Description and History of Site:-
102-106 Thornton Road, Bradford, also known as Soho Mills, in 1890 the firm of Smith Brothers & Eastwood Ltd (SB&E) were established here, around the same time the firm of United States Metallic Packing Company Ltd (USMPC) were also established and operated here (see WYK02392).
SB&E were manufacturers of stationary steam engines, which powered industrial processes, and produced some innovative designs which received patents, along with associated machinery such as condensers and air pumps, they also had an interest in refrigeration plant.
Some of the facilities at Soho Mill had limitations and it's likely that casting and some machining was done by sub-contractors, for example, the flywheel for the Cross Lane Mill engine (see NYK01646) was manufactured by Sharples of Ramsbottom. All the engine cylinders were of a similar size and the maximum stroke was 42'' (1.06m) which may indicate a limited stock of patterns.
It's not possible to say how many engines were produced by SB&E exactly but there are nineteen known examples, more may become known in time. One example survives, built in 1901, probably the last one built by SB&E, works number G110, for Peter Green Ltd at Cross Lane Mill, Bradley (see NYK01646). This is conserved at Bancroft Mill, Barnoldswick (see LAN00012) and is regularly run in steam.
William Eastwood was the dominant and innovative partner in the firm who patented several interesting ideas, continuing with his innovations at Newton, Bean & Mitchell Ltd, Dudley Hill, Bradford.
To the rear of the mill runs Bradford Mill Goit which brought water from nearby Bradford Beck to supply the mills which line Thornton Road. Medieval in origin, it originally supplied water to manorial corn mills.
Covered over by stone capstones now, it represents the foundation of Bradford's earliest industrial heritage and is very significant indeed, forming the Goitside Conservation Area (see WYK02339).

(*USMPC produced metallic steam packings which were necessary for all steam engines.) William Eastwood (1864-1941) served his apprenticeship at Pollit and Wigzell, Sowerby Bridge (millwrights and engineers) from 1880-1885. He remained at that firm as a draughtsman until 1889.
William Hill Smith (1861-1931) was also apprenticed at Pollit and Wigzell, alongside his brother Thomas. He joined his brother Thomas along with William Eastwood and formed SB&E in 1890 at Soho Mills, 102 Thornton Road, Bradford.
The firms first patent in 1890 was for a centrifugal crankshaft governor which was used on several of their engines.
In 1895 they introduced a new design of air pump and condenser which was more efficient than competing products. This was the forerunner of the famous Eastwood air pump jet-condenser, which was taken up, under licence, by Woodhouse & Mitchell of Brighouse Ltd, amongst others.
SB&E stayed at this site until c.1897 when they moved to Valley Works, Valley Road, Bradford (see WYK01098), probably due to a lack of space.

Further Reading and References:-
http://www.bradford.gov.uk/media/3237/goitsideconservationareaassessment.pdf
The Flywheel, Journal of the Northern Mill Engine Society, Kershaw, B. April 2017 p4-6
The Flywheel, Journal of the Northern Mill Engine Society, Lodge, P.D. August 1982 p18-28
Bradford Trade Directory 1893, Post Office, p399
Bradford Trade Directory 1894, Post Office, p343 p416 p195

Help us improve this entry

The compilers welcome corrections or additional information on all sites.
Any information provided will be verified before appearing on the web site.

Email comments

Key Words :- stationary steam engine mill wrights iron founders engineers

Viewing the Site :- Public footpath alongside Thornton Road.

Address :- 102-106 Thornton Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD1 2DW
Grid Ref :- SE 15890 33056
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.793576 , Long -1.760268
Local Authority :- City of Bradford
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Listed - Grade II
Historic England List No - 1219947,
Site Condition :- Site refurbished to residential housing
Site Dates :- c1850 -
Record Date :- 25 June 2018

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © Andrew Garford