Smiling in the rain: conference delegates outside Queen's Hall, Burley

Our spring conference this year was held in Burley-in-Wharfedale.  In the morning we had four excellent talks:

• George Sheeran gave an introduction to the whole day, focussing on types of textile manufacture inYorkshire, processes and locations.
• Colum Giles spoke about the impact of textile manufacture on the Halifax area from 1500 to 1900.
• Alan Petford talked about settlement, society and textiles in Saddleworth from 1750 to 1900.
• Nigel Grizzard from ‘Our Northern Mills’ gave a talk on the changing uses of old textile mills, under the intriguing title ‘From Loom to Bedroom’.

In the afternoon, led by Terry O’Connor, about half the group braved the rain for two tours of Burley-in-Wharfedale, the first along the main street and the second venturing down to the River Wharfe. We saw good examples of mill architecture and discussed the impact of textile manufacture on the town. A publication based on the conference is in preparation.  Many thanks to all involved in a thoroughly enjoyable conference.