Pudsey & District

The advent of steam power towards the end of the 18th century saw Pudsey labelled as “the largest clothing village in the West Riding.”

Woollen cloth made up the predominant output from the local mills. Up to the 1870s this continued to be woven on handlooms with the steam-powered machinery used for fulling and spinning.

The late 19th century saw the spinning and manufacturing of worsted introduced to the village and by 1912 there were 22 textile mills.

The last 50 years have seen many changes in the old Pudsey Borough.

Perhaps the most basic has been the decline in the textile industry, with just one or two remaining and the tall chimneys are all but gone.

The number of places of worship too has declined. In Pudsey the number has more than halved, mainly through the amalgamation of the various manifestations of Methodism.

Today light industry accounts for much local employment as the town has become something of a dormitory two for nearby Bradford and Leeds.

The old waevers cottages are rapidly becoming sought after homes because of their historic ‘old world’ character.

Cricket has always provided entertainment for the locals, with Pudsey St Lawrence and Pudsey Congs battling it out for honours in the Bradford League.

Both sides have produced players of note, many going on to represent Yorkshire over the years. In fact Herbert Sutcliffe and Len Hutton both went on to star for England.