FAMILIES have been given an insight into how Bradford’s millworkers lived during the height of Bradford’s fame as being the home of wool.

The family activity day took place at Bradford Industrial Museum yesterday, with families flocking to the museum in Eccleshill.

Families could meet Mary Ryan, the star of a millworking activity and learn about the skills of spinning and weaving, as Mary tells the story of her life working in the mill, and of its noises, smells, and her own and her daughter’s tragic deaths.

Alongside this there were Zoolab interactive sessions featuring a range of animals from across the world, where children could get hands-on with the creatures.

Tracey Stewart, who works at the museum, said there was a great turnout for the events yesterday.

She said: “We had about 240 people in total attend the events.

“Mary Ryan was as entertaining as always, she really gets into character and makes you believe the story she is telling and that she is really the millworker telling you about her life.

“Children loved the Zoolab as well, that always goes down well.

“There were a lot of creepy crawlies; we had tarantulas, cockroaches and centipedes, as well as rats and snakes and more.

“Children either love that stuff or hate it, but they tend to love it and all had a really good time.”

Also taking place yesterday at the museum was the launch of its online photography archive store.

The Museum has a collection of more than 300,000 historic images of Bradford over the years, which are now being made available to buy at an online store.

The Lord Mayor of Bradford Councillor Zafar Ali paid a visit to the museum to help celebrate the launch of the website.

These activities were some of a number of different events and attractions taking place at the museum in Moorside Road this summer to keep children and parents busy.

Away from today’s activities, there are also a number of other attractions dotted around the museum.

One exhibition running during the summer is titled ‘A Yorkshireman’s Travels’ exploring the journeys of eccentric and intrepid traveller Enoch Pendergast on his adventures around the world.

Paintings and images of faraway and exotic locations and objects explore the fascination people had during the Victorian and Edwardian eras with travel.

Images that have never been put on public display before from the Bradford Scientific Association’s lantern slide collection and objects from its World Culture’s collection, sent back to the UK by Bradford explorers in far-flung corners of the world.

The exhibition looks at Bradford’s international role in the world and how different cultures from around the globe have influenced the city and its citizens.

Science societies in the city aimed to inform and educate the people of Bradford about the world, using its collections of images and slide shows, in a time when most people could not travel beyond the UK.

There is an exhibition of metalwork, ceramics and prints made by eight Year 11 students from Nidderdale High School in Pateley Bridge inspired by a visit to the Industrial Museum.

Working in partnership with an art gallery, the students were tutored by professional craftspeople on projects to create artworks using recycled metal, clay mark making, construction techniques and different painting methods.

Also on display is the Vote 100: Spinning a Yarn exhibition celebrating the centenary of women being given the vote, and this exhibition marks the contributions made by women millworkers to Bradford’s economy

It explores women’s working lives and how they were intertwined with family life, how women workers were involved in politics, the Suffragette movement and trade unions, and how working women fought for changes in pay and to be recognised for their contributions.

This exhibition is one of a number being staged across Bradford’s museums and galleries to mark the centenary of women winning the vote.

Admission to Bradford Industrial Museum is free, though donations are appreciated. and it is open from 10am to 4pm Tuesday to Friday, and 11am to 4pm on weekends.

For more information call 01274 435900 or visit bradfordmuseums.org