|
Bradford
takes its name from the 'Broad Ford' beside the site of Bradford
Cathedral. The town was an important part of the woollen
industry from 13th century onwards but during the Industrial
Revolution Bradford became the 'wool captital of the world'.
The area's
supply of coal, iron ore and soft water were ideal raw materials
for the textile industry and the large population of West
Yorkshire provided a readily available workforce. A
manufacturing base grew up to support the textile mills leading
to many different industries prospering side by side.
Bradford
received its charter as a city in 1897. Today most of the
'dark satanic mills' of the Industrial Revolution have
gone but Bradford is still an important city with modern industries
such as chemicals, engineering and financial services.
Today
one of the few remaining textile mills, Salt
Mill at Saltaire, is a museum. Saltaire, a planned industrial
village (now a UNESCO World Heritage Site), was created by
the enlightened industrialist Sir Titus Salt. The chimney
of Lister's Mill (now apartments) can still be seen from almost
everywhere in the city.
Bradford
has some fine Victorian architecture including the grande
Italianate City Hall. Outside the City Hall in Centuary Square
stands a memorial to the 56 Bradford City FC supporters who
died when a fire engulfed the Main Stand of Valley Parade
in 1985.
Today
the vibrant city has become an important tourist destination
with attractions such as the National
Museum of Photography, Film and Television (which includes
an IMAX cinema), and Cartwright Hall, a civic art gallery
located in the grounds of Lister Park.
Bradford
also has four theatres and a magnificent concert hall.
A statue of J B Priestley, Bradford's famous author, stands
outside the NMPFT looking across to the Alhambra Theatre,
where his plays are still frequently staged.
The metropolitan
district of Bradford was formed in 1974 and it is now England's
fourth largest district with city status. The city has a large
porportion of recent immigrants; with 22% of the population
coming from ethnic minority groups. Bradford also has the
fourth highest percentage of Muslims in Britain.
Because
of the large number of Asian immigrant restaurants Bradford
is sometimes called the 'curry capital of Europe'.
To the
north and west the district is mainly rural, with some high
moorland such as Ilkley Moor. This beautiful countryside
has been made famous by 'The Last of the Summer Wine'
and 'Emmerdale'.
The district
around the picturesque village of Haworth, home of the Brontė
family, is now known as 'Brontė Country'. Visitors to the
Brontė
Parsonage Museum can see where all the poems and novels
were written
|
the internet holiday and travel guide to the UK
Bradford
