Sowerby Bridge

While those firms weaving khaki thrived, the post-war depression and the gold standard crisis quelled any optimism. Employers tried to slash costs by wage cutting, leading to some 20,000 textile workers striking for several months in 1925 and in 1930. However, it was generally agreed that Huddersfield was not so badly affected as other areas, mainly due to the diversity of its industry. The textile trade itself was not reliant on a narrow market because of the variety of its products. Despite foreign competition, the credit squeeze and the long disputes, unemployment in the town was relatively low at approximately 5,000 even in 1930. By 1935 it had fallen to 3,653, the lowest for eight years, and there was even a shortage of textile workers. Some mills were working overtime in response to improvements in the export trade and firms looked to recruit from ‘the distressed areas’. Engineering firms like Brook Motors, the Prospect Ironworks and David Brown & Sons were also making extensions to their works. Nevertheless, there was some shock when the old firm of Vickerman’s, which traced its ancestry to the 18th century, closed down in 1938 and Taylor Hill Mill was taken over by the Czech firm Bruck & Englesmann. The loss of hundreds of jobs with the closure of the massive United Thread cotton works at Meltham Mills and of the Slaithwaite Spinning Co brought the depression uncomfortably close to the town, but by now, with war looming, military contracts were already helping to revive the local economy. (Brooke Collection) The photograph shows fire engines attending a relatively minor fire in part of Springdale Mill. Last occupied by Harold Haigh, the building has now been demolished.
An extract from from"Huddersfield - A History & Celebration".

There are also plans to demolish the council flats at Rashcliffe and Southgate and, although the latter in particular are notorious eyesores, there is concern that this will lead to a further reduction of housing stock.
An extract from from"Huddersfield - A History & Celebration".

THE FIRST PROPOSAL to buy the Ramsden Estate had been put to the Council in 1894 when Cllr E A Beaumont met with Baron Rothschild and secured an offer of financial assistance if the purchase was agreed. The idea was rejected as being ‘one hundred years too soon’. Wilfrid Dawson, elected in 1917, revived the plan. The Council did not yet have the legal powers to purchase the estate, which would require an Act of Parliament. However, Sam Copley, a locally born millionaire and former Berry Brow hairdresser, had made his fortune in America and he offered to help. He was happy to own his native town if the Council proved unable to buy it from him. Great secrecy surrounded the dealings. It was vital that Sir John Frechville Ramsden, the 6th Baronet, did not suspect that it was the Council behind the purchase of the estate. Considering the strained relations over the years it was feared that he would totally reject the sale, or try and squeeze as much money out of them as possible - especially since the Ramsdens were heavily burdened with debt. It seems, however, that Colonel Beadon, the Ramsden agent, was aware of what was happening, which was more than could be said for most of the councillors. Ramsden’s asking price was £1,500,000. An offer was made of £1,000,000 and bargaining continued until Ramsden stuck at £1,333,000 and the Council’s negotiators at £1,250,000. Then a newspaper leaked the story of the Council’s involvement and Cllr Dawson was rushed (Trevor Kipling) ‘Huddersfield buys itself’ is re-enacted on a float during the Borough Centenary Pageant in 1968.
An extract from from"Huddersfield - A History & Celebration".

Denham, a stalwart of Highfields Chapel. As early as 1869 he called a public meeting to win support for the acquisition of the Greenhead estate, including Gledholt Glen (now known as T P Woods after former owner, T P Crosland), to prevent the encroachment of housing. Both the mayor, C H Jones, and the town clerk opposed the purchase. The Ramsden Estate was demanding too high a price and would benefit from the new roads by building houses on the parts they refused to sell. Denham was so committed to this project that he rented the land himself from the Ramsden Estate and by 1872 had opened it to the public in the summer for concerts, fetes and other gatherings. It was eventually purchased by the Borough for £30,000 and officially opened on 27 September 1884.
An extract from from"Huddersfield - A History & Celebration".

British Dyes During the Boer War, Read Holliday and Sons manufactured picric acid for the explosive Lyddite which resulted in a massive explosion at the works in 1900. The demand for both explosives and dyestuffs caused such concern to the government during the First World War that they created a new company, British Dyes, which bought Holliday’s out. A vast 450-acre greenfield site at Dalton was acquired for the construction of the new works. This later became the world famous company ICI which branched out into agrichemicals and pharmaceuticals. Read Holliday’s grandson, Lionel Brook Holliday, who had served on the Western Front as a major, started his own company further along Leeds Road.
An extract from from"Huddersfield - A History & Celebration".