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Bradford in the 1860s

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Built on Wool

Delius and Co.

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Chronology

Homage To Delius

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The first architecturally designed warehouse in Bradford was that of Milligan and Forbes on Hall Ings, now the Telegraph and Argus building and significantly sited next door to St.George's Hall. Both buildings were completed in 1853 and designed to complement each other.

Julius Delius, having built up a successful business from scratch, hoped that his sons would follow him into the business. However, it was not to be - not one of his three sons was to play any significant role in the firm. His eldest son Ernest, a born wanderer, must have been a big disappointment to him, preferring sheep farming in New Zealand to the textile trade in Bradford. Ernest eventually followed his brother Fritz to Florida where he took over the running of the orange plantation for a short time.

Fritz, his second son, began quite well in the trade, but could not ignore his longing to develop his musical interests. Business trips to the continent only served to expose him to more music. Even after his father had set him up in a business partnership in an orange plantation in Florida, he left his brother Ernest in charge so that he could concentrate on teaching music. Sadly, although Julius must have been aware of his second son's talent for music, he couldn't bring himself to support him in a career in which he saw no chance of financial security.

Max, the youngest son, became a partner in the company but the partnership was dissolved. He later set up in business on his own account. In 1901 he was declared insolvent to the extent of nearly £6,000 after incurring debts as a result of Stock Exchange and turf speculations in addition to financing a failed touring theatrical company. Max Delius died in Montreal, Canada in 1905.

During the 1850s and 1860s Bradford had established connections with the world textile trade, particularly in Germany. Merchants from the continent were quick to establish offices close to the place of manufacture and after the coming of the railways to Bradford in 1846 many moved into the town from Manchester and Leeds. The area between Leeds Road and Church Bank, being convenient for the Midland station, was ideal. Most of the magnificent warehouse precinct we now know as Little Germany was built during the very prosperous twenty year period beginning in the mid-1850s. Most of the textile exports, both yarn and piece goods, were destined for Germany which explains why most shipping houses were of German origin.

Trade directories first list Delius and Co as stuff merchants in 1861 in the heart of the warehouse area at 5 Burnett Street, on the corner of Peckover Street. As his business expanded Julius moved to a larger new building at Caspian House, 61 East Parade. Caspian House had been designed in 1871 for Delius and Co by Milnes and France.