Bradford - From Rich to Poor!

What went wrong with Bradford?
Once one of the richest cities outside of London, now one of the highest levels of poverty and dereliction! Come for a look around the centre to see if we can work out where it went wrong.
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[@Brandalar]

As with many cities and larger towns across the country; industry and manufacturing getting offshored and rapid demographic and culture change

[@nineteen8486]

planned demolition ....agenda 2030....wake up

[@begbieyabass]

In 1980 I got stuck in Bradford for 6hrs at 2am after my truck broke down, I couldn't sleep so I walk around Town awestruck at the Gothic looking buildings .

[@johntooth1886]

Now it's a Muslim dump.

[@Sajangrg69]

@@johntooth1886will reconquista ever happen? Can your people fight back and reclaim your lands?

[@DamnDealDone]

More listed buildings than York and lots of gargoyles around the city to walk around and find. The old buildings really are amazing. Could have been like York if it the council didn't demolish a lot of them.

[@MrIrrepressible]

@DamnDealDone would of made a great location as a Gotham city in a batman movie

[@sylviabriggs4087]

@@Sajangrg69not as yet

[@paulgissing5338]

I live 6 miles from Bradford, and would never think of going there to shop or anything else for that matter, as Bradford seems to have nothing to offer just like Dewsbury , such a shame these once beautiful places have been run into the ground and made tacky.

[@nevrobinson8530]

Lived in wyke for four years from 1971 ,and the city was pretty good. Been back a few years ago and it’s bloody frightening,they have sharia law don’t bother with road tax or insurance .and steal whenever they feel like it. What the hell have British governments done to stop this.absolutely nothing…

[@johntooth1886]

Muslim desperation. W

[@waynechadwick-sy6cx]

It’s like you said replacing a couple stone would be done any builder around £2-300 but council put it on books 3 day job ten times that. It’s happening every town city up down country, maybe richer Burroughs will get double a government funds than the lower classes areas!

[@uknasa007]

Calm down it's not that bad kid

[@Oasis194]

Nothing to offer? So if you walked into the town centre all the shops would equate to ‘nothing to offer’? Think if you come here the first shop I recommend you go to is specsavers.

[@ClarenceFlanagan]

Bradford is one of those places that makes me feel miserable, even if I'm just driving through it. The only good things about the area are Saltaire and the absolutely beautiful theatre.

[@tanyajacobs9974]

I m from Leeds and the only time I went to Bradford was for a stand up performance there and a couple of times to visit the photography museum.

[@tombaranyai6683]

I was born in Bradford and in my 41 years of living here, i don't ever remember it being a great city centre. It feels more like a small town centre. I think multiple things are to blame but with Leeds being so close and being such a cracking city, most people i know go there instead. Bradford needs to focus more on getting businesses to open up there rather than putting up fountains and fancy pavements.

[@clivebroadhead4381]

Bradford needs to build the reputation of being a fun city like the island of Majorca, cheap drinks, free sex and fun.

[@AL-PAKA]

I'm from Leeds and it's gone downhill, full of dinghy divers now sadly

[@philipwade3765]

Hopefully 2025, when Bradford becomes city of culture will bring great investments.❤️🌈✌️

[@danielgardecki1046]

Bradford City Centre > Leeds City Centre The only time I'd ever go to Leeds was to go their main HMV in The Headrow (now in St John's Shopping Centre) which always had different stuff to Bradford's HMV, and all the rival stores like Virgin, Zavvi, Electronics Boutique, Game, Gamestation, Comet, Dixons, PC World, Currys etc.

[@richardmadden8742]

The fancy pavements and fountains attract people and this in turn attracts business because increased footfall means increased potential of custom.

[@tomwinder4402]

I have been to Bradford many times, and I never realized that was a lake! It has always been dry when I have seen it. Loved this vid but, like you, it saddens me that Bradford has been slowly dying for years.

[@cyberdonblue4413]

Nice video, Darren. Sadly, many city centres are fading away these days for various reasons. Greedy Councils have often priced business' out of the area and many other cities have 'imported the third world', as it were; which has dragged so many already poorly maintained properties into total delapidation because the people occupying them can't afford anything else. It's a crying shame but Britain is slowly dying never mind just Bradford.

[@itisjustacomment]

It's important not to forget about the long-term high benefit claims of some individuals, especially those with large families, as this often leads to the council paying for them until their children turn 18. This is one of the highest claims for benefits, which includes housing, out-of-work, and more. However, it seems that the Labour Council is poor at addressing this issue and never takes any action to solve it. They perceive such issues as positives for the city, which is not the case. The crime rate in the area is also higher than usual, with car theft, burglary, and drug use being the most common crimes. I have attended meetings where we presented the crime statistics according to the areas and people affected. However, the council chose to ignore these figures, which I vocally protested against. I said that if they did not even acknowledge the issue, it would never be fixed. However, six months have passed, and nothing has been done. The media only focuses on lower issues and the council because they want votes and do not want to upset anyone. However, one cannot acknowledge the problems without being told to keep quiet or push back. In the past, we used to work on crime by identifying the most active individuals and involving community leaders, peers, charities, and community groups to tackle the problem. However, nowadays, people are afraid to speak out and go to the community as they do not want to upset anyone. This only makes the problem worse and harder to deal with in the future.

[@boolay75]

I’m Leeds born and bred and live in Pudsey. It’s never crossed my mind to go in to Bradford but I don’t think it’s beyond rescue. They need to stop trying to emulate Leeds and look more towards Halifax and what they’ve done with the Piece Hall.

[@ronneighbour1378]

I didn't really know much about Bradford but the city looks quite impressive. Some amazing architecture.

[@tonywilliamson3532]

Cheers mate, Pudsey lad here. Bradford was such a fun place to visit in the 80's and 90's. Great shopping at the markets and record shops, such as Rocks off and Disc-Overy. It's such a shame that the place has gone so downhill 😢 Bradford does still have my favourite concert venue though in St George's Hall. Beautiful architecture and awesome acoustics.

[@davidbrumpton84]

I fell asleep on a bus from Halifax to Bradford and ended up stuck in Bradford late at night. I got mugged for my mobile phone and wallet outside the bus station. That’s been my only experience of Bradford. You couldn’t pay me to go there

[@buy.to.let.britain]

esp since you have no wallet.....

[@PSYCHIC_PSYCHO]

I will pay you £1,000,000,000 if you stay at a good hotel in Bradford, but you will also have to explore Bradford on foot during the day.

[@Logiefig]

I grew up with Bradford as my nearest city and have many fond memories of what it used to be. I moved there with my parents in the early sixties. We’d come into town on a weekend shopping and it was always very busy, with a serious commercial atmosphere but still a nice friendly vibe. Going for a night out in Bradford from the early to mid seventies to the early eighties was always a great experience with lively bars and night clubs - far superior to, for example Leeds, in those days. It has been in serious decline since then for various reasons. Not only through some terrible and shortsighted council decisions and stiff competition from other nearby towns and cities - Leeds especially. But mainly, I suspect, because of an almost complete change of demographics since the good old days of the 60s, 70s and early 80s. I have moved away now but will always have a soft spot for dear old Bradford, but will not be going back there anytime soon. I think I would prefer to remember it as it was, not what it has become.

[@theraven1979]

Always said when you're in Bradford look upwards at the wonderful buildings rather than the boarded up shops etc. It could be such a great place.

[@leash11d]

My husband is from Bradford but we live in my home town, Blackpool so I always find the videos places I have been even more interesting, thank you.

[@jonjohnson2844]

I was really skeptical of the 200 to 300 million pounds spent on the Glassworks development in Barnsley (difficult to calculate the final costs as there's a lot of sub-projects) but it has absolutely transformed the town centre...it's actually somewhere you want to go now, rather than just getting the train to Leeds.

[@notmenotme614]

I’m surprised Leeds has such a pull that people travel there as far away as Barnsley

[@ClarenceFlanagan]

Barnsley is a wonderful success story from what I've seen. It's a real pleasure even just to have a walk around the new market hall.

[@desertdocker]

19 miles, 35 minutes on train.@@notmenotme614

[@DamnDealDone]

Bradford in its current state is still better than Barnsley and yes, I have visited Barnsley twice in the last 12 months just to look around and shop. Bradford is bigger and has far more to offer. The video missed out University/College area, Canal road shopping area, Little Germany, the many flourishing Victorian parks around the city, and the spa towns, the villages, and canal areas. Barnsley is really no competition.

[@Settledinyorks]

Thank for this, Darren. Since moving up to Yorkshire I’ve tried hard to love Bradford. Fantastic old buildings but what a mess they’ve made of it. I was involved in a project for a new build in the centre about 15 years ago. They were desperate for a new flagship building to fill the hole in the middle of town. We pulled out and got huge amounts of grief for “ruining” the development of Bradford. It just seems that those in charge for sixty years have had no appreciation of the heritage and beauty of this once stunning town.

[@looneytune6955]

Hey mate, as a curious Bradfordian where exactly was this building going to be situated?

[@Settledinyorks]

@@looneytune6955 I can’t remember exactly where as I never got as far as the site visit!

[@nineteen8486]

truth

[@BlackGriffin195]

Historical home of the "Bradford Pals", those local heroes so famous from the Somme and other battles. Replaced by the peasants from the Third World with nothing to offer but cheap labour and alien ways. Those civic buildings are magnificent and a stunning memorial to times and people now lost to the past.

[@zatarawood3588]

Would you say that the first and perhaps second generation immigrants were hardworking and got on with their lives though? ... whereas their kids since say the 80s or so have become antisocial, aggressive and a general menace?

[@frasermitchell9183]

As I recall from my youth, Bradford was the heart of the woolen industry, in particular production of fine woolen suitings, and had the nickname "Worstedopolis". This industry made Bradford a very rich city.

[@mogbrown8409]

I am surprised at your images of Bradford City. It is not at all like the images that spring to my mind when Bradford is mentioned. It is the current cultural changes that spring to mind. Whether it is right or wrong I will not be visiting any time soon.

[@rontanser9369]

I agree with everything you said in this video, very interesting, but don’t you think it isn’t just Bradford, that’s declining the whole country seems to be slowly going down the pan

[@zatarawood3588]

Correct, but thats been happening for at least 50-60 years now) Its just its got to a level where its obvious to the most nationalistic brit) Nothing works, from the schools, to hospitals, to prisons to energy ... its just a total shambles) Foreigners keep wanting to come over here, just as fast as the native brits want to leave! Lol

[@DJRockford83]

Replacing the native culture with a worse one will do that I suppose. I doubt if we imported millions of Japanese there'd be these problems 👀

[@zatarawood3588]

@@DJRockford83 You are right, & its curious how the British who were experts in understanding the nuances down to individual sub races and cultures around the world & which laid the way for being able to colonise vast territories, forgot about their own research) I guess this happened as a result of becoming complacent, & just being weary after a world war. The strange thing is the culture of some of the migrant communities around the UK has actually got worse, iow its fed on itself, in a downward instead of upward spiral. I think there is a ray of hope, & that is trying to improve the world view and values of those people, but that isn't going to happen by letting them just be & pretending that no problem exists. Theres two issues, as I see them & Ill say it openly, 1) radical / literal islam aka interpreting islam exactly as it is written instead of using any allegorical interpretation / or nuance / or better still IMO just not practising at all 2) Black Carribean ghetto gangster culture imported primarily from Jamaica. This has poisoned other minorities cultures as well, definitely the Pakistani minorities along with others, including even native white English youth culture. Both of these need to be addressed urgently as it is acting as a terrible force for all sorts of social ills.

[@chrissmith6954]

The decline in many Cities is the alarming change in demographic and the outling suburbs.

[@dossierspain]

@DJRockford83 Totally agree in fact any other bloody culture. Pakistani families have absolutely turned Bradford into an absolute shit hole. As an Indian I’m appalled by what they’ve done and are still doing and will always do because they can’t fucking help be anything but themselves!!

[@Eric_Hunt194]

On the Jacob's Well subways being filled in, those subways were horrible and threatening. Burying pedestrians underground was a terrible idea.

[@DamnDealDone]

They weren't threatening in the slightest.

[@Parknest]

I'm Bradford born and lived most of my life in the city. Nowadays, I live in Halifax. The Broadway Centre was a long time coming and should've been built sooner than it was. 10 years ago, I was working in Arndale House and you're right about the rootop garden. I've never set foot in Sunbridge Wells. I remember the sliding doors that were there and I often wondered what was behind them. The Kirkgate Centre is supposed to be demolished as is the Oastler Centre. I remember the hexagonal shaped stalls before the market burnt down in 1978 when it was still known as John Street Market. I remember the old Rawson Market before it was closed and mostly rebuilt. Something needed to be done with the High Point building. It has remained empty since Yorkshire Building Society relocated their head office to Rooley Lane. I agree that the juntion of Westage and John Street is a nightmare. The former New Victoria/Gaumont had already become the Odeon by the time I was born and it is good to see it being restored to it's former glory. The 1960s alterations are being reversed. I think the council has made some bad decisions and is currently on the verge of bankruptcy.

[@jamesbrierley5693]

I went to school in Bradford in 1970, and was amazed by the older buildings. The last trolleybus lines were just closing. Whole areas to the East of the city were demolished and later replaced with modern construction. Little Germany was bustling still, John Street was a busy market, and there were specialist music shops opposite. I lived briefly at Playspace, a. Charity dedicated to building adventure playgrounds located at the junction of Lumb Lane and Carlisle Road. Back then in 1975-76 there were so many curry houses, cafes and pubs which were busy. The International club ( "the Nash") and Blue Moon Cafe were the most notorious and interesting! To "clean up" the area after Band of Gold tv plays (check them out...) in the early eighties, they demolished a large part of Lumb Lane, gentrified the appalling flats at South Square, and built crappy houses on the only open space nearby behind Carlisle Place.

[@MrKingkz]

I remember when there was a massive hole in the ground for what felt like ten years in Bradford city center

[@thecheesefactor]

To be fair, a lot of councils are on the verge of bankruptcy in the UK due to deep 'austerity' cuts from central government. Brexit, the pandemic, and energy prices have made things even more difficult for councils.

[@danielfield2570]

I have a family member who works in for senior management for BCC. He tells me that over 80% of the council’s budget goes on childcare for less than 1000 difficult children and all the specialists who come along with them. Part of the problem, and why it’s particularly bad for Bradford, is no one wants to live in Bradford, so they have to pay more for temporary/private specialists that costs much more than full time childcarers. This is part of the reason why so many councils are going bankrupt across the country. Also the way central government treats the councils is that they make them bid for funding from Westminster to improve places. What ends up happening is richer/more Tory places spend loads of money on consultants on how to get the funding. So loads of the money is effectively wasted before it even gets spent. It might be hard for a Bradfordian to hear but I think Bradford would be best to try and get better transport with Leeds and the rest of the West Yorkshire region. This would hopefully try and spread the comparative success of Leeds while still benefiting both Loiners and Brafordians.

[@jeromek2125]

No mention of that costly unused bicycle link between Bradford and Leeds, how much did that cost?

[@danielfield2570]

Comparatively a paltry amount I imagine to building new roads as well as bikes giving a negligible amount of road wear compared to cars. More though what West Yorkshire needs is a mass transit system like every other major metro area in Europe. RMTransit does a great video discussing Leeds’ and West Yorkshire’s predicament.

[@jeromek2125]

@@danielfield2570 “Comparatively a paltry amount I imagine”, eh, but bein’ a Yorkshire lad, look after t’pennies and t’pounds ‘ll look after thesenz.

[@KKTR3]

80% 1000 kids ???

[@jeromek2125]

@@KKTR3 Yes, that is hard to swallow.

[@stevejones9740]

Thanks for visiting Bradford Darren - I'm already looking forward to the Bradford railway videos. I grew up in south Leeds and had never had any reason to visit Bradford until the early 70s, when Leeds CC prevented the Town Hall from putting on pop/rock concerts, which were considered to be damaging the hearing of concertgoers. This instantly made Leeds a no-go area for the big bands of the day, so they went to Bradford St. George's Hall instead. And so did I. When I started work, in the mid 70s, I visited Bradford on a regular basis and developed an interest in the place to the extent that I actually prefer Bradford to Leeds these days. I'm not one for the prestige shopping venues, preferring to seek out the character in the architecture, which Bradford still has plenty of if you look in the right places.

[@m37kuk]

I was at university in Bradford in the 70s, we have a reunion each year when we pretend to be 18 for a weekend. We stay at the Midland hotel and drink at the Jacobs Well, Shoulder of Mutton , and wherever will let us in ending the evening face down in a Curry at the Kashmir, we all enjoy coming back to Bradford.

[@kathleenrodgers4514]

Thanks Darren, I really enjoyed this, it was full of interest and I couldn't help comparing it with my hometown of Sheffield, another city which has sadly lost it's way

[@GD-ms7ut]

Oh you are so right there, Sheffield is definitely dying, big time. Some interesting city council decisions on 'regeneration' helping that as well in my opinion. I feel sad every time anyone asks where I grew up about the city 😔.

[@lindseykaine-walley6339]

Chapel walk was a lovely shopping alley and that is now dead. I prefer Meadowhall, even though people don't like the place it's much better to shop around.

[@stephenduncan3605]

​@@lindseykaine-walley6339 the best place to shop in Sheffield is Crystal Peaks

[@johnfrancis2215]

Yes, Sheffield is a dump. They closed the old castle market and replaced it with the pathetic little group of shops on the Moor. Big mistake

[@chrisamstel5081]

i worked at the media museum when it first opened and was called The National Museum of Photography Film and Television. The building had been empty for years previously. There was a kind of journey through the history of photography and film making with lots of exhibits. Visited last year before it closed for a refurb and there was not much there. I asked what happened to all the exhibits but no one seemed to know.

[@AdventureMe]

I know. Not a patch on what it was

[@katiedales582]

I remember going on a school trip there about 30 years ago. Did they have the puppets from play school there?

[@chrisamstel5081]

The puppets were still there last year. There was a BBC exhibition room for which there was an additional charge. It had the Playschool dolls, Andy Pandy, Muffin The Mule, The Clangers and Flowerpot Men glass cases. Plus a rather battered looking Dalek. Not much else though. There was a new cinema in addition to the IMAX screen. Maybe thats why the exhibition space was so reduced. It really was so disappointing. @@katiedales582

[@PibrochPonder]

@@katiedales582they did yes

[@gaynorcockshott5752]

I live in Pudsey and used to come into Bradford regularly in the 90's. Not been in town centre for years and years. I found this really interesting. Thank you.

[@Invisiblewiz]

As a Pudsey person, do you identify more with Bradford or Leeds?

[@gaynorcockshott5752]

Leeds really, but as a teen and in my 20's used to quite like going into Bradford.

[@arthurthedane9204]

Hi Darren. Thank you so much for this video of my former home city. I was born there in the 1940s. Thankfully, my parents moved out of the city some years later & we moved to Leeds. I went to school in Saltaire, which was a model village built by the mill owner Titus Salt. Bradford declined very quickly in the 1960s as the influx of cheap foreign labour had completely taken over all the woollen mill jobs. The transition wasn't very cordial & there were areas unsafe for the original residents. I visited the city for the last time when I went to Manningham Park, which I loved as a child. I was confronted by a gang of new residents who said it was THEIR city now & I was threatened to leave. I have never wanted to visit again.

[@notmenotme614]

@@Invisiblewiz Even as someone who lived on the east side of Bradford (not too far from Thornbury and Pudsey) I identify as someone who’s from “near Leeds” Even today, I will go into Leeds city centre but not Bradford.

[@mandychew9611]

Like yourself, I now live in Pudsey, born & grew up in Bradford. I used to like going to the kirkgate market especially upstairs. I went a few years ago & was disappointed as it had changed so much (mainly nail bars).

[@NeilofBeeston]

A great tour of Bradford. I grew up just in Pudsey near Thornbury and came into Bradford most Fridays with my mother in the late 1950s and 1960s. I worked in a shop on Kirkgate in the 1979s when they were demolishing the old Kirkgate Market, which was wonderful and had a lovely smell from the pie and pea shops. Perhaps they could rebuild the Victorian Kirkgate Market, that would be good. 👍😃

[@foolonthehill731]

Sir Roger Scruton was a big advocate for beauty in architecture. He argued that making buildings inspiring, that made people want to stop and enjoy them, was good for a society. I'm not sure what data says about that but it makes sense to me. When people are surrounded by beauty, surely it can only positively affect their confidence and mood. Alas, money rules as always.

[@chrisbogg9948]

I left Bradford in 1970 to join the RAF. I did that mainly to get out of Bradford as I just couldn’t see a future there. Thanks for the trip down memory lane, I will return to explore one day.

[@MrMistoffelees]

Interesting to hear a Bradfordian's take. As an occasional visitor, the closure of the NCP strikes me as one of the worst decisions of recent years. It's a car park - it's never going to be pretty, just live with that. What it WAS, though, was absolutely perfectly placed - ideal for both the Alhambra and St George's Hall (and would've been for the Odeon conversion if they ever finish it). The parking at the "new" shopping centre is quite a stride away for anyone with mobility issues (the Alhambra crowd is often a bit older) or if (when!) it's siling down.

[@liesl7617]

Really good video Darren. I love a good city tour. That new camera is ace!

[@MrIrrepressible]

Grew up in bradford but left in my late teens in the mid 90s. I remember the town centre being a bustling place with great shops in the 80s and early 90s. There used to be a musical instrument shop called woods, a high end store called rackhams and other great shops like Carters. Wileys, toymaster. Contrary to popular opinion i like the arndale centre it used have good shops and was quite spectacular at christmas. It's a shame it couldn't be improved or invested in to attract more customers Haha Oastler market was known as john street market in my day. High point is another nice building. Well, it used to be in the 80s when it would light up at night.

[@alisonfairbank9484]

Great video, Darren. It brought back a lot of memories for me. I left Bradford and moved to Huddersfield in 2002 and now reside in Thornton-Cleveleys at the seaside. I'm looking forward to more of your videos.

[@madspaniel4271]

I'd love to see the face of the person that designed the fountain, their wonderful work of art, that your dad described as a burst water main!! :) hehehe

[@KKTR3]

I was thinking it would be good to track down all the architects that built💩all over the uk And take them back to what they inflicted on people

[@DJRockford83]

The fountains outside the police station and court were always full of rubbish but for the millions spent on that whole area it really wasn't worth it

[@buzzukfiftythree]

I have to say that, compared to many towns in the UK (including some here in the South East), the external appearance of Bradford seems better than many I’ve visited over the years.

[@Slacky2k13]

Biiig moves mate!! Love the longer videos and the detail you go into is superb as always!

[@timwilliams3813]

Another fascinating insight video- I really like your presentation style and matter-of-fact delivery. Keep up the good work ...

[@deanholdsworth1695]

Worked in the city centre from 1970-1990. Before moving to Australia. Worked as a Chef at Brown Muff’s for 5 years. Watched through the kitchen windows the progress of High point as it loomed over the skyline. On leaving Brown Muff’s funnily enough, I started working at the Huddersfield and Bradford Building Society in High Point. In those days Bradford was a Busy and vibrant place. Loved working in the City.

[@srfurley]

You didn’t mention St. George’s Hall, nor the memorial to the victims of the Bradford City Stadium fire, donated by a city in Germany I think. I have absolutely no interest in football, but the speed at which that fire spread was terrifying. The television coverage of the match shows it all in real time.

[@sue5488]

Remember that day clearly. The guy walking in the stadium with his head on fire!! I lived in Wilsden, the bus went past the stadium home. The flames were so high!! Watching it on the news later 😢

[@michaeldibb]

Bradford town hall clock tower always reminds me of Trumpton Town Hall 😂. As usual, a great video, Darren.

[@andyhorsfall9394]

I worked at bradford central ps from 89-91 and after moving on i havent been back since. That brought back a lot of memories and interesting to see how things have changed, thanks very much, subbed.

[@wyrksi]

Another great video Darren - thanks for all your hard work. Really interesting to have your take on things, and looking forward to more Bradford videos in the future. It makes me want to visit again - not been to Bradford for 2/3 years.

[@clivebroadhead4381]

The city has got many fune facilities, but it doesn't attract tourists from Harrogate, Scarborough and York when they have to change trains in Leeds. I believe the Otley Branch Line needs to be reopened to allow direct trains from Middlesbrough, Scarborough, York and Harrogate.

[@robwilkinson11]

I used to have a good job at one of Bradford's greatest attractions and saw the best and very worst of the city. A couple of years ago I had quite a terrifying personal situation in the city which I am still living with so this has been a bit of a difficult watch. Thanks Darren as ever for your honest and well described videos, don't think I'll rush back to Bradford. Also can't bear 'Witherspoons' 😂

[@karengill8234]

Love the new format Darren and loved your blog on Bradford. Many thanks for sharing. ………

[@cw3728]

Thank you for discussing the shop frontages, the block-work been spoiled by tarmac etc. your right council need to step up, you should be employed as clerk of works.. identifying problems, getting quotes, overseeing and signing off the work.

[@philipwade3765]

Brilliant video Darren, really enjoyed new format and very interesting topic. I used to work in Bradford in the late 1980's and remember the hustle and bustle of the city, looking forward to future posts. Take care and have a great 2024.❤️🌈✌️

[@no_soy_rubio]

Great video mate. There's some stunning architecture there, it has so much potential, but looks like a ghost town

[@Daniel-M7BCE]

Brilliant video, very different to your usual ones. I like this style. Keep it up!

[@hartpa]

Love how chill your content is. Fair play

[@DarkEnchantressOfAllThee]

Fantastic video Darren, you should really do one of these for the poorest town in the country, Jaywick. You should really look at the history of that town and how it tragically became how it is today! It's had several attempts by the local council to transform the area... but nothing has been done... honestly, just an idea for a future "What went wrong?" video because I enjoyed this!

[@jacq0071]

I've been to Jaywick ...it's majority while , alcoholic drug users ..what can you do with them ?? Get them a job that they clearly can't do ? They bring the poor devestation to them self ..truth.

[@yorkie2789]

Great video Darren. So sad to see what has become of Bradford but the writing was on the wall back in the 70s. If they had just been able to sort the railway statiosn out properly then that would have been a start.

[@lyledal]

Fantastic tour of Bradford! Also, your new camera really is fantastic for low light video!

[@davewright4380]

Great video Darren, look forward to your future ones on this forgotten city. Like the vlog style too😊

[@ProspectstudiosCoUkBFD]

An airport or a puddle in the town centre? Sums up the whole thing really doesn’t it.

[@malcolmrichardson3881]

Really interesting tour of Bradford, which highlights many of the problems of de-industrialisation. I suspect that were you to do a similar tour of Bradford's former industrial landscape, it would provide many clues to the problems you highlight so well in and around the city centre.

[@shanefeather-lopez5935]

My parents are from Bradford, and although I grew up in Lancashire I visit family in Bradford frequently. I even have wedding photos of my parents outside the city hall there! What you see now is a shell of what once was. Money going to 'regeneration' projects to refurbish building exteriors in communities with no civic pride - so needing repeat treatment in another few years. The generation who migrated to the UK in the 1950's to help us rebuild were followed swiftly by another who came to take anything they could get their hands on - and offer little in return. That's what happened to Bradford.

[@IIKPSII]

Love this new style of video mate! i can see this really taking off!

[@fhwolthuis]

Very interesting video, Darren. You have more than enough knowledge and history to be able to make an interesting vlog. Well done 👍🏼

[@AdventureMe]

Many thanks!

[@alanrowley2965]

Bradford's decline mirrors what has been happening across many towns and cities across the UK. Bad, short term decisions by council administrations, economic decline, the rise of online shopping etc. I used to work in Bradford and driving around is a nightmare - traffic lights are often optional, park wherever you like, block in anything you like! It has to be said and must be accepted that the ethnicity of the population IS a significant factor.

[@shirleylynch7529]

So interesting. What a fab documentary. Look forward to your next .well done Darren. Thank you.

[@TravelAbventuresUnbound]

Great video. I watched from start to finish, very insightful. Keep up the good work.

[@TorchwoodLeeds]

Fantastic Video, Really enjoyed, Hope to see similar about Leeds, I reckon a contribution to the Decline is the shift to Online Trade and Crumbling Public Transport Systems

[@katiedales582]

It's like Hull. There are some great old buildings, but all the shops have closed in the city centre. Great video🤩

[@jeromek2125]

True, the big difference is that Hull’s loss of beautiful buildings was due to the blitz. In Bradford the loss of beautiful buildings was due to the stupidity of the City Fathers.

[@Kris_1708]

@@jeromek2125 There is a book called city on fire Hull was targeted and obliterated by the Nazi’s because of its military supply port..1000 hours worth of bombing and 95% of building hit..it never really recovered from that and ignored by Westminster.

[@markknight6267]

Just picked up this post whilst scrolling through YT and stayed with it through to the end. Even subscribed, so a resounding thumbs up from a Brummie who see’s much the same thing here. Fascinating nuggets of information about Bradford and next time I’m up that way I’ll make sure to check it out.

[@jameswoods5740]

Imo, Bradford's biggest problem is Leeds. If you were considering investing or risking your finances, Leeds is right next door and is a much safer bet

[@colinmayes9446]

That is an excellent video very well presented, I was amazed at the amount of lovely old buildings in Bradford. You obviously have fond memories of the city, but your disappointment with some things as they are now is quite apparent, thank you.

[@jessweaver5713]

High Point is a historical landmark. It’s a fantastic example of brutalist architecture. As for the rest of the centre, yes the council have A LOT to answer for, but the people do too. Too many people don’t have dignity and there’s no respect for the community they live in. They’re entitled and selfish.

[@EgoShredder]

All the brutalist architecture in Europe is mainly down to us losing the war to the small hat (((Commies))). Everything they created was ugly and without soul. Everything White European people created, had beauty and inspired greatness in the people living amongst it.

[@davidnettleton1523]

Think it competed with the Bradford & Bingley for its brutalist style.

[@Cartoonman154]

A phrase like "Fantastic example of brutalist architecture" is an oxymoron.

[@SimonM-63]

Great video,Darren. Very interesting 👍👍👍

[@saltaireorangebicyclechopp8555]

If you look up, then you'll see that the upper floors throughout the centre are empty. Windows missing, pointing gone, trees growing out of gutters, those spaces that were once offices, once occupied by accountants, solicitors, insurance agents, call centres have been empty since the late 1980's, early 1990's when white collar businesses started to move to Leeds so as not to be tarnished with a Bradford post code. Bradford has been declining rapidly for over 60 years but it's accelerated rapidly in the past 25. There is zero hope for it.

[@jeffdayman8183]

Good to see you Darren. Liked the video, although it's sad to see what's happened to your home town. Many towns here in Canada have similar urban decay and all seem to have councils that have no clue about sensible spending. It's shameful that councils do only extremely expensive "visibility" projects rather than ones that would enhance life for residents. Cheers!

[@zatarawood3588]

Interesting. I thought Canada as a relatively young country which is growing would be generating a lot of wealth and be prospering? Is that not true?

[@jeffdayman8183]

@@zatarawood3588 Illegal drug addiction and associated crimes I think is a major contributor to urban decay. The economic gap between the wealthy and the non wealthy is huge. Inept local governments don't help either. Canada prospered for many years by harvesting natural resources, but the focus of federal government has gone to a service economy and the new fake deities global warming and environmental pollution reduction. Taxation is out of control and much of the resulting revenue is misappropriated or wasted.

[@davidcoleman5246]

Hi Darren, Like so many towns and cities, it's much the same where ever you go. When you see other video's made of their home towns, people like yourself are always in awe of the Victorian buildings, never the more modern stuff. This shows how much the country has declined over the years and the wealth is no longer there. If it wasn't for our Victorian ancestors making such a good job of building our infrastructures that we still rely on today, can you imagine the state we would find ourselves in.

[@zatarawood3588]

The reason the Victorians were able to generate so much wealth largely because they held a massive empire. Im not going to go into the rights and wrongs of that but without question it created huge riches for the UK. Its not really about pilfering nik naks from places as most ppl would assume. Its from using cheap labour from the many millions of workers around the empire to produce at cheaper than normal costs. This is how china has become rich over the last few decades by using a massive army of underpaid workers. On top of this the empire created monopolies for its goods. Essentially they told the countries around the empire that they could only buy certain goods from the empire (which were coming from UK companies) or they just levied massive import taxes on foreign goods making them uneconomic. That applied to cloth which Bradford is built on as well as many other goods. This meant UK companies didn't have competition from other countries so could charge higher than normal prices. Third thing they did was to tax all the citizens in the empire, drawing in revenues into the UK and only spending limited money back in those countries instead investing much of the proceeds back into the UK. This is similar to what the USSR did with its empire pulling in revenues from the outer provinces into Moscow. That further stimulates growth. You add all this together and you can imagine the massive wealth which is generated by a relatively small country with a small population. Now the interesting part is this is when the empire was unwound the UK lost its army of cheap workers, monopolies for its goods, and tax revenue from the empire. The result has been an ongoing decline from that point. Since the UK didn't have to innovate, work really hard as they had the advantages I mentioned before from the empire, when these were removed the country didn't know how to create and be productive anymore. Essentially the UK rests on its past laurels making money from legacy businesses which are gradually being eroded away. The entitled, lazy attitude in many workplaces around the UK is part of this. Same with the mismanagement in councils, central government and other institutions.

[@BradfordThroughTheLens]

Some good points were made. Thanks for uploading 👍🏾

[@AdventureMe]

I did wonder if you might see this haha. Maybe a joint effort on the next one?

[@BradfordThroughTheLens]

@AdventureMe lol. Sure, it would be fun

[@Hilary70]

I’ve just found your channel. Loved it. I was born in Bradford 71 years ago and Wow has it changed. I remember a bustling city and my first job was in an office in a big woollen import and export company. I still visit occasionally because of family. I always feel very saddened about the city. They have pulled down lots of beautiful buildings which I’m sure could have been a big bonus, just like Leeds. Leeds I love, especially the Victorian arcades. Lots more going on in Leeds. Look forward to your future filming around Bradford. Thanks for sharing.

[@snatch709]

Born and bred in Bradford, now live in York, visited darley street recently and its a ghost street ina ghost town, it was vibrant in 70's and 80's. a real shame but good memories

[@KKTR3]

Just like I , but born and bread in york have good memories from the past about how good york was . York is different now , so different. But the age of the buildings the train links keep it looking good and now flash . But it’s a total different and across the city so divided now, increasingly the university dominated parts of the city and the mentality across the rest.

[@nonoyorbusness]

The elephant in the room 🐘 🕋.

[@majorberk4647]

Exactly- none of what Darren mentioned are a reason not to visit. There is a reason not to visit though.

[@Housecathst]

Thanks for amazing trip down memory lane, I grew up just down the road in Brighouse. I used to come to Bradford for gigs at the student union and the good art house cinema. I saw Pulp Fiction at a cinema in the German quarter when it first came out. But for shopping it was always Leeds and Huddersfield.

[@arranmelaugh5606]

Very good video. Very informative! Hit the nail on the head about where the council wasted money!

[@paulrobinson8263]

The 283 bus passes my house in Birkenshaw but i walk half a mile to get the bus to Leeds. I drive through the place quickly to get to the dales and that waste of money cycle lane up and down Wakefield road (now gone) what a kerfuffle that was. Ripping up fantastic paved areas by utilities replacing with tarmac happens everywhere, it’s shown perfectly at the start of your video. I have tried Bradford but it’s not for me. Great new content for you and I’m sure it will do well, Robbo 👍👍

[@notmenotme614]

20:27 The shops were closed down first, way before there was any plans to demolish the shopping centre. I’m sure that TJ Hughes used to be a WH Smith’s

[@fitzpatrickken]

Enjoyed the tour! I was brought up in Bradford during the 50's & 60's, which was a great time in the city but left at 16 & only been back for brief visits. Have subbed!😀

[@deputyVH]

Great tour of Bradford city centre. Thanks :)

[@manamaga1]

I hope you can get into Bradford Live. I've followed the whole restoration from the beginning and their Facebook page, but only ever release limited photos. It's definitely worth a lengthy video or two. With all of the work going on, new(ish) interchange, new markets, the demolishing of Kirkgate, Bradford Live, and the City of Culture next year. If that doesn't put Bradford back on the map, nothing will. I for one will definitely be going to Bradford Live, can't wait to see inside when it opens.

[@stephenclark9917]

@7:50 the paving has not been replaced after the works. It's just tarmac. Cheap.

[@davidberlanny3308]

Hi Darren, Enjoyed watching this style of video, I look forward to you presenting the positive side as well. Portsmouth, where I'm originally from, has had its fair share of modern building disasters too like the Tricorn and temporary prefabricated housing estates so a lot of what you said rings a bell!! All the best!!

[@user-mr9jd8hk4t]

I live in Huddersfield - its going the same way here. The road drains on Chapel Hill have been blocked up for over 30 years, yet they waste money on stupid things. And the old market hall was demolished.

[@MrOVERANOUT]

Comparing Bradford to Leeds throws up many differences that occurred over time. I guess Leeds simply started planning change much sooner than Bradford who missed the opportunities. Leeds had better rail connections. Leeds built inner and outer ring roads and even a tunnelled motorway section right through the middle. Leeds was a manufacturing city like Bradford, but quickly drew in commercial and financial institutions to fill their ever expanding (mainly skywards) office buildings. Shops were promoted more in Leeds, as was entertainment centres. Parking was a feature much valued by shoppers travelling in from nearby towns and Leeds still provides this with Park and Ride for both shoppers and workers. Both cities have problems with drugs, rough sleepers and rowdiness. But the night scene in Leeds seems better catered for and managed. Bradford has some excellent restaurants, particularly curry/Asian food. Leeds has transformed its city architecture with brick buildings, a throwback from its brick built terraced houses. Whilst Bradford moved away from stone to concrete. Not a good look. So, that is a few differences. I am sure there are many more.

[@zatarawood3588]

What kind of commercial and financial institutions relocated to Leeds?

[@simonmarks1642]

Fascinating film, can hear the heartbreak in your voice. But believe it or not, have seen worse town and city centres than Bradford’s and at least it’s got some brilliant old buildings still standing. Here’s hoping for the place, anyway 🤞👍

[@rich_edwards79]

Yes, I grew up in Kidderminster (Midlands) and compared to that place, Bradford is buzzing! The first mistake was demolishing pretty much all of the lovely historic centre in the 60s and 70s and replacing it with dull concrete blocks; the second, ploughing a huge ring road through what was left. Then as the place began to really decline in the late 90s, they built an out-of-town style retail park on a cleared factory site - right next to the old centre! Which had the entirely predictable effect of killing it off when big stores like M&S relocated there. It's now very, very dead - big units that used to be occupied by Woolies and Littlewoods have stood empty ever since those chains went under and are now themselves being demolished, for car parks in a town where no-one goes. Glad I saw the writing on the wall a long time ago and left.

[@MrSargemneil]

Great Video mate

[@LukeWarmwater-yb5lx]

watching from Alberta, thank you for the tour, very entertaining, the best way to see Bradford is from a local.

[@chrisfinn7907]

Thankyou Darren so much for this video..I was born in Bradford in the late 1950's before working all over the country and retiring a couple of years ago to the Far East..It was a decision between Bradford or Bangkok and Bangkok or should I say about an hour outside the city got the nod..it was the weather and I do not miss the cold & snow. We do have rain but it's warm rain 🤠 So, good to sit here on my balcony and see the old place through your camera which I'll guess is a DJI osmo pocket 3 ? Obviously Bradford has changed so much since I used to 'go into town' as we used to say with my mum and grandma on a Saturday. I did notice that when you walked through John St. Market ( as we called it) that Taplins butchers was still there.I remember that shop from the early 1970's when a schoolmate worked in there on Saturday & holidays.. Sure, Bradford has greatly changed from the days of the old Kirkgate Market, a packed Darley Street on a Saturday and buying pies and dripping tea cakes from Phillip Smiths in Ivegate..looks like it's changing again but that's the same as all cities. Whatever it is or isn't it will always be in my heart as the place I was born & bred and yes there are times when I close my eyes and remember. What went wrong? I could go on for pages but probably/possibly greed of those in charge has much to answer for? I'd like to think that one day I'll get to walk in your footsteps and enjoy a coffee in the new market on Darley Street.. Thankyou again for bringing back memories to an old man.. By the way you now have one more subscriber.

[@looneytune6955]

Very interesting question Darren for someone like myself as a Bradfordian of 50 years. Primarily its geographical location would see its its eventual demise. Its transport infrastructure because of it is no better than a 'third world country', there were plans over a hundred years ago to link the two stations but its telling even back then that writing was on the wall when the powers that be decided it wouldn't be worth the huge investment. It also doesn't help not having a focal point to build around such as a river or canal, its the only major city/town in the country that doesn't. I remember being at construction college about 30 years ago when both Leeds and Bradford were of similar stature at the time, if anything Bradford had a better and more varied nightlife in the 70s and 80s. He said that Leeds had 5x as much prime building land at the time as Bradford and that Bradford would eventually succumb to having no purpose after the demise of mills and the wool trade. And if you back to the 20s Bradfords economy was declining back then, there was a reason Hilters bombing campaign pretty much bypassed the place. This isn't unique to Bradford although its probably the place thats suffered the most from decline and thats because it can't reinvent itself like cities like Leeds and Liverpool have been able to do. To ensure a busy and bustling city centre you need attractions for tourism, you need a large workforce comprising of big multinationals and vibrant night life, all of which facilitate the need for bars, restaurants, hotels etc. I could go on for days wittering about it mate, a bit like yourself i've followed the demise with great interest for years. But to summarise the place is terminally dying on its arse and no amount of pie in the sky hair brain clowncil projects will regenerate what is now a dumping ground. Great video, look forward to the next part.

[@looneytune6955]

To add, i really love this style of video, we get to see a different side of your presentation. I think there's a lot of mileage in it.

[@AdventureMe]

Well put mate

[@andrewflitcroft6175]

Quality video thoroughly enjoyed it

[@2002barneyf]

Thanks for a really interesting video - Bradford has changed so much since I was there as a University student in the late eighties and even then it had changed so much from what could be called it's 'glory days'. I haven't been back for some time so it was weird seeing areas that bore no relation to how I remember them - what is now Centenary Square used to be an area called The Tyrls and before that it had been the hub known as Town Hall Square when it was a bustling, profitable town. I know you can't have things stay the same but it strikes me as really sad - we live quite close to Hull and seeing that place change for the worse over the past 30 -40 years is a shocker! Can't wait for you to do a video on the old Exchange Station!

[@mattgardner1969]

I would love to see a video on Richard Dunne Sports centre if you could get access to it. That was a massive loss when it shut down.

[@martinknight510]

Its now a listed or protected building luckily and always say would make a brilliant nightclub

[@davidcockayne4502]

Very truthful video. Well done. It's such a shame that Bradford has hit the bottom. I worked at Hepworth and Grandage for 20 years and regularly visited the centre. As a Leeds teenager we caught the train and visited Shaheen curry house often. Best night out was the Beehive. Great beer, strippers, curry house and taxi rank next door. What more do you want? I even walked from Wortley to Fattorinis to buy a watch for my wife. It was a lovely place with warm lovely people. As for now, I will not even drive through the place because of the vw golf R nutters. The markets are a disgrace. It just reeks of poverty.

[@MrPaulfrazer]

Very interesting. I used to stay in Bradford quite often for work and stayed at The Midland. It was truly magnificent and I could imagine wool barons from years gone by striking deals in it's restaurant. The old way down to the former station now the car park was very historic.

[@user-uq6qn1dp3u]

Originally from Manchester I spent 10 years living in idle village and on many occasions went in to the centre ,for me it has a feel of a market town which I enjoyed the vibe ,the Yorkshire people are great, I still have links there and visit often ,I know there is a dark side to Bradford but the buildings are amazing and compared to other citys still has much to offer, but as you say I bet it was truly breathtaking in the 60s and onward great video brings back fond memories