THE evolution of a Saltaire landmark from a working mill to an art and business hub has been celebrated over the decades by photographer Ian Beesley.

His association with the mill began in the early 1980s, when he was commissioned by the then named National Museum of Photography, Film and Television in Bradford to document the demise of the textile trade.

He took a number of pictures in the weaving mill at Salts Mill for 18 months from February 1985. But only four of them were ever displayed until he held an exhibition at the Saltaire site in 2017.

His mid-1980s black and white images show scenes including a mill spinner in action and a scrapman dismantling a loom.

The photos also captured sites around Saltaire including Albert Terrace, the River Aire, Christmas in 1986 and workshops and maintenance men in Salts Mill.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: High-tech modern production line at Salts Mill in 2017 High-tech modern production line at Salts Mill in 2017

Mr Beesley was asked to take new pictures to mark Salts Mill’s 30th anniversary in 2017 showing the building in its current guise.

These pictures aimed to recapture the same locations within Salts Mill where the original pictures were taken, include images of employees at technology firms Arris and Radio Design.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Dismantling looms at Salts Mill in 1986 Dismantling looms at Salts Mill in 1986

 

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

That year marked the 30th anniversary of businessman Jonathan Silver buying Salts Mill. Mr Silver died from cancer in 1997, but not before he had transformed the mill into retail and commercial units and an art gallery.

Beesley said: "I have photographed Salts Mill over 30 plus years.

"I photographed Salts when it was a working mill, when it went into disrepair and semi-dereliction and when it was rejuvenated by Jonathan Silver and his family.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: The last loom is removed from Salts Mill 9th May 1986. Bottom right is Harry Burnett, the last weaving shed manager. This was the end of 133 years of production The last loom is removed from Salts Mill 9th May 1986. Bottom right is Harry Burnett, the last weaving shed manager. This was the end of 133 years of production

"I suppose it must have been sometime in the 1960s but I can remember waiting in Victoria Road for my aunty to come out of Salts Mill, scanning the swarm of bustling faces, until I saw her strolling out the gates arm in arm laughing and joking with her friends. She worked there as a burler and mender, a highly-skilled job mending defects in woven cloth.

"Twenty years later I walked through those gates to photograph the last days of production at Salts.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: This storage unit was packed with Jacquard weaving programmes which consist of a series of punched cards for weaving complex figure. In the centre of the photo is A football coupon, the previous week the weavers syndicate had a win on the pools of £3.86 This storage unit was packed with Jacquard weaving programmes which consist of a series of punched cards for weaving complex figure. In the centre of the photo is A football coupon, the previous week the weavers syndicate had a win on the pools of £3.86

"I had been commissioned by the newly-opened and then called National Museum of Photography to document the demise of the textile trade and so, in February of 1985, I made my first visit to Salts Mill.

"The weaving shed was in full production and spinning was running shifts, I was given complete access to come and go as I pleased.

"I was a regular visitor for the next 18 months during which production ceased, the mill was stripped and eventually sold.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: A weaver is repairing a broken “end” in the warp at Salts Mill A weaver is repairing a broken “end” in the warp at Salts Mill

"Just a few of these images have been exhibited, the rest stored in my darkroom cupboards. In 2016 Maggie and Zoe Silver asked me to see what photographs I had.

"I was surprised to find that I have over 1,000 negatives of Salts. "So, 30 years later (with some new additions and poems by Ian McMillan), a small tribute to those who worked here when it was a textile mill, but more importantly it is a celebration of the development of Salts Mill by the Silver family into a world famous hub of modern industry, creativity and enterprise."

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Ian Beesley at Salts Mill in 1986 Ian Beesley at Salts Mill in 1986

Who is Ian Beesley?

He was born in Bradford in 1954 and after leaving school in 1972 worked in a mill, a foundry before going to work at Esholt Sewage works, where he was part of the railway gang.

Encouraged by his workmates to go to college and find a career, he took up photography and eventually was accepted to study at Bradford Art College, after which he went to Bournemouth & Poole College of Art.

On graduating he was awarded a Kodak Scholarship for Social Documentation and started to document the demise of industry particularly in Bradford and West Yorkshire.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Photographer Ian Beesley in 2017 in the exhibition of images he made during the changes at Salts Mill during the final years of production in the 1980s Photographer Ian Beesley in 2017 in the exhibition of images he made during the changes at Salts Mill during the final years of production in the 1980s

His work is held in the collections of Bradford City Art galleries and museums, the National Media Museum, the Imperial War Museum, the Royal Photographic Society, the V & A London, the National Coal Mining Museum for England and The Smithsonian Museum Washington USA. He has published 40 books.

In 2012 he was made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society and in 2019 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Bradford for his outstanding contribution to the art and culture and the social and economic development of the city of Bradford.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Salts Mill now contains a number of high tech companies involved in the production of satellite and telecommunications Salts Mill now contains a number of high tech companies involved in the production of satellite and telecommunications

He is currently artist in residence for the Bradford Institute for Health Research, Gallery Oldham and Yorkshire Water.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Workers cycling to work on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal towpath, Saltaire in 1986Workers cycling to work on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal towpath, Saltaire in 1986

 

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: A happy spinner at Salts Mill in 1986 A happy spinner at Salts Mill in 1986

 

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Beesley: “Contact sheet of 35mm film of a loom being dismantled at Salts Mill 1986. I returned in 2017 to re-photograph various sites in the mill, using the very same camera (a leica M6) I used 30 years before.” Beesley: “Contact sheet of 35mm film of a loom being dismantled at Salts Mill 1986. I returned in 2017 to re-photograph various sites in the mill, using the very same camera (a leica M6) I used 30 years before.”