During the 19th century, Bradford was at the very centre of the global textile industry. The intensification of textile processing and production within Bradford and the surrounding landscape during the Industrial Revolution resulted in exponential growth and vast prosperity, which transformed a small market town into a pivotal industrial giant. The Industrial Heritage of Bradford remains key to the identity of the city, echoed in the architecture of the city centre, the surrounding townscapes and in the population of the district.
Whilst the Built Heritage of Bradford is of unquestionable importance, it is highly vulnerable and exposed to a variety of risks that can lead to loss of the historic fabric. Threats range from immediate and catastrophic consumption by fire, a slower state of decay and dereliction to vacant properties, as well as intentional acts vandalism, and changes brought through the redevelopment and repurposing of former textile related structures. These threats have highlighted the need to develop a rapid workflow for the documentation of heritage assets under threat to help to mitigate against further loss.
This project was funded as an AHRC Heritage Consortium doctoral studentship to Joe Moore.
A cross-section through the main mill building at Black Dyke Mills, Queensbury. The mill, built in 1935 by John Foster, is no longer producing textiles though remains a central hub to the local and wider community. The presented pointcloud was captured over multiple visits with the GeoSLAM Horizon.
Junction – Bridge 208 on the Leeds-Liverpool Canal indicating the junction of the Former Bradford Canal which ran though to the City Centre. The Bradford Canal was opened in 1774 and was permanently closed in 1922.
Bradford Terminal – Western elevation of the warehousing which formed the Bradford Canal terminal in the City Centre. While some of the structures have been successful converted into residential properties, many of the building are now vacant and in a state of dilapidation, evident by the poor maintenance and clear signs of water ingress.
Plan view of the Goitside Conservation Area Survey. One of 4 conservation areas within Bradfords City Centre and arguably the most at-risk, Goitside was the area processing and production within the city, illustrated in the utilitarian architecture of many of the structures found within its boundary and contrasted by the strikingly ornate architecture found elsewhere in the centre. Unfortunately, the buildings within the conservation area suffer from a high level of vacancy and dilapidation, with only 5 being listed. Dataset captured using the GeoSLAM Horizon.
SfM model of the now demolished Laconia Building which was noted as a key unlisted building within the Goitside Conservation Area of the City Centre of Bradford. Heavy rainfall resulted in structural destabilisation, which lead to emergency demolition of the entire building. The presented model was producing using images captured during the demolition process and aerial footage captured prior to demolition donated by a member of the public.
Western elevation of a warehouse on Vincent St in the Goitside Conservation Area. An exemplar unlisted building within the Goitside Conservation Area. While only 5 buildings within the conservation area a listed, many are noted as being key unlisted building, critical to the character of the area as a whole. Unfortunately, many of the buildings sit in a state of disrepair and are highly vulnerable.