Description and History of Site:-
Perseverance Works, orange-red brick mill of 1869. Three storeys, 7 by 5 bays with central cart entry and taking-in doors at each floor above. Gabled 2-storey engine-house to rear with tapering chimney of 1869. William Best became a pit-boy at Morley Main colliery, aged 10, and eventually became the lamp-room fitter responsible for the cleaning and maintaining of the 'Clanny' lamps then in use.

He and William Ackroyd, the then owner of Morley Main colliery, went into partnership in the mid 1890's as Ackroyd & Best to manufacture an improved type of miners safety lamp. The venture was successful and they formed a limited company in 1897. The improvements included methods and mechanisms for the safe lighting and relighting of the lamps, a magnetic locking mechanism and also lamp cleaning machines.

The company occupied the building from 1902 but by 1911, the business had expanded to the extent that the Ackroyd Street works became inadequate and the firm relocated to a purpose built factory (Beacon Works) near Tingley.

Unoccupied at the time of listing (1985). Listed building application to demolish part of mill and carry out alterations to form flats approved in 1994.

Further Reading and References:-
Thorp, J., Coal Mining in Morley, British Mining No 87, NMRS, 2009.
A Century of Safety, from Miners' Lamps to Braking Systems (WABCO magazine) published to mark 100 years of Hailwoods.

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Key Words :- colliery mine safety lamp

Viewing the Site :- Visible from Commercial Street and Ackroyd Street, Morley

Address :- Ackroyd Street, Morley, West Yorkshire, LS27 8BP
Grid Ref :- SE 2652 2777
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.745636 , Long -1.599358
Local Authority :- City of Bradford
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Listed - Grade II
Historic England List No - 1299689,
Site Condition :- Site refurbished to residential housing
Site Dates :- 1869 -
Record Date :- 17 August 2019

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © Nick Nelson