Bradford facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bradford
City
Bradford Manningham Mill; Wool Exchange; City Hall; Cathedral: Alhambra Theatre: St George's Hall: and City Skyline
Coat of arms of Bradford
Bradford
Area	141.313 sq mi (366.00 km2)
Population	546,976
• Density	3,871/sq mi (1,495/km2)
Demonym	Bradfordian
OS grid reference	SE163329
• London	174 mi (280 km) S
Metropolitan borough	Bradford
Metropolitan county	West Yorkshire
Region	Yorkshire and the Humber
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BRADFORD
Postcode district	BD1–BD24
Dialling code	01274/ 01535
Police	West Yorkshire
Fire	West Yorkshire
Ambulance	Yorkshire
EU Parliament	Yorkshire and the Humber
UK Parliament	Bradford East Bradford West Bradford South
List of places UK England Yorkshire 53°48′N 1°45′W / 53.800°N 1.750°W / 53.800; -1.750

Bradford is a vibrant city located in West Yorkshire, England. It became an official city in 1897. Today, it's part of the larger City of Bradford area. In 2011, about 350,000 people lived in the city itself, making it a big place!

Bradford grew a lot during the 1800s, especially because of its textile industry. It was known as the "wool capital of the world" and even called "Woolopolis" because so much wool was processed here. The city's location near coal, iron, and soft water helped its factories grow. You can still see many beautiful Victorian buildings, like the grand City Hall.

After the mid-1900s, the textile industry slowed down. Bradford then focused on other things like finance and manufacturing. It's now the third-largest economy in the Yorkshire and the Humber region. Bradford is also a fun place to visit! It was the first UNESCO City of Film and has cool places like the National Science and Media Museum and the Alhambra Theatre. Excitingly, Bradford will be the UK City of Culture in 2025!

History of Bradford

What's in a Name?

The name Bradford comes from old English words: brad (meaning broad) and ford (meaning a shallow river crossing). So, Bradford means "broad ford." This refers to a place where people could cross the Bradford Beck river, near where Bradford Cathedral stands today. The name "Bradeford" was first written down in 1086.

Bradford's Early Days

After a big uprising in 1070, the area around Bradford was left in ruins. This was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. Later, the land became part of a large estate owned by the de Lacy family. There might have even been a castle here long ago!

By the Middle Ages, Bradford was a small town. People worked with wool, and there was a market. During the Wars of the Roses, the people of Bradford supported the House of Lancaster. Later, King Edward IV allowed the town to hold two yearly fairs, which helped it grow. By the time of King Henry VIII, Bradford was even bigger than Leeds for manufacturing! The wool trade helped Bradford slowly grow over the next 200 years.

During the English Civil War, Bradford supported the Parliamentarians. They fought against the Royalists but eventually had to surrender. The war made industry decline, but things got better after 1689. New canals and roads also helped trade grow in the 1700s.

The Industrial Revolution and Wool City

In 1801, Bradford was a small market town with about 6,400 people. Most wool spinning and weaving happened in homes. But things changed very quickly!

Around 1788, large Blast furnaces started making iron in places like Low Moor. By 1847, when Bradford became a borough, there were 46 coal mines nearby! Coal and iron were very important for the growing factories.

The population grew fast. By 1841, over 34,500 people lived in the township.

In 1825, a strike by wool-combers led to machines doing the work instead. This was part of the Industrial Revolution. Bradford became famous for making worsted cloth and was soon known as the "wool capital of the world."

Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847 and a county borough in 1888. Queen Victoria made it a city in 1897.

The city had plenty of coal for power and sandstone for building mills. With so many jobs, people moved to Bradford, and the population reached 182,000 by 1850. However, there wasn't enough clean water. In 1854, the city bought the water company and built huge projects to bring in water.

A famous factory owner was Titus Salt. He made special fabrics from alpaca and mohair. Because of the pollution and poor conditions in Bradford, he moved his business to Saltaire in 1850. There, he built a model village for his workers, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Henry Ripley also owned a big dye works. He built Ripley Ville, a model village for his workers, similar to Saltaire.

Another important employer was Samuel Lister, who owned Lister's Mill. His factories were huge! But with so many factories, Bradford became very polluted. The air was thick with black smoke. Sadly, many children didn't live past the age of 15, and life expectancy was very low.

New People, New Ideas

Like many big cities, Bradford welcomed people from other places. In the 1840s, many people from Ireland moved to Bradford. By 1851, about 10% of the population was from Ireland.

In the 1820s and 1830s, many German immigrants arrived, especially Jewish merchants. They helped Bradford become a major exporter of wool. They often worked in the Little Germany area. Important figures included Charles Semon, who became Bradford's first foreign and Jewish mayor in 1864. Jacob Behrens helped start the Bradford Chamber of Commerce. Jacob Moser became the first Jewish Lord Mayor of Bradford in 1910.

Besides textiles, other industries grew. The Jowett Motor Company made cars and vans for 50 years. The Scott Motorcycle Company also made motorcycles and engines.

The Labour Party's Roots

Bradford played a big part in the early days of the Labour Party. A mural in Little Germany celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Independent Labour Party being founded in Bradford in 1893.

The Bradford Pals in World War I

During World War I, Bradford raised three special army groups called "Pals battalions." These were made up of friends and neighbours who joined up together. On 1 July 1916, during the Battle of the Somme, many of these brave men from Bradford were killed or injured. It was a very sad day for the city.

Bradford Today

After World War II, more people came to Bradford from countries like Poland, Ukraine, Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan.

While the textile industry has shrunk, Bradford is still home to big companies. Wm Morrison Supermarkets, a large grocery chain, started here in 1899 and still has its main office in Bradford. Other big companies include Yorkshire Building Society and Provident Financial.

In 2009, Bradford became the world's first UNESCO City of Film. This is because of its long history with movies and film technology. The city has a special museum, the National Science and Media Museum, dedicated to film and media.

In 2012, Bradford City Park opened. It's a large public space in the city centre with many fountains and a huge "mirror pool." It's a great place for events and festivals. In 2015, The Broadway shopping centre opened, bringing many new shops to the city.

In 2022, Bradford was chosen as the UK City of Culture for 2025! This is a huge honour and is expected to bring lots of visitors, jobs, and cultural events to the city.

How Bradford is Governed

Bradford has a local council called the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council. This council has 90 members who make decisions for the city. As of 2023, the Labour Party has the most seats on the council.

The original Bradford Coat of Arms had a Latin motto: "Labor omnia vincit," which means "Work conquers all." A newer coat of arms, created in 1976, has the English motto: "Progress, Industry, Humanity."

Bradford is represented in the UK Parliament by three Members of Parliament (MPs). These MPs speak for the people of Bradford in the national government.

Bradford's Location and Environment

Bradford is located in the eastern foothills of the South Pennines (a hilly, moorland area). It's not built on a big river, but it sits where three valleys meet. One of these valleys is the Bradford Beck, a river that flows through the city. In the city centre, the river flows underground in culverts.

The Bradford Canal was built in 1774 to connect the city to other canals. It helped transport goods but was closed in 1922 because it became too polluted and costly to maintain.

Destinations from Bradford

	The Yorkshire Dales, Skipton, Keighley, Bingley, Cottingley, Heaton	The Yorkshire Dales, Ilkley, Otley, Guiseley, Baildon, Shipley, Saltaire	York, Wetherby, Harrogate, Leeds Bradford Airport, Greengates, Eccleshill
	University of Bradford, Thornton, Denholme, Oxenhope, Haworth, Hebden Bridge, Todmorden, Burnley		Thornbury, Pudsey, Leeds, Selby
		Bradford
	Wibsey, Buttershaw, Clayton, Queensbury, Halifax, Rochdale, Oldham, Manchester	Wyke, Oakenshaw, Bailiff Bridge, Cleckheaton, Brighouse, Huddersfield, Holmfirth	East Bowling, Tong, Morley, Batley, Dewsbury, Ossett, Wakefield

Bradford's Rocks and Climate

The ground under Bradford is mostly made of carboniferous sandstone. This stone was perfect for building the city's many mills and buildings. Bradford is also located near the Yorkshire Coalfield, which provided coal for its early industries.

Bradford has a maritime climate, like most of the UK. This means the temperatures don't change too much between seasons, and it rains moderately throughout the year. The hottest temperature ever recorded was 37.9°C in July 2022, and the coldest was -13.9°C in January 1940.

Green Spaces in Bradford

Bradford has a "green belt" area around it. This is a special protected zone that stops the city from spreading too much and helps keep the countryside green. It also provides places for people to enjoy nature and outdoor activities, like Northcliffe park and woods and Horton Bank country park.

People of Bradford

In 2011, Bradford had a population of 522,452 people. It has one of the youngest and fastest-growing populations outside London!

Bradford is a very diverse city. The 2011 census showed that about 67.4% of the population was White British, and about 26.8% was Asian. Many people from South Asia live in Bradford, making it a vibrant mix of cultures.

Some areas of Bradford have faced challenges like poverty and unemployment. However, other parts of the city are very well-off. The city is working to improve conditions for everyone.

Bradford Ethnicity (2011 Census)

Ethnic group	Population	%
White	352,317	67.5
Asian or Asian British	140,149	26.8
Mixed	12,979	2.5
Black or Black British	9,267	1.8
Arab	3,714	0.7
Other Ethnic Group	4,026	0.8
Total	522,452	100

Bradford's Economy

Bradford's economy is worth about £9.5 billion, making it a major economic hub in the Yorkshire & Humber region. Even though the textile industry declined, the city's economy has changed and grown in new ways.

Today, Bradford is home to many important companies. These include businesses in finance (like Yorkshire Building Society and Provident Financial), textiles (British Wool Marketing Board), chemicals, electronics, and manufacturing. The large supermarket chain Morrisons has its main office in Bradford, as does Yorkshire Water.

Vanquis Banking Group (formerly Provident Financial) has a large, modern headquarters in the city centre.

Bradford is also seeing many new developments. The Bradford Odeon building is being turned into "Bradford Live," a big music venue. Other projects include One City Park (a corporate office building), High Point (apartments), and a new Darley Street Market.

Shopping in Bradford

The main shopping area in Bradford is The Broadway. It has over 70 shops, including popular brands like Next, Superdry, and H&M.

Kirkgate Shopping Centre is another central shopping spot with stores like Primark and New Look. It also has an indoor market.

Forster Square Shopping Park, near the train station, has over 20 large shops and food places, including TK Maxx and Currys.

For a unique shopping experience, check out Sunbridge Wells. It's an underground complex with restaurants, bars, and shops built in old Victorian tunnels!

Famous Places in Bradford

Bradford's oldest building is the Bradford Cathedral, which used to be a parish church. Another very old building is Bolling Hall, which is now a museum.

You'll find many beautiful Victorian buildings in Bradford. The City Hall is very grand, and the old Wool Exchange is also impressive. Little Germany is a special area with many Victorian commercial buildings, named after the German Jewish immigrants who ran businesses there.

The National Science and Media Museum is a must-see! It celebrates cinema and movies and is one of the most visited museums outside London. It has an Imax cinema and the famous Pictureville Cinema.

St George's Hall is a beautiful concert hall built in 1853, making it one of the oldest in Britain. The Alhambra Theatre, built in 1914, is a popular place for musicals and shows.

Bradford has 37 parks and gardens. Lister Park was even voted Britain's Best Park in 2006! It has a boating lake and beautiful Mughal Water Gardens.

Bradford City Park is a large public space in the city centre. It has the biggest man-made water feature in any UK city, with over 100 fountains! When the water is drained, it can host big events.

The Bradford Odeon is an old cinema building that closed in 2000. There are plans to turn it into a new music venue called "Bradford Live."

Memorials in Bradford

Bradford has several memorials to remember important events and people:

• Bradford War Memorial
• Bradford Victoria Cross Memorial
• Bradford Pals Headstone
• Bradford City Fire Memorial
• Bradford City of Peace
• Bhopal Workers' Memorial Day Plaque
• Hiroshima & Nagasaki Plaque
• Ukrainian Grove, Jacobs Well
• 1932 Ukrainian Famine Memorial
• 1986 Chernobyl Disaster Memorial

Getting Around Bradford

Bradford is well-connected by roads. The M606 connects the city to the national motorway network.

Buses and Trams

Bradford was one of the first places in Britain to have trolleybuses, starting in 1911! These electric buses ran until 1972. Today, First Bradford and Arriva Yorkshire operate the main bus services.

Bradford also had a tram system that ran from 1882 until 1950.

Trains

Bradford has two main train stations: Forster Square and Bradford Interchange. Forster Square opened in 1846, connecting Bradford to Leeds. Bradford Interchange opened in 1867 and is now also a bus station.

Air Travel

Leeds Bradford Airport is just 6 miles (10 km) northeast of the city. It's a busy airport and the home base for Jet2.com airlines.

Learning in Bradford

Bradford Grammar School has been around since the 1500s!

The University of Bradford is a big university with over 10,000 students. It started in the 1860s as a school for weaving and design. Today, it teaches many subjects, from technology and management to optometry and archaeology. The university is known for its research and for being very welcoming to all students. In 2019, it was named the UK's top university for social inclusion.

Bradford College offers many courses and has about 23,000 students. It's one of the largest providers of higher education outside universities in the UK. Famous artist David Hockney studied at its Art School.

Margaret McMillan was a social reformer who worked in Bradford in the late 1800s. She helped improve the lives of children in poor areas and campaigned for free school meals.

Religions in Bradford

Bradford has a long Christian history. Bradford Cathedral is one of the oldest churches, dating back to at least 1283. Bradford has over 150 churches and chapels, including many Roman Catholic churches built by Irish immigrants in the 1800s.

Saint Blaise is the patron saint of Bradford because he is linked to wool combing.

Bradford also had a strong Jewish community in the 1800s, especially German Jews who came for the wool trade. They built the Bradford Reform Synagogue.

The city has a large South Asian community. The Lakshmi Narayan mandir, which opened in 2008, is the largest Hindu temple in northern England. There are also about 100 mosques and six gurudwaras (Sikh temples) in the city.

Bradford Religion (2021 Census)

Religion	Population	%
Christian	182,566	33.4
Muslim	166,846	30.5
No Religion	154,305	28.2
Undeclared	29,816	5.5
Sikh	4,834	0.9
Hindu	4,757	0.9
Buddhist	959	0.2
Jewish	254	<0.1
Other Religion	2,074	0.4
Total	546,412	100

Bradford's Culture and Arts

The National Science and Media Museum hosts the Bradford International Film Festival every March. In 2009, Bradford became the world's first UNESCO City of Film because of its strong connection to movies and film history.

Bradford has also worked with Bollywood and hosted the International Indian Film Festival awards in 2007. The Bradford Animation Festival is the UK's longest-running animation festival.

There are four theatres in Bradford, including the Alhambra and St George's Hall. St George's Hall is one of the oldest concert halls in Europe!

The Bradford Mela is a big festival that celebrates different cultures with markets, food, music, and dance. It's now part of the larger Bradford Festival, held in Bradford City Park.

Museums and Art Galleries

Besides the National Science and Media Museum, Bradford has other interesting museums:

• Bradford Industrial Museum: Shows the city's industrial past, from textiles to cars.
• Bolling Hall Museum: A medieval building that shows how families lived over 500 years ago.

Bradford's main art gallery is Cartwright Hall in Lister Park. Bradford 1 Gallery and Impressions Gallery also show modern art and photography.

City of Sanctuary

Bradford is known as a 'City of Sanctuary'. This means it's a place that welcomes and helps people seeking safety and new homes from around the world. For example, in the late 1930s, Bradford welcomed about 270 German Jewish refugee children as part of the Kindertransport scheme.

Music Scene

Bradford is the hometown of several rock bands like New Model Army and My Dying Bride. Famous singers like Tasmin Archer and Kiki Dee are also from Bradford.

In recent years, Bradford has produced pop stars like Gareth Gates (from Pop Idol), Kimberly Walsh (from Girls Aloud), and Zayn Malik (from One Direction).

Curry Capital

Bradford is famous for its delicious curry! It has been named the "Curry Capital of Britain" multiple times because of the high quality of its curry restaurants and its strong food scene.

Sports in Bradford

Bradford has a rich sporting history. The Bradford Bulls are a very successful rugby league club, winning the World Club Championship three times! They play at Grattan Stadium, Odsal.

Bradford City Football Club was formed in 1903. They won the FA Cup in 1911. Their home ground is Valley Parade. Sadly, in 1985, a fire at Valley Parade caused a terrible tragedy where 56 people died.

Another football club, Bradford Park Avenue, also played in the Football League.

The Bradford Dragons are the city's basketball team. Bradford has also been important in the skateboarding scene.

Joe Johnson, a snooker player from Bradford, won the 1986 World Snooker Championship.

Health Services

Bradford has two main hospitals: Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke's Hospital. Both are teaching hospitals, meaning they help train new doctors and nurses.

Bradford is also part of a huge health study called Born in Bradford. This study follows the lives of all babies born in the city between 2006 and 2008 to learn more about health and wellbeing.

Famous People from Bradford

Many famous people were born or grew up in Bradford:

• David Hockney: A world-famous painter, draughtsman, and photographer.
• Frederick Delius: A well-known composer.
• J.B. Priestley: A famous novelist and playwright.
• Sir William Rothenstein: A painter and writer who led the Royal College of Art.
• Rodney Friend: A violinist who became the youngest leader of the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
• Friederich Wilhelm Eurich: A scientist who helped fight anthrax in the wool industry.

• Sir Edward Appleton: A Nobel Prize winner who discovered the ionosphere.
• Robert Turner: A pathologist who pioneered chemotherapy for cancer treatment.
• Jacob Behrens: An important textile merchant who helped Bradford's wool trade.
• Richard Oastler: A social reformer who fought against child labour.
• W.E. Forster: An MP for Bradford, remembered by Forster Square.
• Zayn Malik: A former member of the popular boy band One Direction.
• Aasif Mandvi: An American film star who grew up in Bradford.

Bradford's International Connections

Bradford is twinned with several cities around the world, meaning they have special friendly relationships:

• Skopje, North Macedonia (since 1963)
• Roubaix, France (since 1969)
• Verviers, Belgium (since 1970)
• Mönchengladbach, Germany (since 1971)
• Galway, Ireland (since 1987)
• Mirpur, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan (friendship agreement in 1998)
• Varna, Bulgaria (Since 1992)

Images for kids

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  Bradford waterworks on completion of the Wharfedale scheme in 1881

See also

In Spanish: Bradford para niños