Roger Davy
Ben Rhydding, Ilkley
20 February 2010 13:54 |
T & M Bairstow's Mill
I appreciate that it is a longshot but I wonder if anyone has access to any records which list those from the village who were working at the mill in the 1880s and 1890s. I am writing the story of our family textile business in Bradford but in those earlier days my grandfather Francis Henry Davy and two of his brothers were spinning and/or weaving overlookers at T & M Bairstow Ltd. My grandmother Mary Ann Hargreaves was a weaver there too before she was married and would walk up and down Sutton Clough each day from her home at Wood Top Farm.
Any information would be much appreciated, also any photos of the mill around that time. I have already submitted to the Gallery a general view of the village including the mill taken c1914 |
Paul Longbottom
Sutton
20 February 2010 14:36 |
Roger, You will find a most of the records are held at the West Yorks Archive Service at Bradford. The wage and employment books cover the dates 1834-1963. |
Andrew Monkhouse
Adelaide, South Australia
20 February 2010 22:53 |
Hi Roger, I have a postcard of Sutton Mills that may be of interest to you franked 25th April 1906 Crosshills
The photo was taken from the beckside fields showing both mill chimneys, 2 ladies stood posing for the shot in the distance and a cow grazing in the field!
I know your specific area of interest concerns the mill from the 1880s to 1890s, but I think you will be hard pressed to find an image that definitively dates the mill prior to this one taken in 1906.
In addition and coincidentally it was written out and posted by a mill employee at that time, unfortunately it is difficult to make out the senders name. I’ve sent images of both sides to the webmaster for your perusal
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Roger Davy
Ben Rhydding, Ilkley
21 February 2010 18:23 |
Paul & Andrew,
Many thanks for your help and interest. I shall contact the WY archives and see what I can find. I shall also be very interested to see the postcard too. My father used to tell me that his father, ie my grandfather, remembered seeing Bairstow's mill chimney built. I'm interested in finding out how many of my family actually worked there in those days.
Roger |
