The Bradford Canal - That seething cauldron of all impurity.

Discovering the old Bradford canal and a major reason why Titus Salt moved from Bradford to establish his new mill and workers village at Saltaire.
Produced by: Michael De Greasley

[@christinegraham8311]

Thank you from Canada. It gives me a sense of where my mum was born in 1926.

[@MybitofHistory]

Glad you found it of interest ;)

[@veronicadefrance4847]

Thank you Michael, ¬ This morning I learned from the 'Yorkshire Gazette' (November 17, 1866) how, about 9.30 A.M. the flood gates of the Bradford Beck became choked up, owing to the heavy rain. The sewer was unable to carry off the water which also flooded principal warehouses. The Gasworks were also flooded; consequently the town 'will be in total darkness tonight'; so ended this article and brought me to your program which enabled me to imagine in full, the disaster for the population in Bradford at the time.

[@MybitofHistory]

Glad it proved useful and informative for you Veronica. ;)

[@mick998r]

Thank you Michael for an excellent piece of work, all your hard work should really be on the BBC! I'm a Bradford lad and seeing how things have changed so much over the years has really been an education.

[@MybitofHistory]

Hi Mick, glad you liked the video - though I know it's not of a quality to be broadcast on TV. As a Bradford born lad myself, I have been interested in its history, although it's a place which is now becoming alien to me, and I am leaning more towards the local history of the Township of Eccleshill where I was raised.

[@jpmac452]

When I was a child we used to go down to the old locks on Canal road and build rafts to paddle on the dirty water there, Brings back good childhood memories. Never once was ill by playing there, then we would go hunting for magnets in the overgrown bushes there. Many thanks for the videos, ohh and we would eat the raw Rhubarb growing there. Such joy for an 8 year old.

[@MybitofHistory]

I think that's the problem with kids today - they're not exposed to the nasties we were that helped build up our immune systems. It's interesting when one looks at old aerial photos from the 30s to the 50s at just how many sections of the old canal still contained a body of water. Anyhows - glad you enjoyed ;)

[@eccehomo1904]

Well produced, well scripted and well researched. Thank you very much.

[@MybitofHistory]

Cheers.... Pleased you enjoyed it :)

[@DECODEDVFX]

Great video!

[@MybitofHistory]

Glad you enjoyed ;)

[@alancrosby8123]

Great video, very informative. Thanks!

[@anneheath889]

fantastic film, I remember my granddad telling me the story of the canal and what happened to it, his family were from the Westgate area in the 1850's so must have been very aware of the canal

[@neilwalker6955]

I found this totally enchanting. Thank you.

[@MybitofHistory]

Pleased you enjoyed ;)

[@davidjohnfarrell4579]

Living in Bawtry Doncaster it brought back a few memories for me. I remember a set of lock gates at Bolton Woods at the side of a mill. And I remember you could see a set of lock gates (although overgrown with vegetation) at the back of Appleyards on canal road. My observation as a local delivery driver 40 years ago.

[@MybitofHistory]

Sorry David, only just seen your comment... Yes the locks were removed back in the 1980s I believe - I do have a series of photos taken of the locks being removed.

[@BradfordThroughTheLens]

Great information

[@GULFRAZMAJEEDseye8eyes]

Nice one Pal lad & lady luck Canal

[@SteveBernard42]

I remember as a kid in the late sixties growing up in Bradford. There were still plenty of remains of the canal along canal road, a wharf somewhere towards the city centre with a loading crane (maybe around the back of Leather’s chemicals?).

[@hadrianbriggs9506]

Very interesting to watch. Well put together. Thank you.

[@MybitofHistory]

Pleased you enjoyed it Hadrian... I always enjoyed making these short vids ;)

[@theonlyintruder]

Very interesting especially highlighting how Bradford has changed over the centuries in line with industrial revolution. Also the "subtle" Yorkshire sense of humour shining through in this ;)

[@MybitofHistory]

Glad you enjoyed.... As for the sense of humour.... Yeah.... but it's lost on local politicians :)

[@juleshathaway3894]

I thoroughly enjoyed that.

[@keithhope5560]

Just found your videos on uTube . Thank goodness l did. Absolutely brilliant.Will watch them all from now on Thank you so much.

[@MybitofHistory]

You're welcome Keith - Although, they are not all about Bradford ;)

[@PeterT1981]

Wonderful film! Brilliant graphics and narration. Thank you for your work!

[@MybitofHistory]

Thanks for the comment Peter - pleased you enjoyed it ;)

[@stephenphillip5656]

Excellent. I live in Skipton and have always been interested in canals, railways and industrial history. I was aware of the Bradford Canal and your video brings it to life. I have really enjoyed it. Thank you.

[@MybitofHistory]

You're welcome Stephen ;)

[@kazamshah4543]

Should`ve been renamed,beware - Bradford SHITHOLE!!!

[@jogon7950]

Excellent work, thank you. Appreciated your efforts

[@ZY325097D]

Excellent from start to finish. The old Canal Manager's house is still in use off Poplar Road, Shipley.

[@kazamshah4543]

You must be `avin a larf. Nobody in their sane mind would touch Bratfud these days, coz its a toxic shithole run by bandits and thugs from the gutter.

[@ZY325097D]

You obviously move in different circles from us, Kazam.

[@kazamshah4543]

I obviously do because i can see the true, ugly nature of Bradford and what its become. Moreover, i have to live in the real world, and my personal experiences differ from yours. A nice, civilized city has now become a lawless dump oblivious to UK law whereby you can trash and vandalise your neighbour`s garden and make their lives a total nightmare. The city started to suffer once third world citizens took it over and threw everyone else out!! A warning to everyone else, don`t let chavs and scum take over your city.

[@krabiah3512]

@@kazamshah4543 fuck off

[@dmthornton8941]

Lovely video, brings back memories of being a kid 50 odd years ago

[@MybitofHistory]

Pleased you enjoyed it - oddly enough, I did do a fair bit of research on it and asked if folk had any additional info - thought I had obtained as much as was possible, then quite by accident a couple of weeks ago, I came across quite a few photos of the old canal - many I believe have not been seen before. Sods Law ;)

[@timhancock6626]

Excellent video

[@mikeschouten4732]

Fascinating work. Many of my ancestors emigrated from Bradford and Huddersfield to America in the 19th century. I’m enjoying learning about the city and region and better understanding some of the things that shape me. Thank you for compiling this!

[@MybitofHistory]

If given a choice between Bradford and America back in the 19th century, I would have raced you to the ship. Glad you enjoyed the video Mike ;)

[@mikeschouten4732]

@@MybitofHistory funny, my great grandmother said similar things! She missed Yorkshire nonetheless and told the best stories from her childhood.

[@MybitofHistory]

@@mikeschouten4732 Did she come from Bradford?

[@mikeschouten4732]

@@MybitofHistory yes she was from Bradford, more specifically Clayton. She was a Greenwood, married a Stead.

[@MybitofHistory]

@@mikeschouten4732 - I had family up that way - all farmers until Bradford did a Compulsory Purchase of the land to build Council Houses.

[@dronegeeks]

Really enjoyed this thanks for sharing ur knowledge

[@s2law817]

Brilliant Mike, thank you

[@ChanonPongpanich]

Excellent video, I really enjoyed it.

[@shano262]

Very interesting. Thank you

[@lapbs3427]

Top guy.. A great piece of work. Very informative and answers alot of my questions. I seem to recall (circa 2005) that there was a proposal to reinstate sections of the canal..i wonder what happened.

[@makingtracks1188]

Fascinating and brilliantly put together video. Really hope to see you make some more of these videos.

[@asifjavedcloud]

Amazing work

[@liamofthornhill]

Very informative and well put together

[@lisasanderson5201]

Superb interesting film

[@shaggypyro]

Thank you for taking the time to film and edit this.

[@MybitofHistory]

Glad you enjoyed it... I had fun making it ;)

[@wormmurdering7084]

Really enjoyed the video, having walked the route myself, this really brought it to life.

[@MybitofHistory]

+Worm Murdering........ It's a grand walk :)

[@boatsandcanals]

A very interesting and informative video. Our history and heritage is so important and this includes our waterways.

[@MybitofHistory]

Glad you found it interesting :)

[@stillwatersok]

very interesting!!!

[@topper1ism]

Excellent film. Thanks very much. Phil from Shipley

[@MybitofHistory]

Glad you enjoyed it. I certainly had some fun recreating the 3D Model of the Wharf :)

[@icemonAesDana]

used to play in the mucky beck when i was a lad....great video..thanks

[@MybitofHistory]

+icemon You're welcome :)

[@ZHarry16]

This was excellent, I can't believe that I've been to most of the places shown in this video before seeing this documentary, I also saw that dead bird :) Bradford is awesome x

[@MybitofHistory]

Pleased you enjoyed the video :) I must admit, I was surprised to come across the dead pigeon just hanging in the branches - not a mark on it, but it seemed to resonate the mood of the moment.

[@ZHarry16]

It was great it must have taken you a long time to make it an yeah don't know how the pigeon died it did not have a scratch on it!!

[@andyeccles2199]

I worked at Bradford Central as a police officer from 1985-1988. Having an interest in local history, I remember going on the back streets around Canal Rd which are shown at the end of the film clip and trying to imagine the canal being there. I never did find out why it closed so thank you for answering my question, 30+ years later.

[@MybitofHistory]

Hi Andy, this was an interesting and varied subject to produce - I know I learned quite a bit more than I knew when first setting out ;)

[@andyeccles2199]

I have researched the Calder & Hebble Navigation around Brighouse to Elland and found some very interesting things that I was totally unaware of but I also disproved what ‘experts’ had written about one section of the canal which was built to bypass an un-navigable loop in the river. They said it had never been used and was a white elephant yet I found evidence of a substantial wharf where stone was brought down from Rastrick and Southowram and loaded onto barges. As the current section of canal wasn’t built until 1808, this old cut and wharf had served the navigation from when it was possible to travel from the east coast to Sowerby Bridge by 1770. Every day is a school day as they say.

[@nanaT64]

Brilliant, thank you. Born and brought up in Bolton Woods found this very interesting. My sister and her husband now live in one of the new houses built right next to where the canal used to run.........talk is of it opening again.........who knows ?

[@michaeldegreasley9068]

Glad you enjoyed. :) As for it opening again.... They canned that plan when they worked out the costs. The Bradford Canal is consigned to history :)

[@stephaniemiller7536]

Looking forward to your longer project. I grew up in Shipley, so I'm familiar with many of the places you mention. Keep 'em coming... you've made this ex-pat very happy!

[@MybitofHistory]

Pleased you enjoyed - You say you're an ex-pat.... So where in Leeds do you now live :)

[@stephaniemiller7536]

My bit of History Slightly to the west, Michael, North Carolina!

[@Chris-B.]

A great video of local history

[@MybitofHistory]

+Chris B Glad you found it interesting Chris :)

[@Chris-B.]

Very much so. I enjoyed the overlays to give you a good visual on what it would have looked like. I live in Scotland now but I spent all my teenage years around Dobson lock, Thackley tunnel and I enjoyed swimming in the canal there nearly every summers evening....yuck, what was I thinking :)

[@MybitofHistory]

+Chris B .... I used to go swimming in the canal at Dobson Lock back in the 1960s ;)

[@josephineMcCarthy]

that was wonderful, thank you. As an ex Bradford lass, I appreciated it. Though the Spinks Well is not the well connected to the story of the boar. That is the Boars Well which is a natural spring a few hundred yards from the Spinks Well.

[@LADventure]

Very interesting video Mike, well done. I like stuff like this, especially when it's close to home. I always wondered where the canal went, I was told by my dad it was underneath Canal Road. At least I know that's not true.

[@MybitofHistory]

+Darren Hosker Glad you enjoyed - Bradford is full of history - and it's a subject we can all get involved with at many different levels :)

[@annmuff]

Thanks for doing this short film It is very educating as I myself worked in the textile industry & family from Bolton Woods belonging to the Stone industry ...Although I knew quite a few areas it's a wonderful walk through .

[@MybitofHistory]

Glad you enjoyed it Ann - Now I am intrigued to know just what you’re wearing in your avatar pic. Not a touch of Jack Sparrow is it :)

[@annmuff]

I am part of a re enactment group 18th century we do french Indian wars and rev wars Native American Iroqouis I'm wearing a british Redcoat 40th of foot rev war period ..

[@MybitofHistory]

Ann Muff I thought as much - had a visit of your KZbin channel - Something I've often considered getting involved with - but which period! I did a video series back in 2012 about Hadrians Wall and met up with some of the Roman re-enactment groups and was fascinated by the amount of historical research they undertook within their chosen period and subject - something I wouldn't be able to commit so much time too... I take my hat off to you lass :)

[@annmuff]

Thanks I enjoy it very much and know quite a few friends in all periods inc vikings +medeival +romans+ sealed knot etc .

[@annmuff]

Yes everything is researched all clothing hand made in traditional material.

[@MarmiteCrumpets]

Branch canals are often hard to research due to closure when trade ceased long ago. You've done a great job. The Bradford's demise due to public health concerns is interesting. Wonder if there'd been a consequent falling off of trade? Had trade remained wealthy interests would surely have kept it open contrary to the public interest?

[@krabiah3512]

How time flies

[@michaelthwaite3282]

Probably 25/30 years ago, the locks and gates were still visible at Spink Well Locks.

[@MybitofHistory]

Aye - I remember watching them being dug up and leveled. Thought nothing of it at the time - just another piece of Bradford's history disappearing like the rest of it.

[@classiclover2534]

Dear Mike, enjoyed your film immensely. Brought back so much memory of Saltaire and Shipley for me. I sued to go the Saltaire College back in the early 80's and lived in Shipley right up to the end of 90's. A friend of mine whom I showed your video to on the Facebook and currently lives in Shipley is very anxious to contact you. He is into all this and he runs an entertainment company with clowns, costumes and shows all over Britain. He asked me to find out how he can contact you. If its no problem, please drop me a line and let me know. My friends name is John Lambert and he used to be a Bradford councilor in the 80's, before he set up his company.

[@MybitofHistory]

Glad you are enjoying the videos ;) Anyways... My email is: [e-mail]

[@hoppinonabronzeleg9477]

5:24 I walked behind that terrace Friday 11th May 2018 There are actually tow of those old cast iron gas lamps with an electric light on top.

[@007vauxhall]

Absolutley amazing film, really enjoyed the history, and the art of how you produce such masterpieces..Will have to re-watch. :-)

[@MybitofHistory]

Cheers Paul... Though I've just had my first email insisting I remove the video because it's a disgrace and shows Bradford in a negative light. Yeah... History has a tendency to do that when you don't try to re-write it :)

[@007vauxhall]

Probably an email from someone who.. shall we say..unable to make a production to even half this standard. ;)

[@MybitofHistory]

007vauxhall btw... I uploaded another PS Tut for you - check your inbox for the link :)

[@007vauxhall]

Yes watched it thanks Mike, will do a few times again too.great help.;-)

[@MIGASHOORAY]

So whats happening to WAPPING ROAD SCHOOL my old school in around 1952?

[@acwdrivingservices9877]

Hi. Congratulations on your very professional and informative video. I worked in Bradford from 1996 to 2008 at the former Empire Stores Head Quarters at 18 Canal Road. I often wondered if Canal Road had taken its name from the former Bradford Canal and if it was the the site of where the canal terminated? From your video I can surmise that it did, and the building I was working in was on, or near to, the site of the Hoppy Bridge Wharf. Its a question I have been asking myself for over 20 years, and I now know the answer. Thank you for that.

[@MybitofHistory]

Glad you enjoyed it Andrew - Since then I came across some hidden archives which would have made it a bit more .... Better. But, that may have to wait for the next time I do a video on the Bradford Canal ;)

[@markrodrigues7792]

Enjoyable and educational especially for someone recently moved up here from Croydon S London. By the way where is nearest living canal near to where I live Sunbridge road area

[@markrodrigues7792]

I actually live in the Colonial Buildings i was wondering if that was one of your pictures. Also the wild Boar story that might have something to do with the golden boar on top of one the pubs down Ive Gate . Don't know if its ' Ye olde Crown?

[@MybitofHistory]

@@markrodrigues7792 - The Old Crown - one of Bradford's more notorious public houses. The Boars Head is part of Bradford's Coat of Arms and is linked to the well along Canal Road ;)

[@Trixter0111]

Mate, this is excellent, the video, research, computerised additions, saw your stuff on Milner Field too, same, do you have a website, FB page or anything?

[@MybitofHistory]

+richard emmott Pleased you enjoyed the video - No I don't bother with websites - even though I have been a web designer, and the only FB page I work on is the Eccleshill History Online Club. Having said that I did do 120 3DS Max CGI tutorials on another KZbin site called crackin-cgi . :)

[@MickFlynnImages]

Excellent video and CGI, thought you might have mentioned why the Boars head has no tongue.

[@MybitofHistory]

I was thinking of producing a video which went more in-depth to many of the stories and folk-lore surrounding Bradford and I only really wanted to include a cursory mention of how Bradford gained a Boars head. Glad you enjoyed though

[@MickFlynnImages]

No problem, I look forward to seeing more of your videos.

[@tiffanygrove5542]

don't know much of the early family line so if anyone knows the early history of the bradford family let me know

[@andrewnbrown]

Good stuff! Do you know if the two old buildings on Canal Rd opposite ACW Garden Centre near Frizinghall are associated with the canal?

[@MybitofHistory]

Not really sure - I thought they were associated with the Bradford Beck. I know CH Wood did some photos of that area back in the 40s - 60s - shall have to take a look ;)

[@andrewnbrown]

They do both straddle Bradford Beck so I guess that you're right

[@tiffanygrove5542]

my ancestors came from bradford I'm a decendent of the bradford family William bradford

[@Schenkerflyingv]

Whereabouts is the old bridge located at the beginning of this film (which is excellent)? I was born in Livingstone Road in Wrose and lived in both Shipley and Idle Moor, giving me an interest in the history of Bradford in recent years. Only last week I walked out of town on Canal Road, up Kings Road to Wrose. I even stopped and took a number of photos of the Conditioning House which I would buy and restore as a museum / heritage centre of Bradford if I won the lottery.

[@MybitofHistory]

Hi George, If you are referring to the old Toll House Bridge - it’s located at the junction of the old Bradford Canal and the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. As for the old Conditioning house - it’s contaminated with Anthrax Spores from the time it was used as a Wool Conditioning house. It can never be demolished or used without millions of pounds being spent to decontaminate it. Bradford Council have tried to open it up to the elements during the past but were condemned for doing so.

[@Schenkerflyingv]

My bit of History Many thanks for the update - I shall keep away from the Conditioning House!!!

[@seye8eyes]

Gas lights in Bradford until 1974 and 1975 after that they all disappeared

[@DodgersTrips]

I'm so glad to have found your films and am looking forward to watching more. I have seen a few markers around the city centre marking the canal. I have subscribed, please have a look at my channel which has quite a few films around Bradford and history in general.

[@MybitofHistory]

Do you still make videos?

[@DodgersTrips]

@@MybitofHistory I do still intend making videos as soon as lockdown eases at the moment posting older material I have.

[@RType2966]

i live not far from these videos. started doing Quadcopter videos of Cow and calf Baildon moors Bolton Abbey in my channel ;)

[@MybitofHistory]

+Aerial Flight - What editing software are you working with? Had thought about getting one of these a few years ago - lots of possibilities - Are you doing it professionally yet?

[@RType2966]

Hi there, im using Magix movie edit pro premium to edit my videos. just doing it as a hobby and love it. so easy to use runs on gps. anyone could fly one. ;)

[@andrewhaines8603]

Nothing much has changed then. Still a dirty stinking hole! There was talk about reinstating the canal to bring tourism in.

[@MybitofHistory]

Hi Andrew - Like everything associated with Bradford - there are some potty ideas floated about which don't have a hope in hell of coming to fruition. Look how long it took them to fill in the hole in the City Centre ;)

[@andrewhaines8603]

@@MybitofHistory Oh don't remind me! The market never returned after they supposedly moved it temporarily. The Odeon is just an advert for scaffolding and Midland mills were left to rot. Still are as far as I know. So much of the historical part of Bradford has gone as well, supposedly in the name of progress. I left Bradford about ten years ago after living there for twenty odd years, through the riots etc. Some buildings are still shells now. No hope of redevelopment. Some areas sadly, white people are no longer welcome. (Racism works both ways, but you're not allowed to mention that.) I went back to see a show at the Alhambra recently. Some of the areas around the university are exactly the same state as when I first came to the city in 1985!! Sad, but I'd now agree with a friend of mine who stated that as Bradford lies in a "bowl" it's an ideal spot for a landfill site!

[@jean-lucpicard5510]

@@andrewhaines8603 Christ another bigot having a whinge. I wish the Daily Mail would allow comments on their videos so you could go moan on there. But if the fear simulation running in your head is what keeps you going then fill your boots.

[@seye8eyes]

Thanks Canal Road and Steam Engines Railways Midland Road Midland Hotel 🏨 Forster Square bus station later trolleybuses

[@Paul_Wright]

An amazing video well done but the place is a shit hole ! A dumping ground of life’s unfortunates no longer a thriving community but still full of people taking advantage of the poor

[@MybitofHistory]

Hmmmmmmm.... I would find your observations difficult to argue with Paul. ;)