Bradford Industrial Museum

About the museum

Bradford Industrial Museum occupies Moorside Mills in Eccleshill, which were built around 1875 as a small worsted spinning mill. The mill was founded by John Moore, was bought and sold many times and grew steadily over the years. In 1974 Bradford Council created a museum on the site.

The main building holds permanent displays of textile machinery, steam power, engineering innovations and motor vehicles. Machinery is demonstrated on some days, such as the spinning machine running at full speed, and volunteers show skills such as printing, weaving and blacksmithing. In the grounds, separate buildings include a row of back-to-back terraced houses, the Mill Manager's House, the Horse Emporium, stables, a carriage shed and a blacksmith's forge, which together show how mill workers and their families lived.

The museum is one of the sites of Bradford District Museums and Galleries. It also has a Heritage Craft Room in a separate building where craft workshops are held, and a programme of events and temporary displays through the year.

Highlights

• Spinning and weaving galleries with machinery that runs on some days
• Motive Power Gallery with steam engines and vehicles
• Back-to-back terraced houses showing mill workers' homes
• Horse Emporium, stables and carriage shed
• Blacksmith's forge, printers and weavers at work on volunteer days
• Heritage Craft Room workshops

Permanent exhibitions

• Textile galleries – Permanent displays of textile machinery, including the spinning and weaving galleries, with machines running on some days.
• Motive Power Gallery – Steam power, engineering innovations and motor vehicles in the main building.
• Back-to-back houses and Horse Emporium – Separate buildings in the grounds, including terraced houses, the Mill Manager's House, the Horse Emporium, stables and carriage shed.

Founded

1974

Operated by

Bradford District Museums and Galleries (City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free. A donation of 3 pounds per person is suggested (pay as you feel). Workshops in the Heritage Craft Room must be booked.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The main entrance has a slight ramp and two sets of automatic doors. Two older lifts in the main building (in the temporary exhibition space and the Motive Power gallery) need a member of staff to assist. The Horse Emporium, stables, blacksmith's forge and carriage shed are on one level without steps. The back-to-back houses have steps, but portable ramps and a lift inside the houses are available with staff help; the Mill Manager's House has steps and no lift. Accessible toilets with baby changing are on the ground floor, and a Changing Places toilet is outside the main entrance. An induction loop is at the reception desk, and ear defenders and headphones can be borrowed. Machinery in the spinning and motive power galleries is very loud when running. A few Blue Badge bays are in the free car park. Assistance dogs are welcome.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Baby changing facilities

Families with young children can borrow interactive backpacks and child-friendly maps, and there are family trails and school holiday activities. Museums for Play and Growth sessions for children aged 0 to 5 are free. Baby changing is available in the accessible toilets.

Getting there & parking

The museum is signposted from the Bradford Ring Road and Harrogate Road (A658), about two miles from the city centre.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Lockers

The shop on the ground floor sells souvenirs, cards, books and items made by volunteers. Free lockers are near the reception desk, and there is a lunch space for visitors who bring their own food.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit