Our Assistant Curator of Collections, Emma Longmuir was tasked with leading on an updating of the 1970s focused ‘Back to Back’ house (part of the ever-popular run of houses illustrating changing lifestyles. She writes:
Back-to-back houses are a common sight in Bradford. When they were built there were the homes of working-class families who worked in local textile mills and other local industries. At Bradford Industrial Museum we have a row of these houses, with each house representing a different time period. Originally built in Great Horton in 1875, they were moved to the museum brick-by-brick in the late 1980s.
During the 1960s many people moved to Bradford from South Asian countries. At the time, workers were in demand and the local textile industry relied on people from South Asia to fill these roles. We wanted this important story to be featured more within our displays and felt that the 1970s house was the ideal place to tell it.
Before the redisplay, the entire 1970s house told the story of a Bradford born white working-class couple. We decided to keep the upstairs as it was and redesign the downstairs to represent the home of a family who had recently migrated from Pakistan. This change highlights both the differences and similarities in the lives of these two families.
As part of the research process, I consulted material within the museum collection from the Bradford Heritage Recording Unit Archive. The Bradford Heritage Recording Unit operated from 1983 to 2003. It aimed to create an audio and photographic record of everyday life in Bradford. The material I consulted included interviews with people who had moved to Bradford from Pakistan in the 1960s. The display also features photographs that were originally taken at the Belle Vue Studio, a local photography studio that became popular with migrant communities in the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s.
To gather more firsthand accounts, I organized a consultation and reminiscence session with a group from WomenZone Community Centre, a fantastic local charity that work closely with women from South Asian communities.
Thanks to our Learning Officer Sofia Fallon, many of the conversations during this session were had in Urdu. We gave the group a behind the scenes look at the display, before hearing about their lives during the 1970s. The group shared details about their homes and leisure activities, like watching South Asian films at local cinemas. Their insights greatly influenced the display’s interpretation and the selection of suitable objects from the collection.
The redisplay was celebrated as part of a 1970s themed party on the 14th and 15th September 2024. The party was held to marked Bradford Industrial Museum’s 50th anniversary since opening in 1974. During the event we were able to fully open the display to the public.
It is normally only visible through glass panels, so it was great to allow people to view it up close and see their reactions. Staff and volunteers were on hand to provide additional details and to answer any questions.
You can now see the finished redisplay at Bradford Industrial Museum, so be sure to check it out on your next visit.