A COLLECTION of archive material has shed new light on the mill-owning family who lived at a Bradford district hall.

Cottingley Village History Society has received a box of archives from a descendant of Annie Priestley, the wife of Charles Priestley.

It found that he family of Charles and Annie lived at Cottingley Hall in 1887 and remained there until 1911, although Charles died in 1893.

Charles Priestley is not as well known as his father, Briggs Priestley, or his brother, William Priestley, but was a major player in industrial Bradford during the latter 19th century.

Charles was born in the early 1850s, the son of Briggs Priestley and his wife, Grace (nee Crabtree) and he was eventually taken in to the family firm of Briggs Priestley & Sons as a partner.

On October 16, 1878, Charles married Annie Ford Gillies in Eccleshill. Following Charles's death, Annie continued to reside at Cottingley Hall until 1911.

All the Priestley documents and photographs donated to Cottingley Village History Society will be on display at the group's annual general meeting held on Wednesday, March 16 at Cottingley Town Hall, Main Street, from 7.30pm and at the Heritage Centre’s open days from April onwards. Go to history.cottingleyconnect.org.uk for more information.