C H Wood photos of old Bradford at Gallery 1 in Centenary Square

The people who go along to stare at the images on display, particularly those of this city in days gone by, seem to find themselves gripped by a mixture of emotions: pride in what used to be, regret for what has been lost, admiration for the quality of the photographs with their pin-sharp detail.

Their feelings are reflected in the many entries in the comments book at the entrance to the gallery. Some are by familiar names.

“A wonderful opportunity to see such amazing photographs of a bygone, much-loved age. Thank you C H Wood and family,” is the message signed “P & A Booth (nee Busby)” from a member of another famous Bradford family. Former Lord Mayor Stanley King’s comment is: “A mouth-watering selection. Roll on the next exhibition.”

They capture the flavour of the comments from the many members of the public who have been inspired to pen their thoughts.

“Wonderfully nostalgic trip, excellently put together,” says one. Another declares: “Excellent exhibition. Love this sort of stuff. Glad there was lots to look at. Would love to see more.”

An appreciative Christine Dean wrote: “Wonderful! Would welcome a continuing exhibition of the complete Wood collection.” Melisa Dargue enthused: “Wonderful exhibition! Mr Wood was certainly one in a million. It’s good to see he is still appreciated.”

The exhibition is opening the eyes of more recent Bradfordians to the history of the city.

S Hussain wrote: “Had no idea Bradford was this amazing.” And “Hamza”, after viewing the mill chimneys and the soot, wrote: “No wonder all the bricks are black. I never realised all this stuff. Thanks for showing me.”

Yet another contributor wasn’t merely content to enjoy the photographs but wanted to revisit the world they represented: “An amazing journey back in time. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Just need to build my time machine.” The next comment says: “Sweet, good stuff. Well played. I wanna buy them.”

The regret many people seem to feel is summed up by the visitor who wrote: “What a shame Bradford lost so many of the fabulous buildings of the Industrial Revolution.

One can only hope that one day the city will be restored to its former glory.” Another comment is: “Why can’t Bradford look like this now? The best buildings have been pulled down.”

One, signed “73-year-old Bradfordian”, lamented: “These photos should be encompassed in school learning to show how Bradford was once a great city and how it has declined.”

Other writers court controversy. One wrote: “About time an exhibition of interest. Too much pretentious b*****ks otherwise” Another, presumably taking a swipe at the Media Museum across the road, asked: “A brilliant collection of photographic history. Why does the National Museum ignore local talent?”

A comment in the book declares: “We loved seeing a glimpse of the past and imagining what a great city Bradford was. Have the planners who propose to knock down the Odeon building seen this? They should.”

One writer, heart bursting with northern pride, wrote: “The North’s time will come again. It might be grim in parts but it has always been beautiful. Who’d be a soft southerner?”

An interesting point was made by “Rita R”, who mused: “I wonder if C H Wood would make Bradford’s newer buildings look as interesting as he has made our older ones?” Sadly, we’ll never know. But the late photographer’s sons might have some thoughts about that when they take part in a talk and tour at Bradford 1 Gallery tomorrow evening. It will be chaired by Michael Callaghan of the Bradford Industrial Museum, who is curating this increasingly popular exhibition.

Bradford Council’s Museums, Galleries and Heritage collection now includes an archive of more than 250,000 negatives and images created by C H Wood, who was one of the best-known photographers in the region with a client list that included the majority of the large textile, engineering and manufacturing firms of the time.

The exhibition includes photographs from the premises of those companies as well as street scenes and the aerial shots for which Wood was famous – many of Bradford and West Yorkshire, others of English coastal towns.

Running continuously alongside the exhibition is a short video featuring the life and work of Charles Harold Wood from his birth in Heaton in 1904. Narrated by writer and broadcaster Ian Clayton and Wood’s younger son David, it tells the story of Wood’s early interest in motorcycles (he began his working life with Scott’s in Shipley and was an international trials rider); his pioneering work with infra-red photography to penetrate distant haze and produce clear images; and his wartime work helping pilots to practise night flying in daytime, for which he was later awarded the MBE.

Post-war, he became deeply involved in making films to promote the world of local companies.

Examples shown in the video include one for Lister’s, to plug its fabrics, and another for John Smith’s brewery in Tadcaster which used to be loaned out to men’s groups and rotary clubs to show them how beer was made (and hopefully to impress upon them that John Smith’s was a brew worth sampling).

There’s a look at some of the cameras he used for his aerial and infrared work and a 16mm cine camera that was sometimes mounted on the front of his motorcycle.

A Keystone Cops-style short made for the West Riding County Council to promote safety on the roads employed trick photography to get its message across with humour.

And a film Light Through The Clouds, an example of his father’s work of which David Wood declares himself particularly proud, was made to help recruitment for nursing staff at The Retreat in York, a psychiatric unit.

David Wood describes his father as a perfectionist who wanted not only to inform his audience but to entertain them. This splendid exhibition shows how well he succeeded.

Factfile

The North In Focus exchibition will be at the Bradford 1 Gallery until January 25 (open Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 11am-6pm, Thursday 11am-8pm, Saturday and Sunday noon-5pm, closed Mondays).

Tomorrow (Thursday), from 6pm to 8pm, there will be chance to tour the exhibition with curator Michael Callaghan and hear David and Malcolm Wood recall working with the ground-breaking photographic techniques pioneered by their father. Places are limited so please book by calling 08450 515882 or e-mail fran.levy@bradford.gov.uk with a subject line of North In Focus. Similar events will be held on November 20 and January 15.

See C H Wood aerial photographs in Remember When? in the T&A every Thursday.