Lost Mills and Ghost Mansions

50 years of textile stories

There used to be over 350 working mills in Bradford. In the last 50 years most of them have closed and today there are less than 20. The rest have been demolished or repurposed. Many have tragically burnt down. Bradford’s great textile buildings and the people who worked in them are slowly disappearing.

Lost Mills and Ghost Mansions is rediscovering the stories of Bradford’s recent textile past in words, pictures, audio and video.

Do you live in an area where a mill once stood? Did members of your family work in a mill somewhere in the Bradford District? Do you have stories of mills and their closures over the past 50 years. Do you have photos you want to share

If so, we want to hear from you!

509 Arts and Bradford Community Broadcasting are building an online archive of stories, interviews, activities and learning materials that will tell the fascinating story of the last decades of Bradford’s great textile history. If you, a family member, a friend, colleague or neighbour has a story to tell of those times- no matter how small – or a picture to share, we’d love to find out more from you.

This journey of discovery is for people of all ages and if you work in a school and want to get involved – please do get in touch! 

You can be part of a great adventure into Bradford’s textile history and the  stories of mills, their closures and 20th century change. 

To find out more and register your interest, either email us at info@509arts.co.uk or complete a short form here.