History Of Bradford
In the midle ages “Broad ford“, later know as Bradford, was conquered by the Saxons. During this time Bradford had become an important town, although it was very small centred on Kirgate, Westgate and Ivegate.
During all that time a lot of important and powerful people held the “Manor of Bradford“ for example the Lacy Family or the Earls of Lincoln. At the time of the Civil War (17 th century) the industrial development, in Bradford, declined. But because of the manufacturing industry (18the Century) a new time began. Inspite of of that development Bradford remained still a small rural market town.
By 1841 there were almost 40 mills in Bradford. At that time Bradford was famous for the wool production. That is why almost two thirds of the country's wool production came from Bradford. Furthermore Bradford was named “the wool capital of the world“. With the industrial development Bradford also changed from ar ural town to a sprawling town, between 1800 and 1850.
On the 9th of June 1897 Bradford became a metroplitan town. Although the textile industry had declined during the years. The secret of the success of Bradford was,that the goverment decided to diversify the local economy. The industry changed from textile to enginerring, printing, chemical, finacial, banking and export industries.