer— Ibbetson — Auty. — Bradford's First Newspaper. — The Bradford Observer. — Mr. William Byles. — Bradford Daily Telegraph. — The Bronte Sisters.— Nicholson, the "Airedale Poet." — Abraham Holroyd. — The Bradfordian — Its Contributors. — Bradford Literati. — The "Bradford Artists' Society of Painting and Sculpture." — Exhibition. — William Overend Geller. — Joseph Clayton Bentley.— John and Charles Cousen. — The Tophams.— J. WilBon Anderson. — Patrick Branwell Bronte. - 233 243

CHAPTER XII.

— gfrrme potable & &bb ©liaractcva. Astrologers and Fortune-Tellers.— Prophet Wroe. — John Rushton.— Reuben Holder. — Jonas Tasker. — "Tommy" Ramsden. — Judy Barrett. — "Blind Jimmy." — Eccentric Local Preachers. — lhe Bradford Waits. - . 244 n OF OLD BEADFOED. CHAPTEE I—gtStOVXCstl gxtrttCi). f attempting to tread "the long extent of backward time," in the study of history, it is better to be guided by the calendar of events rather than by the mere enumeration of years. It is easy to speak of five hundred years as so many round figures, but not so easy to form a just conception of the actual span of time represented by the same. Only by taking a glance at the more prominent features or landmarks of history can this be even fairly realised. Thus it will be necessary to look far beyond the days of the Commonwealth, the Spanish Armada, the Beformation, and even the Wars of the Bed and White Boses, before we approach the time when the Plantagenet King, Edward III., sat upon the throne, and Chaucer wrote his " Canterbury Tales."

Three hundred years of Feudal bondage takes us further back to the Norman Conquest, and well nigh the same period intervenes before Egbert subdues the seven Saxon Kingdoms, and under the name of " England " makes them into one, of which he was himself the first proud monarch. Then comes a long stretch of some eight hundred years ere we get back to the Eoman invasion, at which point we take leave of the written page of history, and fall back upon the wide domain of conjecture and speculation. But the scholarly Cæsar tells us of the painted and skin-clad Briton whom he found upon our shores, and of the priests or Druids who chanted the lays of the valorous deeds of their forefathers. He also tells us (but doubtless from hearsay) of the Brigantes — those fierce and warlike Britons of the hill-country, to conquer whom it took many long years of severe encounter and bitter struggle.

But this sturdy race was eventually compelled to surrender before the disci plined and numerous troops that fought under the Eagle standard. That Bradford occupies the site of what was once a Brigantian town is not at all improbable, although the place is destitute of any British B remains sufficient to prove the fact. Dr. Whitaker the historian says, that in these northern parts the towns of the ancient Britons were generally in the hollows of the valleys, either upon the margin of one stream or the confluence of two, for the convenience of water, and security from winds. It may therefore be assumed that as Bradford answers pretty well to this description, it was "once upon a time" a Brigantian town, and consisted of a number of huts surrounded by a forest in which the bear, the wolf, the wild ox and other ferocious animals abounded.

These huts, the dwelling-places of our remote ancestors the ancient Britons, were made in the form of pits from six to eight, or even sixteen to eighteen feet in diameter, and had for a top a conical roof made weatherproof by wattling — a covering of rushes and branches, matted together with hurdles and sods of turf. Of the people who inhabited these rude abodes, it is recorded that they lived on the wild fruit of the forest, and that their clothing was made from the skins of wild beasts, their shoes being made of untanned leather. They tipped their arrows with flint, used ham mers made of stone ; were not unacquainted with the use of bronze and iron, and traded with coins made of tin. They were tall of stature, had blue eyes and red hair, and by way of adding to these attractions they tattooed and stained their bodies with paint and coloured juices, and altogether appeared to live in piretty much the same style as did the wild and uncivilized tribes of the North American Indians of more recent times.

It is the common belief that Bradford derived its name from a broad-ford by which the stream at the foot of the Church hill was formerly crossed. Dr. Whitaker, however, contends, that the name is to be traced to the word brae, a hill ; — Bradford thus meaning the ford at the foot of the hill. In Domesday book, however, it is spelled Bradeford, but Mr. James, author of the " History of Bradford and its Parish," although favour ing the derivation Broadford, found it difficult to get over the fact that the syllable broad could hardly be applied to a passage over such an inconsiderable stream as that known to Bradfordians of modern times. " Some old inhabitants," he says "call it Bra forth or Brad forth, but this is a mere corruption of no very old date." In this statement, however, Mr. James is not correct, for in the -wills at York of former Bradford inhabitants, dating so far back as 1420, the name is invariably spelled Bradforth.

But it must be impossible to form, at this time of day, anything like a just conception of what the width of this stream would be eleven or twelve hundred years ago — the probable period when Brad ford took its name. It is worth remembering that the old topo grapher, Leland, in his "Itinerary" (temp Henry VIII.) makes special mention of the " brokes " of the town in his reference to Bradford. It is also supposed that the "mill" of whicli he speaks, as well the ancient fulling mill referred to in the " Inquisition " of 1311 stood on the stream near the ford. There is the fact too, that the name OF OLD Br.ADFOKD. 3 " Broadstones" was taken from the large flat stepping-stones by which the beck had formerly to be crossed. The authentic history of England commences with the invasion of the Romans, b.c. Co, but so far as Bradford is concerned there is little evidence to lay hold of by which to link it with the Roman period.

There are certainly traces of Roman roads not far away, one of whicli even passed through the town by way of Westgate and Whetley Hill, and forward to Colne (Colunio). Another, in close proximity to Bradford, was that running by way of Dudley Hill and Adwalton, known (to this day) as the "Street," from Stratum denoting a Roman way. But unquestionably one of the most distinct traces of the Roman occupation of this district was that mentioned by the learned Dr. Richardson, of Bierley Hall, who in a letter to his friend Hearne, said " That iron was made in this neighbourhood (Bierley) in the time of the Romans, a late discovery sufficiently convinced me. Upon removing a heap of cinders to repair the roads with, a quantity of copper Roman coins was discovered, some of which I have in my possession.