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Welcome to a brand of
Mathematical
Services. When trying to better yourself, it's usually a little more savoury totake others along with you .... Woolcombers Report 1845, Case: Nelson Court, Bradford, UK. "A great many woolcombers reside in this Court. It is a perfect nuisance. There are a number of cellars in it utterley unfit for human dwelllings. No drainage whatever. The visitors cannot find words to express their horror of the filth, stench and misery which abounds in this locality and are unable to bear the overpowering effuvia which emmenates from a common sewer which runs from the Unitarian Chapel beneath the houses. Were this to be freely described the committee might subject themselves to the charge of exaggeration. We trust that some of those in affluent circumstances will visit this abode of misery and disease." Here is a 1906 map of central Bradford with the place described highlighted. This area is now occupied by the Margaret Macmillan Tower, housing Bradford Archive Services and the Local Studies library (well worth a visit) from where I acquired this information, from it's extensive basement. 
There were many religious denominations operating in Bradford in the 1st half of the 19th century, broadly classified as between church (or England or Anglican, the original) and chapel (non-Conformists new comers, new industrialist with a belief). Non of these seemed to help the unhelped 'working' man. They were mostly pre-occupied with trying to promolgate their faith as opposed to any others, and get the working man to fit in with their way of thinking - an improvement in living conditions was just a bribe for this. Again, yet again, sort of begs the point of life. For example the church was often preoccupied with complaints to chapel that they reduced the wages of the working man so that he could no longer pay church or chancel taxes, never mind his living conditions. I've had a look at The Unitarian beliefs and these seem highly technical believing in the 'oneness' of God. Anyways it seems they were a very small but wealthy denomination. Seems to fit - they could aford a sewer whilst no else arounnd them could! First serious point - I think Bradford Council should capitalise more on selling its commisioned works of the intriguing histories of Bradford. I reccommned 'The Chartist Risings in Bradford' - D.G. Wright (ISBN 0907734081) I don't know whether to laugh or cry when I read the histories of the Chartist 'revolution' to overthrow the political system (by violence) in the UK. It seems in January 1840 a certain John Smith, an orange seller, met at his cellar in Nelson court with others to plot an uprising. But this was tharted because the group had been infiltrated by an informer, John Harrison, a brothel keeper, and that the action ran into awaiting police. Oh well, nice try, you took the wrong working man on your team (mate). My psychiatrist once told me that he saw a few 'working ladies', and that I wasn't like them. But am I like a 'working' man? 2026-04-03 14:17:30 - Paul D. Foy - I can comment here to make a point I have made elsewhere. Take a look at the map. Bradford has almost no centre - the mills and factories are right in the middle, cheek by jowl with the cramped housing. Second point - I no longer own the upper of the flats shown in blue on the map - it has been sold to the owner of the building. I got into housing as a mildly charitable venture (but I wont lose money on it), to offset the greed and exploitation that has characterised this sector. I'm not sure the model of a landlord between the tenant and the owner of the freehold is a good one. It's just another layer of admin. Ok someone's job I suppose, taking off a small cut, but I'm not sure we need it here. Better for them to all be owner occupiers or the freeholder owns all the flats of the leashold. More of a bigger Company thing, so you have economies of scale in the management. Seems to be the view of the government, by the way of the legislation. I'm broadly in agreement. Certainly not for taking on a mortage just to rent out the property (passing the buck (the debt) on). Perhaps short term to rent , student, postgrad, try before you buy for a year etc. 2026-04-03 14:04:06 - Paul D. Foy - I saw a working lady the other day as well (online), and I wasn't like here either. She was much shyer and more demure. Paul D. Foy: I saw a working lady in Wetherspoons, Leeds, UK, the other day, and I wasn't like here. Didn't have the same fingernails. Post a comment: |