Bradford Leasing

Did You Know?

Every year a national competition is held in Bradford to see who makes the best curries in Britain. Judges score four restaurants selected by the local council that are judged on many different specific features about the dish itself and its presentation. Bradford has been named Curry Capital of Britain for a record breaking five years in a row. 

Bradford was turned into town when the villagers were allowed to hold a weekly market. In those days there were no shops and anyone wishing to buy or sell anything had to go to a market. Once the market was up and running craftsmen would come and live in the town and sell their goods at the market.

Medieval Bradford would seem tiny to us, with a population of no more than several hundred but towns and villages were very small in those days. There were only 3 streets, Kirkgate, Westgate, and Ivegate.

Bradford – is derived from Old English broad ford – The ford is at the site of the current Cathedral.

Bradford is experiencing the biggest population boom in the country (if you don’t include London). It has the largest proportion of under fives as well as under 19-year-olds, and also the biggest average household size.

It is the oldest venue of its kind in the UK, but also the third oldest in Europe. It beat Cannes, Venice and LA to be named the world's first UNESCO City of Film in 2009. 4 It is the youngest city in the UK, with almost a quarter of its population under 16.

Opened August 29th 1853, St George’s Hall in Bradford is the oldest concert hall still in use in the United Kingdom and the third oldest in the whole of Europe.

The city is also home to two UNESCO sites, and so much more. With a population of over 500,000 people and 150 different languages, this is a city filled to the brim and overflowing with some amazing stories.

Jowett was a manufacturer of light cars and light commercial vehicles based in Bradford. Jowett was founded in 1906 by the Benjamin Brothers, and when the business first started they made peddle bikes, later going on to build V twin engines for driving machinery. In 1904 they became Jowett Motors and started making their first light cars.

Excluding London, figures show that Bradford is currently undergoing the biggest population growth in the UK. The city also has the largest proportion of under-fives and under 19-year olds, and the largest average household size.

The Bradford Pals were three of the many pals battalions of Kitchener’s Army raised in the city during the First World War. Following basic training, the three pals battalions were taken over by the British Army and officially named the 16th, 18th and 20th battalions, of the Prince of Wales Own West Yorkshire Regiment.