A remarkable record of how textile students, from the past, learnt their craft.
This print is a reproduction of the illustrations drawn by student Ernest Waterhouse at Bradford College between 1900-1902. The print shows Ernest's hand-painted weave grids and sketches for the third lecture of 68-night school classes that Ernest attended and completed over a 2 year period!
Bradford and its Technical College, at the time, was a world leader. The International Wool exchange was based in the City and this authority controlled the world's wool crop price.
Bradford at the beginning of the 20th Century was a place to be, built upon the wealth of numerous internationally important textile Mills. Spinners, weavers and finishing companies were abundant and employment in the Mills and supporting manufacturing businesses needed a stream of quality apprentices for the various skills needed to keep the looms busy.
The original course book was purchased from Sotheby's of London in 1998.
