Bradford Murders and Misdemeanours

Bradford in the century between 1850 and 1950 witnessed extraordinary growth and changes. Its wealth was based on the textile industry and the city became known as the ‘wool capital of the world’. It was a city of migrants, many from Ireland, and despite the efforts of philanthropic industrialists such as Titus Salt wealth and poverty often lived close to each other. The city was a breeding ground for crime and Bradford Borough Police Force was formed in the 1840s, dealing with the ‘high crimes’ of murder and large scale robberies and frauds, to ‘low level’ crimes such as petty theft, vagrancy and loitering. Delving into original sources, court reports and newspaper archives, the authors also look at the effects of illegal gambling on crimes before the 1960 Betting & Gaming Act and the particular involvement of young people in crimes and their punishments.

This collection of true life crime stories from the mid-nineteenth to the mid-twentieth centuries gives a vivid insight into life in Bradford in the past. This book will fascinate anyone with an interest in the history of crime as well as those who want to know more about the history of Bradford.

Author Biography

Adrian L. Bridge was born in the local area and has a BA in history, an MA, a PGCE, and was a postgraduate research scholar with the British Academy. He lectured in history for nearly 20 years, at various further and higher-education institutions. Although semi-retired, Adrian continues to work on a part-time basis as a senior assessment specialist with the Cambridge Assessment wing of the University of Cambridge. Dawn L. Bridge is a history graduate, originally from Stoke. She is a specialist in women’s history, having organised and delivered exhibitions on the subject. Dawn has delivered a number of local history talks to Cheshire Women’s Institutes and Mothers’ Unions.