Lost Mills Media Wall
Here we celebrate the rich visual history shared by contributors and project partners whilst researching Bradford’s textile industry from 1960s onwards. Explore the captured memories preserving the legacy of the former wool capital of the world, plus the amazing people involved in its success.
Scroll down to find video content from our project’s events plus documentaries generously shared by Tim Smith.
Please be respectful of our usage terms & conditions if sharing these images.
The contents of the 509 Arts website are protected by copyright unless otherwise stated. The Lost Mills Learning Zone recordings, text and activity suggestions are free to use for non-commercial community and education purposes. If you wish to use the materials for any other purpose, email with your plans.
Some of the images and video footage belong to a third party and are credited as such. If you wish to use any such content, please contact 509 Arts or the copyright owner directly.
UNSPUN
Saltaire Inspired’s Saltaire Arts Trail in May 2024, created by The Colour Foundry. Sharing the multimedia exhibition featuring interview soundbites, footage from the 1960s of Bradford’s textile mills, original compositions and live performances. Commissioned by 509 Arts for Lost Mills and Ghost Mansions and created by The Colour Foundry.
Filmmaker: Danny Hardaker
Textile Projects at Saltaire Arts Trail
509 Arts’ textile commissions for Saltaire Arts Trail, part of the oral history project Lost Mills and Ghost Mansions. Featuring A Cloth for the Lost Mills by Hannah Robson and Hannah Lamb, photographed by Carolyn Mendelsohn, and Layering Cultures by Alison Welsh with poetry by Nabeela Ahmed.
Cinematography and editing: Danny Hardaker
Footage of UNSPUN R&D
Saltaire Inspired’s Saltaire Arts Trail in May 2024, created by The Colour Foundry.
Filmmaker: Fabric Lenny
An introduction to our Lost Mills Documentary at the Industrial Museum.
Featuring: Members of the Sangat Centre, Kim Sharp and Steve Gregson
Presenter: Izzie Smith
Director: Alan Dix
Cinematography and Editing: Danny Hardaker
The Story of Drummonds Mill
Produced and directed byTim Smith
Music by Alexei Smith
Voiceover by Kirsty Taylor
Discover More
Lost Mills
Lost Mills & Ghost Mansions
Photograph: Tim Smith | UNSPUN How To Use The Learning Zone is a rich and fascinating resource for all. Take your time to explore and discover the many stories and insights on offer. Whether you are a student, a teacher, a researcher, a community group or an...
Working life
Photograph: Tim Smith | Lifting hanks of wool from a dyeing vat at Harrison Gardner and Company. If you've seen old mills, pictures of old mills and that, you'll see that there's a big mill with five or six storeys. And then at the back of it, probably, there's a one...
Diverse workforce
Photographs: Bradford Museums & GalleriesBackground: Bradford Museums & Galleries Photograph: Tim Smith | Combing at Haworth Scouring CompanyBackground: Bradford Museums & Galleries Photograph: Jaz Oldham | Jaz's Sister and Friend working in the mill The...
Time Off
Background: Bradford Museums & Galleries | Cricket Match in Saltaire Photograph: Jaz Oldham | Party in the MillBackground: Bradford Museums & Galleries | Cricket Match in Saltaire Photograph: Patricia Crabtree | Harold Heppleston, Patricia's Father, and...
Rights & Wrongs
Photograph: Val Rowland | Anwar Hussain (L), Bill Morris, former General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union (C), and Muhammad Rasab (R). Representing the racial discrimination case against John Haggas Ltd onstage at the Trade Union Annual Congress...
Changing Ways
Photographs: Mark Stevenson | Dalton Mill and Clock Tower I could see at that time that the mills were starting to close around Keighley all over the town and I thought ‘I need to be moving on somewhere’ and that's when I left in 1975 and joined the fire service....
Textiles Today
Background Photograph: Tim Smith | Laxtons' state-of-the-art spinning machinery in Baildon Title Photograph: Tim Smith | Weaving of Rainbow Ribbons at Wyedean Weaving in Haworth In 2022, I saw this job. And I rang them up and said ‘I’m looking for a job as a...
Ghost Mansions
I know that Robert Clough - he had a big mansion, and he donated a Christmas tree for the people of Keighley one year. Well, I won't be swayed on this at all. Particularly on a Friday night, when everybody else had gone home,...
Research & Map
Background Photograph: Bradford Museums & Galleries | Bradford's Skyline Title Photograph: Rainbow School | Visiting Bradford's Industrial Museum I grew up next to Marriner’s and I actually watched it burn down. It would have been in the ‘70s. I was in my...
Do It Yourself
Photograph: Alan Dix | Sangat Centre at Bradford Industrial Museum I think what people should do is show an interest in local history because one day (and I hope this never happens) there won’t be people like you, and there won’t be people like me, who...
Archive
Photograph: Alan Dix | Lister's Mill ChimneyWelcome to the Lost Mills Archive. Here you will find all the recordings and transcripts that have been made during the lifetime of the project. It contains a wealth of information - far more than we could ever use in the...
Contributors
Thank you Lost Mills and Ghost Mansions has involved at least 500 people one way or another and their support, participation and commitment has taken us on a very special journey. Most of the people we interviewed were in their 70s and 80s and some were over 90. It is...
The contents of the 509 Arts website are protected by copyright unless otherwise stated. The Lost Mills Learning Zone recordings, text and activity suggestions are free to use for non-commercial community and education purposes. If you wish to use the materials for any other purpose, email info@509arts.co.uk with your plans.
Some of the images and video footage belong to a third party and are credited as such. If you wish to use any such content, please contact 509 Arts or the copyright owner directly.