FROM Bradford's City's first season in the Premier League to the dying days of its textiles trade, photographer Ian Beesley has given an insight into the district's recent past.

The Eccleshill-born man has dusted off his photographic archive from his long and illustrious career to the Telegraph & Argus with a weekly series of themed pictures.

Beesley says the collections of his photographs have already proved popular with readers, triggering memories of a different era in Bradford.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: A Bantams supporter captures the moment as City survive after beating Liverpool in May 2000 A Bantams supporter captures the moment as City survive after beating Liverpool in May 2000

He added he has been contacted by people who spotted their grandparents worked at Esholt Sewage Works Railway when one of his pictures of him was published in the paper.

Another reader contacted Beesley to say he spotted his late grandfather working at a Bradford mill in one of the collections of pictures.

Beesley says he has been touched by hearing such stories and the people behind his images.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: An anxious City fan calls for time against Arsenal on February 5, 2000 An anxious City fan calls for time against Arsenal on February 5, 2000

He said: "For me, you can exhibit your work, but when someone says that's a picture of my dad, it's a really nice thing.

"It helps create a thread of history.

The pictures should be a bit of a distraction at the moment

"Doing this project makes me realise how badly filed my work is.

"My work from the 1970s and 80s was just put away in boxes. But the older the picture gets, the more interesting it becomes.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Double trouble for one dad captured by photographer Ian Beesley for the Born in Bradford project Double trouble for one dad captured by photographer Ian Beesley for the Born in Bradford project

"I found a few thousand pictures of Salts Mill. There are a few pictures that are eluding me that I know are somewhere.

"It's been really interesting to go through these boxes and I find out things and think 'I don't remember doing that'. My pictures of the Moulders Arms have not been exhibited.

"I like to take pictures of sites a few years apart for a contrast. It was difficult with the Moulders Arms as Sticker Lane has changed so much. You look for reference points to take pictures, but I struggled to find any.

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

"When I went back to Salts Mill, it was hard to locate the mill I photographed before. The weaving shed has become an electronics company there.

"Where there has been dramatic changes, it's harder than one building that has been knocked down even."

Mr Beesley's collections so far have included capturing mill life from 1976 to 1986 as he toured factories.

But he says his favourites so far have been the moments he captured on film of the last few months before last orders were called for the final time at a Bradford pub.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Eric Denny tends to Elizabeth in the press shed at Esholt Sewage Works Railway Eric Denny tends to Elizabeth in the press shed at Esholt Sewage Works Railway

The Moulders Arms, Sticker Lane, was a community hub until it was boarded up and demolished in 1983.

He documented the last year of the pub's existence via a series of striking black and white pictures, which have never been published or exhibited before.

He also recalled creating a collection of stone displays highlighting a Bradford project welcoming and helping those seeking asylum in the city.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: A spinner working at Salts Mill in 1986, as captured by photographer Ian Beesley A spinner working at Salts Mill in 1986, as captured by photographer Ian Beesley

Beesley created an art installation featuring three stone displays marking Bradford's City of Sanctuary, achieved in 2011, which was endorsed by the national City of Sanctuary movement (CoS), following a thorough review in 2014.

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.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Woolen mill in Bradford Woolen mill in Bradford

Beesley adds he still has a host of photographic themes from Bradford's recent past to explore in future weeks. These include pictorials on Bradford Bulls at their trophy winning height at the start of this century and old shops in the city.

He added: "I will be featuring pictures I took during Bradford City's second season in the Premier League (2000-01). I was surprised how many pictures I had of them.

"I have a few pictures of Stuart McCall from that time. He has a few pictures of mine on his walls."

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: A game of ‘piggy’ in Listerhills A game of ‘piggy’ in Listerhills

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 has shared his images of kids street games in Bradford between 1977 and 1979 Photographer Ian Beesley has shared his images of kids street games in Bradford between 1977 and 1979

Punters outside the pub for its last Sunday lunchtime of trading

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: ‘Many feet from many lands upon these stones have trod.’ Carving of footprints photographed in Centenary Square in 2017 ‘Many feet from many lands upon these stones have trod.’ Carving of footprints photographed in Centenary Square in 2017

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

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Drummond Mill which was later destroyed by fire Drummond Mill which was later destroyed by fire

 

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: The last night at the Moulders Arms, Sticker Lane, Bradford, which was demolished in 1983 The last night at the Moulders Arms, Sticker Lane, Bradford, which was demolished in 1983

 

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Ian Beesley's the Leap project saw hundreds of children photographed while in the air Ian Beesley's the Leap project saw hundreds of children photographed while in the air