Silsbridge Lane and Goitside: The History of Two 'Lost' Bradford Neighbourhoods

Silsbridge Lane was probably the first of the new neighbourhoods to be built in Bradford in the early 19th Century with the coming of the industrial revolution. Focused around what is today Grattan Road, it was a linear settlement that quickly degenerated into a slum with a terrible reputation. By the turn of the 19th Century it had essentially disappeared as a separate neighbourhood and became part of the wider Goitside district and neighbourhood. This talk looks at the history of both neighbourhoods, their origins, why they declined and more recent attempts to regenerate this part of Bradford City Centre. It was delivered by Jonathan Crewdson, Director of the Neighbourhood Project, in December 2024 at the Millside Centre.