DR CAROLE BINNS from the University of Bradford highlights the digitalisation of an archive film of a former community in the city:

Following my successful internal application for research funding, an archive film showing the demolition of Carlton Street School and houses, and the construction of the University foundations is now publicly available for the first time.

Originally filmed by the Bradford Institute of Technology (circa 1959-61) the short black and white silent film shows internal and external shots of the derelict school, with workers demolishing the walls of a house.

There are long distance background shots of the surrounding area. Towards the end, the film shows that the ground

has been cleared, and that the University foundations and footings are being constructed.

Digitalisation of the film was one of the outputs from my research on ‘The 22 streets: A short overview of houses demolished during the construction of the University of Bradford’ in which I looked at Victorian life in the area.

The film can be viewed online at the Yorkshire Film Archive: www.yfanefa.com/ by typing in ‘Demolition of Carlton Street School’.

* Dr Binns’ social history project focuses on the area in 1870-80 and during the First World War.

Her research was inspired by the discovery in 2021 of a Victorian street running through the campus of the University of Bradford. Unearthed by archaeology students at the university, the street dates back to around 1880 and was one of many demolished to make way for the expansion of the university in the 1960s.

Prior to the university being built, the area was lined with terraces - in a warren of back yards, outhouses and alleys - as well as schools, shops and a variety of small businesses.

Dr Binns has researched 22 streets within the boundaries of Longside Lane, Carlton Street, Great Horton Road and Shearbridge Road. It was, she says, a close-knit, self-sufficient community.

As well as mills and factories, the streets had many small businesses, including dressmakers, drapers, grocers, confectioners, butchers, milliners, chemists, tailors and shoe sellers. Trades in the area included sponge cloth manufacturers, pie makers, oil merchants, dry soap makers, milk dealers and furniture brokers.

Jobs listed include warehousemen, wool-staplers, reed and heald makers, yarn buyers, warrant officer, mechanic, accountant, police clerk, horse-keeper, saddler, chimney sweep, brewer, cabinet makers, blacksmith, plasterer, scenic artist, joiner, schoolmaster, solicitor, dentist, doctor, nurse, piece taker-in, plumber and tanner. Pubs included the Peel Hotel, Tumbling Hill Tavern and the Bowling Green.

“This was a small, very industrious area, with people of various trades and positions living closely together in adjoining streets,” said Dr Binns.

“There was very mixed housing - back-to-back houses and terraced houses of varying sizes, with and without yards and gardens, and some larger villas - so there would have been a mix of social classes there.

“Children were educated in Carlton Street School and there was a Methodist presence. Many residents would have attended Wesleyan Methodist Richmond Terrace Chapel.”