The Naval Reservists were the first to be called to mobilise before Britain had actually declared war. On the 3 August 1914 eight men from Bradford were the first to be called. Find out who they were.
Showing posts with label On this Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label On this Day. Show all posts
Sunday, 3 August 2014
Saturday, 2 August 2014
Friday, 27 June 2014
100 years on
The 28 June 2014 is the 100 year anniversary of
the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the start of events that led
to the outbreak of the first work war. However it was 3 weeks before Austria
Hungary issued their ultimatum to Serbia giving them just 2 days to respond
before they declared war on Serbia on
the 28 July 1914.
Over the next few weeks and months you should see some
changes to the BradfordWW1 website. I will be updating and reorganising the
pages and adding more information. One of the first changes is the timeline of
headlines from the Bradford Weekly Telegraph. The headlines will be updated
each week during the course of the centenary the first starting the week ending the 28 June.
Bradford is holding it’s ArmedForces Day in City Park on the 28 June and I will be there floating
between the Peace Museum’s stall and Bradford YMCA’s Tea Hut handing out
leaflets and chatting to people about my book "Great War Britain: Bradford" now available to pre-order on Amazon. Let’s hope the weather holds off
as I need to recover from my lingering cold for next week. As part of Children’s
Book Week I will be giving interactive talks at Bradford City Library to 60
school children each day on ‘Children in WW1’.
Wednesday, 18 January 2012
On this day 18th January...
1887 – Manchester Road Baths opened
They were opened largely as a result of corporation and municipal officials being shocked by the large numbers of the “great unwashed” when they went to open Bowling Park on the 4th September 1880.
The Baths were situated midway between West Bowling and Little Horton so that they are convenient to residents from both districts.
It was considered desirable to make provision for a branch free library and reading room, the Free Library Committee paying the Sanitary Committee £40 a year to rent the space. The building is therefore larger than would have been required for baths only.
“It is in gothic style, and the main feature of the exterior is a tower of octagonal form, which rises from the front at the junction of Manchester Road and Cotewall Road. There is an entrance to the building on each side of the tower. The ground floor, on the Manchester Road side is arranged for the free library and reading room. The space is 47feet by 23 feet, a high partition being introduced to form separate departments for male and female readers, the part set aside for the later being reached by a doorway which leads to the women’s bath room. The library will be accommodated in a recess erected at the rear of the reading room, from which it will be separated by a counter, across which the librarian will hand books to borrowers in both departments. The arrangements for the baths are a very complex nature. The department for males is on the Cotewall road side of the building, and it is reached through a spacious entrance hall, from which also the curators rooms are accessible. The swimming bath is very capacious, being 60ft in length and 30ft in width. There are 48 dressing boxes, each with a separate compartment for shower baths. Above these dressing boxes there is a balcony supported by cast iron columns and here there are 10 first class and 19 second class slipper baths and accommodation for vapour baths. This portion of the premises is reached by a stone staircase from the entrance hall. The baths for females are situate on the first floor over the reading room, the accommodation comprising four first class and 8 second class slipper baths; there are also a first class and second class vapour bath.”
The baths were also heated by a new more modern method which enabled the bath to be filled with warm water in a tenth of the time of the old method.
The overall cost of the building was £8,000
It was stated that “to some it will be a matter of regret that in the new premises there is no provision for a Turkish bath, but the town is not badly accommodated in this respect. The Corporation, in addition to having department for the Turkish baths at the Thornton Road establishment, about two years since fitted up premises in Horton Road for use as a ladies’ Turkish bath; and there are also private baths of a similar character in another part of the town.”
Source
The Leeds Mercury, Wednesday November 24th 1886
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
On this day 31st October...
1858 Bradford Lozenge Poisoning
“The most dreadful calamity that perhaps ever befell this district has occurred within the last few days. The careless and negligent use of a deadly poison – arsenic – has had the unhappy result already depriving no fewer than 17 persons of life and filling innumerable homes throughout the district with suffering, mourning and woe.”
In total 18 people died, mainly children, and it was estimated that there were 193 cases of illness but there may have been many more as no complete and accurate list could be compiled. They had all eaten peppermint lozenges and were struck by sudden and violent vomiting; sudden deaths were occurring all over the city as though a dreadful plague had come.
The lozenges had been brought from William Hardacre in Green Market who was also suffering from eating one of his own lozenges. He had brought the lozenges from a wholesaler dealer in confectionary, Mr Joseph Neal, of Stone Street.
Mr Neal made the lozenges partly from sugar and partly from a mineral technically called terra alba or “daft” and described by the chemist as Plaster of Paris used as a substitute for sugar. By alteration he could produce lozenges at about 8d per pound which would normally cost 10d or 1s per pound. These lozenges had been made by Mr Neal by the order of Mr Hardacre.
There had obviously been some mistake in the supply of the daft which was purchased from the shop of a druggist in Shipley named Hodgson. A fortnight ago Mr Charles Hodgson being ill in bed left a young assistant Mr William Goddard in charge, he had only been in his employ a few weeks having recently left school. He had been asked by a man from Bradford (James Archer, who lived with Mr Neal) for 12lb of daft not knowing where it was placed he asked Mr Hodgson who directed him to a corner of the cellar. Unfortunately Mr Goddard went to the wrong cask, which had no mark or label, and actually contained arsenic. Mr Archer then delivered the arsenic back to James Appleton one of Mr Neal’s men who had made up 40lbs of lozenges.
Immediate steps were taken to publish the news far and wide in order to induce caution and safety. The quiet sleep of people was broken at midnight by the sound of the bellman’s warning and notices were put up in around the neighbourhood and in public houses asking people to return any lozenges to the police station.
Mr Leveratt the chief constable had been able to obtain about 35lbs of the lozenges which were analysed by Mr Rimmington a chemist. He discovered that just one lozenge contained enough arsenic as would be sufficient to poison a man.
James Appleton confirmed that “daft has always been used ever since I have been in the trade. I have been in the trade 6 years... we do not put draft in always; it is just according to price. When lozenges are sold as these were at 2oz for 1½d it could not be expected that they were genuine. But I did not expect there would be poison in them. They are made of sugar and gum and daft put in to adulterate – to cheapen... it is the custom to use daft in all adulterated lozenges.”
A relief fund was established to help the families of those who had been affected. The case resulted in a change to the legislation regarding the sale of poisons.
DEAD
Orlando Burran, aged 5 and John Henry Burran, aged 3, sons of Mark Burran, 30, Jowett Street, Manchester Road, Bradford.
Elizabeth Mary Midgley, aged 7 - Margerison Street, Bermondsey.
Elijah Wright, aged 9 - 63 Queen Street Bradford.
Joseph Scott, aged 14 - 5 Railway Street Bradford.
Joseph Crabtree, aged 16 - Jacob Street, Bradford.
Ann Shutt, aged 38 wife of John Shutt - Leeds Road, Bradford.
Herbert Holdsworth, a child Rutland Street, Bradford.
John McCormack, aged 4 Heaton Syke.
Adela Lee, aged 3, Heaton Syke.
John Broadley, aged 21, labourer, Heaton Syke.
Mark Green, aged 17 months, Low Moor.
Mrs Shackleton, aged 30 residing at East Ardsley.
John Lupton Constantine, aged 69, Tyersall.
— Wright, a married woman, residing at Wibsey.
Briggs Ramaden, clogger, aged 24 Thornton.
Robinson Wood, aged 3, East Ardsley.
Thomas Wright, child, Thompson’s House.
ILL
BRADFORD
Armitage, Martha, adult, Nursery Lane.
Bairstow, Martha, adult, Marsh Place.
Bairstow, Abraham, adult, March Place.
Cluster, Grace and Elizabeth adults, Preston Place.
Cooper, James, adult, Scarr Hill.
Cosgrane, John, adult, Eastbrook Lane.
Crusher, Walter, adult, Crowe Street.
Dennison, John, two children, Scarr Hill.
Dixon, Thomas, five adults, Thompson's Houses.
Downbrough, Elisabeth adult, Preston Place.
Fletcher, Elizabeth, adult, Marsh Place.
Frankleton, -, three children, Thornton Street.
Freeman, John, one adult and one child, Scarr Hill.
Graces, Leah, adult, Nursery Lane.
Hartley, Richard, child, Scarr Hill.
Hudson, Abraham, three children, Seymour Street.
Isles, Hannah, two children, Swaine Green.
Jowett, Elizabeth, adult, Bower Street.
Lawson, William, three children, Buck Spring Row.
Laycock, Mary, an adult and a child, Fitzgerald Street.
Mann, Samuel, adult, Daisy Hill.
Mann, John, three children and two adults, Daisy Hill.
Midgeley, Sarah, adult, Margerison Street.
Murgatroyd, Richard, two children, Scarr Hill.
Neamont, Hannah, adult and child, Croft Street.
Pattchett, John, two adults, Scarr Hill.
Pease, - , three adults and two children, Manchester Road.
Smith, Rebecca, adult, Preston Street.
Smith, Ann, Preston Street.
Smith, James, Preston Street.
Smith, John, 4 adult family members, Four Lane Ends.
Stead, William, adult, Crown Street.
Stott, Joseph adult and two children, Croft Street.
Swaine, John, six children and two adults, Bowling Back Lane.
Taylor, Mrs, one child, Scarr Hill.
Tetley, Benjamin, two adults, Swaine Green.
Thompson, Eliza, adult. Mulgrave Street.
Watson, Elizabeth, adult, Jury Street.
White, Martha, adult, Little Horton Lane.
Whitehead, James, one child, Scarr Hill.
Wilkinson, Mary, child, Daisy Hill.
BAILDON
Holmes, family, four adults.
CLAYTON HEIGHTS
Wilcock, Henry, 55, toll bar keeper.
Wilcock, Sarah, 53, wife of the above.
Wilcock, Hannah, 23, daughter of the above.
Wilcock, Mary, 9, daughter of the above.
ECCLESHILL
RECOVERING
Curtis, Thomas, 18, joiner.
Denison, Emma, 13, Millhand.
Denison, Abram, 9, schoolboy.
Duxbury, Catherine, 6, schoolgirl.
Hartley, Samuel, 10, schoolboy.
Murgatroyd, Ann, 20, millhand.
Paget, Charlotte 42, no trade.
Paget, Grace 16, no trade.
Patchet, John, 46, mason.
Taylor, Richard, 16, labourer.
Waterhouse, Benjamin, 48, weaver.
Waterhouse, Martha, 44, no trade.
GREAT HORTON
Beaumont, John, adult.
Beaumont, Mary, adult.
Bennett, Hannah, two adults.
Priestley, Hannah, Child.
Thompson, Thomas, four children.
HEATON
DANGEROUSLY ILL
Ardester, Kester, 23, delver.
Child, Samuel 22, delver.
Child, Zilpha, 53, no trade.
Recovered
Greenwood, Joseph, 41, delver.
Greenwood, Ruth, 12, servant.
Hollingworth, William, 13, labourer.
RECOVERING
Ardester, Grace, 63, no trade.
Ardester, Grace, 17, mill hand.
Chatband, Mary Elizabeth, 5, mill hand.
Child, Sophia, 94, mill hand.
Waterhouse, Sarah, 26, mill hand.
IDLE
Recovered
Skirrow, George 30, clothier.
Skirrow, Sarah Ann 8.
LOW MOOR
Bartle, Lea, 10.
Bartle, James, 19.
Bartle, Samuel, 17.
Bottomley, Elizabeth, 33.
Bottomley, Elizabeth, 60.
Bottomley, Henry 3½.
Bottomley, Mary, 30.
Burnett, Deborah, 5½.
Green, James, 20.
Mason, John 18½.
Tordoff, Love, 6.
Taylor, Joseph, 20.
Walker, Jane, 5½.
Walker, Samuel, 35.
Walker, Susannah, 6.
QUEENROW, near Thirsk
Clark, Henry and John, adults.
SHIPLEY
DANGEROUSLY ILL
Boston, Jacob, 10, schoolboy.
Boston, Jane, 22, mill hand.
Golden, John, 21, mill hand.
Golden, Mary, 53, no trade.
Sutcliffe, Ingham, 14, mill hand.
Sutcliffe, Jane, 48, no trade.
Wood, Margaret Ann, 25, weaver.
RECOVERING
Boston, James, 14, mill hand.
Boston, Mary 16, mill hand.
Boston, Mary, 55, no trade.
Fortune, David, 58, comber.
Garth, Isaac, 15, mill hand.
Golden, Mary, 21, weaver.
Sutcliffe, John, 27, weaver.
Sutcliffe, William, 56, weaver.
Wood, Jemima, 35, weaver.
TONG MOOR
RECOVERING
Wheatman, James.
Wheatman, Nancy.
THORNTON
DANGEROUSLY ILL
Northrop, Betty, 63.
Ramsden, Elizabeth, 2½.
WINDHILL
Recovered
Brook, Elizabeth, 35, mill hand.
Brook, John, 40, labourer.
Chapman, Elizabeth, mill hand.
Chapman, Margaret, 23, mill hand.
Chapman, Milly, 27, mill hand.
Dalton, George, 35, mill hand.
RECOVERING
Pitts, Ellen, 11.
WIBSEY
DANGEROUSLY ILL
Wright, Mary, 40, married woman.
There is a lot of detail relating to the lozenge poisoning including inquests into the deaths. Was your ancestor one of those affected? Want to find out more details please contact me.
Sources
Bradford Observer, 4th November 1858
Bradford Observer 23rd December 1858
Bradford Observer 23rd December 1858
Leeds Mercury, 2nd November 1858
Leeds Mercury, 4th November 1858Sunday, 4 September 2011
On This Day 4th September...
1880 – Bowling Park is opened by the Mayor who is shocked by the great unwashed
When they first discussed building a park on this site it was derided as Bowling smoke was considered to be so detrimental to vegetation that it was considered to be a waste of public money. However the Council had only agreed to the purchase of Manningham park on the understanding that similar parks would be constructed at Horton and Bowling and there were few suitable sites of sufficient size in Bowling so this location was chosen. It is situated in the area generally known as Bowling Springs on the north western side of Bolling Hall.
A newspaper report of the park while construction was still in progress was concerned about the effect of the smoke from nearby manufacturing sites on people’s ability to enjoy the park and also on the ability to cultivate plants. The smoke was particularly bad at the junction of New Hay Road and Hall Lane as the smoke from the dyeworks swept right across this portion of the grounds. Disused coal pits also littered the grounds and although they had been filled and planted with trees by the former owner of Bowling Hall they had not grown to any size, nevertheless they relieved the district of the bare look it would have had otherwise. It had been hoped that the corporation could purchase both sides of the valley as, by Waggon Road, there is a pretty wooded valley with a stream running through it, but this was not possible and the wood and stream are not included in the park. There was however a chain of four small lakes each one lower than the other and united by cascades. A little farther on was the cricket ground and bowling green and outside these the flower garden. A terrace on the highest part of the grounds has views of Bradford in the hollow below up to the heights of Rombolds Moor. “When the chimney is not vomiting smoke and the evening is fine the sunsets will be delightful.”
The park was opened by Mayor Mr Angus Holden on a Saturday afternoon. He was presented with a large silver guilt key beautifully enamelled by which to open the gates. The key was an object of much interest to the spectators near enough to see it that it was periodically held aloft during the course of the afternoon. After requisite speeches the Lord and Lady Mayor went on to plant sycamore trees.
Although nothing was mentioned in the press at the time a later report revealed the shock of the officials at the large numbers of the “great unwashed”:-
“As the corporation and municipal officials wended their way to the park, they were abashed at the sight of so many of the “great unwashed” among the assembled spectators in the line of the procession. The preponderance of grimy countenances formed the subject of much remark, doubtless in many cases more jocular than otherwise; but the circumstance had its serious aspect, and probably on that day some members of the council were won over to the side of the advocators to district baths.”
This shock of the state of the people of Bowling resulted in the opening of Manchester Road baths on 18th January 1887 midway between West Bowling and Little Horton.
Source
The Leeds Mercury, Saturday August 23rd 1879
The Leeds Mercury, Monday 6th September 1880
The Leeds Mercury, Wednesday November 24th 1886
Thursday, 28 July 2011
On this day 17th January...
1918 - Queues for butter were 70 foot long and questions were raised by Bradford West MP Fred Jowett in the House of Commons
Before the war two thirds of the population purchased butter over margarine and about half of the country's supplies of butter and margarine were imported. However it became increasingly difficult to obtain butter and margarine from those sources as the war continued and also to balance the need for milk with that for butter, margarine, cheese and other dairy products. During 1916 places like the Bradford War Hospital changed their orders to margarine in place of butter.
In November 1917 the Ministry of Food issued the Butter (maximum prices) order 1917. The Ministry also worked to considerably increase the production of margarine at home rather than relying on imports which were subject to U-boat attacks. By this time the consumption of margarine had increased and would eventually even exceeded that of butter.
However despite the Food Control Order there were still problems with supply. In the beginning of December 1917 the Executive officer of the Bradford Food Control Committee wrote to the Ministry of Food regarding long queues of people waiting outside shops in which margarine is sold. It took them until the end of the month to be able to “commandeer” some butter for Bradford.
In January 1918 Bradford Food Control Committee aimed to establish a distribution of butter and margarine scheme. This would “put into operation as early as possible a scheme of registering and rationing.” However it was recognised that improving the distribution was only of value in an emergency and could do nothing to deal with the problem raised by the continuing shortage of butter and margarine. Butter cards were to be issued recording all purchases and containing consumers name and address, the name and address of the retailer, and in case of those 13 and under their age. It was decided that it was better to have individual registration rather than registering each household so that they didn’t have to keep amending the cards to deal with births, deaths and removals etc. Retailers were to keep a list of all those consumers registered with them and each purchase was to be ticked off. Bradford worked with the surrounding districts of Baildon, Clayton, Denholme, Drighlington, Queensbury, Shelf and Shipley to develop a uniform rationing scheme.
Even while the scheme was being planned problems of distribution in Bradford continued so much so that Fred Jowett MP for Bradford West at the time raised the issue in House of Commons on 17th January 1918. He stated that in “Bradford on Saturday last there were queues of people two and three abreast at five different shops all within half a mile distance from the town hall, the shortest of which was not less than 40 yards and the longest 70 in length waiting for butter or margarine” He was also concerned on the effect on the health and physical condition of the women and children of standing for hours in the streets in cold and wet weather. The response from the Ministry of Food to his concerns was that Bradford was already at the forefront of establishing the most effective remedy by developing a model scheme with a view to the establishment of a local rationing with Bradford as a centre.
By February that year ration cards were issued, the scheme was said to be working smoothly and it was reported that the queues had disappeared. However there were still frequent complaints that distribution was still uneven with some areas receiving only butter and others only margarine.
Even after the war in April 1919 although margarine was free of rationing in Bradford it still had a fixed maximum control price. Butter was still rationed with no increase in quantity available. Despite the Food Control committee wanting to continue with their work until there are no longer any shortages the Ministry of food notified them that the committee would cease to exist from 30th June 1920.
BBC1/29-42 — Bradford Food Control Committee Minutes 1917-1920 -West Yorkshire Archive Service
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