I am nearly 68 years old. I remember the old Forster Square station. We went in holiday to Morecambe or Bradford by the sea. It was a huge station with lots of platforms. Not a spooky station, quite a light and bright station. Unlike the old Exchange which was like a huge dark cavern. Yes the station as it is now is an apology for a railway station. Thanks for the film. I live in Leeds now but I enjoy visiting Bradford, which is still a lovely city with all the sandstone buildings and the wonderful Alhambra and St George’s Hall.

@bobrobinson1576

2 ай бұрын

Me too. Remember those old 3 wheeler artics that were always floating around there?

You clearly show your frustration at what passes for the main railway stations in your home town. Hope things improve , Bradford deserves better

6:17 Compass and Square of the Freemasons on the gate.

@katiedales582

3 ай бұрын

I saw that, thought it was free masons. 🤔

Sir Henry Irving (a famous actor of his time) died on the stairs in the Midland Hotel. Bram Stoker was his manager.

Loved the "Britannia Group" face. I'm glad they kept the facia to the former concourse entrance. As I remember the old station and the road layout outside, the current station is a very pale replacement. I've never seen the gorgeous luggage ramp before. Fantastic. Bradford is desperate for a link between stations. Either that or a totally new through station linked to both Airedale and Calder lines. The much promised Yorkdhire tram might at least ease access. It's a pity Bradford itself is spiralling downward.

Hi Darren, loved that smirky growl at saying The Midland Hotel is now a Britannia Hotel 😎 Keep pounding on, Cheers DougT

awesome fades Darren,but the biggest mistake they made was not connecting sq with interchange

@davegb99

3 ай бұрын

To be fair, it would have been pretty difficult as both are at vastly different levels even if the Broadway Shopping Centre wasn’t in the way.

@shahedmc9656

3 ай бұрын

@a11csc that's right. They had a good opportunity to do so when rebuilding the Broadgate Centre.

@davegb99

2 ай бұрын

@@shahedmc9656 they had opportunity, yes, the will, no, and as previously stated it would have either been very steep or a long way round. I know that there is a steep slope on the line going to Blackpool just outside Preston but that is on a curve and I think one between Interchange and Forster Square would have been more steep and over a short distance.

The Bradford Forster square station sign is at the ingrow carriage museum in Keighley

@danielgardecki1046

3 ай бұрын

If I remember correctly (around 10 years ago), I'm pretty sure a Forster Square Railway Station sign was one of the many signs found in Sunbridge Wells during the renovation. The other signs were mainly for the old shops and bars which used to be there originally.

Loved this video. Brought back many memories as a child. 71 years old and finding nothing seems to stay the same. Bradford has some fantastic architecture. Hope they don’t destroy it all. I still come to Bradford to see my sister but every time I visit something else has been pulled down and replaced by concrete. Such a shame. 😢

Two words: ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!

Great video, as usual. The photo fades make sense of what used to be there - it's hard to visualise how it used to be. So much has changed since I lived in Bradford. When I married in the 70s we would have like to have our reception at the Midland, but it was closed, so we had it at the Victoria instead. Wonderful to see the interior of the Midland now. You might not like the Britannia group but it looks as though they've done a marvellous job with restoring and retaining so many original features. Very sad to see what glory has departed though. Bradford deserves better stations than these. Thanks again Darren.

Great video Darren,im 53 a s still vaguely remember the old Foster Square station. Ill have to show this to my dad as he Bradford born and bred.

Thanks for that, Darren, particularly your photofades, which never disappoint!

@AdventureMe

3 ай бұрын

Glad you like them!

I remember late 70s, at the bottom of that ramp to the station there used to be a car boot/flea market in what I seen to remember as being a huge shed, not unlike a goods shed, I can’t pinpoint exactly where it was as I was very young at the time

Dankeschön Darren Wieder einmal etwas Wissenswertes aus deiner Heimat gelernt. Freue mich auf das nächste Video. Thank you ❣️👋🏻. Darren

@AdventureMe

3 ай бұрын

Thanks Christel

@danielgardecki1046

2 ай бұрын

Ich bin mir ziemlich sicher, dass er in Zukunft noch viel mehr von Little Germany, Bradford, zeigen wird. Little Germany ist eines der am meisten gefilmten Miniviertel in Bradford.

It’s so fascinating when you do the fade ins 😊

The old station was certainly a spooky place in the late 80s. There was a tree growing out of the former track bed by platform 6. When the new station opened initially you could only get to it by walking all the way along the old platform 1/2 and then crossing over onto the new platform 1/2 via a short metal ramp. I wish I’d taken photos at the time.

@danielgardecki1046

3 ай бұрын

You don't need photos, you need the *Minder* (1979-1994) episode *A Bird in the Hand is Worth Two in Shepherds Bush* which is series 8 episode 7 from 1991.

@meichong8278

3 ай бұрын

​@@danielgardecki1046Did Minder film in Bradford ...I'm confused .......unless it was the 1 where the man ( famous actor but cant remember his name ) went on the missing list in London

@danielgardecki1046

3 ай бұрын

@@meichong8278 Yes, Minder filmed that episode in Bradford.

@meichong8278

3 ай бұрын

@@danielgardecki1046 Brian Glover may be his name .... a rough gruff Yorkshireman I think

@danielgardecki1046

3 ай бұрын

@@meichong8278 Sheffield born Brain Glover has some connections to Bradford, however I can't remember what. I've just had a quick look through his filmography and I can't see any Bradford filmed productions. However I've re-found an old reposted 1992 story of him appearing in a theatre production of Richard III at the former West Yorkshire Transport Museum at Ludlam Street, Bradford, with people like Mark Addy. York born Mark Addy must love Bradford, as he's one of quite a few people I can name who have appeared in 6+ Bradford filmed productions. I'm sure there's at least one or two more connections Brain Glover and Bradford that I can't remember.

I may be an ex-southerner but I remember Wallace Arnold coaches very well. Growing up in Croydon, Surrey in the late 1950s/ early 1960s when it was an attractive town, we lived close to the local Rootes / Sunbeam / Hillman car dealer, Manton Motors. The garage serviced Wallace Arnold coaches which used to park in the road next to our house in Addiscombe whilst they awaited the attention of the mechanics. Although only 6 or so at the time, I recall coaches bearing odd destinations (odd to a southern 6 year-old at any rate) like Oban. As a child bus-spotter, these matters were very significant and are still treasured memories 65 years later!

Nobody beats your photo fades , i look forward to seeing your videos, so you were born in 1977? Great work as always darren, thank you.

@AdventureMe

3 ай бұрын

Not that old. 1983

I remember getting into the older station and skateboarding on the platforms when they were building the current station - I think we walked through a goods shed but unfortunately it's so long ago the only memories that stick are being able to climb around on the platforms of a station I'd been to as a child.

You can see the original platform edges under the broken tarmac in what is now the site compound. Suprised you missed to the toilet wall too with the original tiles in situ and places where the sinks were opposite the hotel.

I love your fade ins, they give the viewer a much better idea how it looked before. Thank you from a subscriber.

@AdventureMe

2 ай бұрын

Thanks for the sub!

Used to be an amazing hotel Stayed there a few times when I was on training courses in the late 90s. John Pennington used to own it. There was a public bar that had an amazing mural on the wall. Frequented by a lot of postal workers from memory

@AdventureMe

3 ай бұрын

Yeah I remember the Pennington years

Superb Darren. Photo fades best yet. Great video. Bradford should be shouting out about the area of the Midland Hotel you filmed!

@AdventureMe

3 ай бұрын

Absolutely

Great video so sad

So sad to see demise great video

My Uncle used to work at Forster Square station when it was a proper station. Later it became a parcel depot with the Ilkley trains relegated to platforms on the left hand side looking from the front. I worked there in 1975 when it was a parcel depot mainly handling parcels from Gratan’s with a conveyor belt system in the foyer. As you mentioned you had Valley Parade goods yard connected with that bridge you mentioned. At the end of the video you showed the entrance to Forster Square station if I remember correctly that’s where Royal Mail post vans used to come down to unload Mail sacks onto trains, at least I can say I have handled mail bags without being in jail. At the front entrance behind that wall is where NCL (National Carrier’s Limited) unloaded parcels from Garatan’s which then went onto the above mentioned conveyor belt for sorting. We would stand at either side to sort the parcel’s into towns by loading them into B.R.U.T.E’s (British Rail Universal Trolly Equipment) they could give you a nasty nip if you put your fingers in the wrong place, when loaded they would be taken to the respective parcel trains for loading. On the bridge you mentioned you had the Midland railway coat of arms in the cast iron supports.

@shahedmc9656

2 ай бұрын

@rodneyhutchinson1495 some great memories you've shared there - thanks.

“It’s now owned by the Britannia Group “, I put my head in my hands and just caught your face as I dropped my hands! 😂😂

Very interesting video of Bradford Foster Square 😊

Forgot to mention in late 80s there used to be car boot old forster square station.

I really enjoy your videos, they are so full of information and interest . Thank you for sharing all your work with us. Looking forward to more 👍

Thanks Darren enjoyed this, I never used the station but remember going to car boots in the 1990s there. I often wondered how it would have looked in the years of its hey day. I was told there were underground storage facilities back in the day, as the goods yard was vast, if anyone can elaborate on that. Loved the fade ins as always 😎

Hello AdventureMe! Hope you’re keeping well? I love sunshine, walking adventures etc. I’d love to go adventuring with you!! You know all the good places ☺️ Hopefully chat soon? Take care, and can’t wait to see more videos!! Martin ☺️

Not from Bradford, yet very interesting, made more so by the fact it is your birth home and you can lend that personal story to it. Makes it far more real. Many thanks.

Hello Darren how are you love your vidio of Bradford have a good bamkhoilday weekend best wishes take care stay safe ❤😅😅

Remember the 50s/60s era station. Used to enter the station from the Foster Square entrance through a narrow passage way next to the hotel towards the platforms. What had been the main station concourse was then being used for parcel traffic, out of bounds to the general public during the 70s/80s.

Lovely tour, Darren. Cheers!

Great video as always 😊

I remember the old glass roof still been there , quite a few years ago now

Quality as always top man keep them coming always a fantastic watch 👍

A very informative and ultimately depressing video. I found this very difficult to watch as I left Bradford 30 years ago and Forster Square Station was still functioning although in a very rundown state. Keep the videos and the photofades coming.

Hi darren lv video amazing history still there .keep up great work .

Nicely done Darren. Glad to see some bits are still standing

Very interesting, thank you for sharing

Totally amazing your footage, enjoyed so much,love all the history, thanks bringing these to us ,how we used to live

Another great vid thanks. There are some lovely staff at the Midland, i have used it many times.

As you go into the Midland Hotel directly on the right through the gates are the Victoria Rooms. As someone else mentioned this has the masonic square and compass sign on. Behind these doors is a masonic lodge room that Bradford Freemasons use for their meetings a couple of times a week.

@joylunn3445

2 ай бұрын

There was a huge Masonic Lodge a little further along Manningham Lane called the Connaught Rooms and one at the end of Springbank Place.

Great video, Darren ❤

Thanks so much for this. I went to look at the station on a wander around in the 90 s. I didn't know it was like that!

Fabulous video. You’ve really spoilt us with all the fantastic photo fades in this one. The close up of the steam train is my fave 👍🫶

It's beautiful.

Great to see Darren that the Midland Hotel has retained all its Victorian splendour but did you accidentally stray into the red light district dip in 20:47😂

@AdventureMe

3 ай бұрын

Haha. I never noticed that.

Another cracking video, Darren, with your exemplary now & then fades to Bradford's past being the true highlight of this series. You provide a fascinating and visual treat in all of your videos.

@AdventureMe

3 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

Hi thanks for sharing this wonderful historic video I really enjoyed it. Have a blessed day

Loving the Bradford history you're showing us Darren. Although I'm from Preston it's still fascinating to see how our towns and cities change over time (mostly not for the better sadly). Keep up the great work!

Thank you for this day’s walking tour. Always a trip back in time. Thank you also for the information formulating the video, Darren. Hopefully, see you on the next. Cheers Darren! 🇬🇧🙂👍🇺🇸

Really enjoy your vlogs and many thanks for yet another brilliant one. I remember Wallace Arnold my brother in law was tourism director for them.

@AdventureMe

2 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

Brilliant job , it all makes sense with them photo fades 👌. I can only remember entering Bradford through the interchange as a kid & teen(80s-90s) from New Pudsey, not Foster Square. Keep up the good work D!!100% Love the channel , Railway vids my favourite, though 😊

Thanks for showing the inland revenue in Bradford. My dad worked their.

Another interesting video - some great views of Bradford City’s Valley Parade in the distance at the beginning on the old photos ⚽️👍

The West Yorkshire Day Rover. Great value for money ticket. When I first used it I think it cost around £2.60. I do remember Forster Square albeit in a derelict state in the early 90's.

Hi Darren, Great video of the old Midlands Station. Looking forward to seeing your video of the new City [through] Station, to match London, i.e., London Bridge.

Just goes to show you how things have changed over the years good one on Bradford interchange Darren looking forward to the next one

Very interesting video. What's left of the old station looks like an apology for what should be a statement about Bradford and its future. It looks like those responsible at the time, didn't think it had one. Hopefully, if the station's capacity gets expended, the opportunity will be taken to constructsomething which embodies the spirit of Bradford and in keeping with the best of its architecture.

I love all your videos on bradford, the history of the city is actually really fascinating, shame the city is now a big building site and going downhill fast, hoping one day bradford will return to being like it used to be

Use to be my play ground there on bikes and when I worked in keighley i traveled from foster square awesome video Darren

*The Midland Hotel* interiors and/or exterior has appeared in stuff like *Billy Liar* (1963), *Minder* (1979-1994), *L.A. Without a Map* (1998), *The First Film* (2015), *Lies We Tell* (2017), *Gold* (2018), *Commando 3* (2019), *Lunar C: Puffer Jacket* (2020), *The Duke* (2020), *Peaky Blinders* (2013-2022), *Great British Railway Journeys* (2010-present) etc. *Forster Square Railway Station* has appeared in stuff like *Minder* (1979-1994), *Lies We Tell* (2017), *Lunar C: Something To Believe In* (2023), plus some documentaries I can't remember, most likely on subjects like football and music. *Forster Square Retail Park* I can't remember being used for any films or TV shows, however it has been used for freestyles and music videos like *Mic Man Sparxxx ft Wrapz, K13 - Man Up North/ Ya Get Me Fam* (2016) and *Ya Get Me Fam Cypher* (2016) feat *Darkiie, Wrapz, Jahrel Mission, Mic Man Sparxxx, Youtie DLO, Duane Simons,* and *K13,* among others. There's no doubt many more productions I've forgotten about.

Nice one, Darren 👌

FYI unlike the old Forster Square, Day rovers are still around if you want one. They are now called WY DaySaver Train and available at all ticket offices for £9.50. Handy if you are doing many WY videos in a single day!

Great to see what is left and a lovely exit to the hotel good luck with Britannia tho 🚂

Great video! I'm very curious about the Victoria Rooms... The Mason's mark always peaks my interest 😅

@AdventureMe

2 ай бұрын

You and me both!

@danielgardecki1046

2 ай бұрын

All I know is that you can get free stuff. My brother-in-law works with a Bradford based mason who he did a favour for (I have no idea what that favour was, but it was work related). To say thanks, the mason then decided to give him 2-4 free tickets for something like The Grand National or England at Wembley.

so many said ur fades are brill, i was born on wapping in , the first and only pool in a school was mine ,keep it up bro x x x x

Darren superb video as always goes to prove forward planning doesn't work

Darren, the line out of Forster Square nowadays is a branch line that goes to Shipley. In its time you show it was plenty busy with the goods yard and more platforms than now. How did it need so much infrastructure and how did the trains get to the main lines to London & Edinburgh from here. Thanks Darren for all the quality information.

Superb

@AdventureMe

3 ай бұрын

Thanks 🤗

The Victoria Rooms would have been a masonic lodge, as it has the square and compass on the front. You made me laugh pulling a face at Britannia Hotels too 😂 great video as always Darren 🙂

Great "Photo fade", bit slower, or pause at crossiver point. Altogether, brilliant work, 👍

Hi Darren, the sculpture in front of the arches represent fibre optic cables - part of the 'connecting the city' art project, see also the giant sewing needle and fencing at the end of duke street opposite the top station entrance.

Ironic really that the hmrc now occupies the old station and goods yard, a place that on daily basis would see many shunts to the tax office now filled with a bunch of cu---- Great video as always darren 👍

I pulled the exact same face as you when you mentioned Britania Group!

Think part of the old station might have been given over to a short-lived, small exhibition venue. Later became a covered-in car park. In there, there used to be at least one spiral staircase (I think) leading to an office or something. Never ventured up as it looked so grotty and pigeon-infested. On a wall could be seen old notice giving some information about former parcels traffic. Facing the former Forster Square there were some iron gates featuring Midland Railway scrolls. This was in the early 80s. Similar scrolls could be seen inside the station itself.

I remember working here back in the 70s with BR. It use to be very busy back then with post office parcels. There was also an entrance up cheapside just after the midland. Down the cobbled road and into the old car park

Drat! I was out there a few months ago with my grandson and if I’d have been armed with your fantastic blog we could have done a proper explore. Another Darren masterpiece 🫡👍👏👏👏

@AdventureMe

3 ай бұрын

Always a return trip lol

Thanks Darren, a most helpful and informative video. A few years ago, I was in a group visiting the stations in Bradford and we had coffee in a bar/cafe area where there was a magnificent mural of a past scene in Bradford. After all this time, I don't know if it's still in place or has been removed or still in place. Its worth checking out. Despite the comments about Bradford, it's still has certain charm about it, not like Birmingham whichever has been devastated by the council and developers and is a massive waste land. Just hope Bradford Council doesn't follow Brums example.

@AdventureMe

2 ай бұрын

That could possibly have been in the Midland hotel. There's a mural in there.

I was really pleased to see that the luggage entrance from the hotel to the station was still there - and looking in a fine state. I remember that area very well from when I used to visit in the 90's, when it was The Pennington Midland (John Pennington, I believe owned it). Maybe Britannia will cherish it (?) rather than turn it into bunk bed accommodation!! Well done on another great vid.

@danielgardecki1046

2 ай бұрын

Also known as "Liverpool Dock Passport Control" in Peaky Blinders.

I remember exploring during the late 80s in and around the old foyer/ticket office which became a car park. On one of the columns was an old 1950s/60s timetable showing the departures throughout the day. Wish I had photographed it.

This sad tale is just another example of destroying railways and pinching prime city centre land to build IR offices. just as they have at Bfd Exchange station, now the law courts. You forgot to mention the vast amount of sidings that were against the huge retaining wall - always full of parcel coaches for the Grattan catalogue co.

What a great way to start a Sunday morning, a new Vid from Darren AdventureMe, were 5000 miles away.

@AdventureMe

3 ай бұрын

Haha. Enjoy

Brilliant, thank you. Did you spot the masonic symbols on the iron gates to the victoria rooms?

@jetsons101

3 ай бұрын

Good eye, I could spot them a mile away. The tiles were beautiful -- really something to see. Now hotels just use a "beige" painted wall, UGH.

@AdventureMe

3 ай бұрын

I did yeah

Very interesting video, particularly the photofades. You could usefully add a scan of the relevant Ordenance Survey 1" Sheet 96 "Leeds & Bradford) (or even 2 1/2") (so long as you give copyright credit to OS) maps that would show the layouts and geo-locate the stations in Bradford (for those of us that have never been to the centre of Bradford).

When you showed the "Yes Mush" painting, I did an Internet search to try to find out the meaning. I came across an article from the Telegraph & Argus dated July 17, 2021. Apparently the artwork caused some controversy. Very nice video. It's sad to see so many grand buildings lost forever.

@TheLotusManFILMs.

3 ай бұрын

The T&A would try create controversy at an egg and spoon race.

The external arches at the front of the old station were realigned so The Broadway could ‘nick’ the site of Forster Square itself.

Hello Darren, having been there for the first time and, just a few months ago at that, I found that really interesting! Hence, I really appreciate what you're saying about remembering it all as it used to be... I remember reading the reports in the railway magazines at the time, saying that they'd rationalised Bradford Forster Square station to just the westernmost island platform, and seeing the photos of most of those squat and yet, somehow oversized modern canopies and the platforms they covered, disappear into the shadows and then - a long while later, that even they were going and a new island platform would serve a cut-back version of BFS, on the site of some old sidings! I guess my best offering of the same would be to have used what remained of the old termini at London Broad Street during the last eighteen months before even it was cut back to a narrow and temporary wooden extension of the outermost end of one of its' old platforms, accessed who knows how as the old station building was being demolished and the Graham Road Curve commissioned! I have also once or twice used Holborn Viaduct's terminal platforms, before Snow Hill tunnel was reopened (in London); I well remember the absolutely huge let-down that the old St Pancras was, once you got inside and realised that not only were there very few trains, there were very few active platforms for them to occupy under that vast train shed, when all was at a single level; and conversely, just how large and impressive the facilities were on the one occasion I travelled to and from Tilbury Riverside... and yes, the station was quite interesting too - as was the 'souvenir' that followed me onto the non-corridor rolling stock used on the LTS at that time!! And, I must have seen so much else when it was closed but still intact - maybe even with rusty rails. It's annoying really, as I just wasn't old enough to have sufficiently developed my interest in such things at that time - and I must have walked past without knowing what they even were. Grrr!!!

@AdventureMe

2 ай бұрын

Thanks mate. Sounds about right.

I actually remember this as it was the station from Keighley, another sad loss, though interesting that the old goods yard is a trading park, updated use😂 Same reaction as you when you mentioned Britttania 😢hope they don't alter that historic entrance😮

Great video. I think the first station was actually called Market Street, although where its footprint was I don't know. The old Victorian 'Midland Railway' Station came later in the 1890s, only to be replaced some 100 years later by the truncated version we have today. Basically, the Bfd. planners wanted to build a shopping center on the old station site and have people walk thru' it to get to the platforms. Thus creating footfall for the shops. This didn't happen due to the financial crash in the early 90s and only later did the Broadway Centre get built on a different site to the south. That left an undeveloped station site which was later developed as an Inland Revenue office. So, the whole thing was a bit of a mess up as passengers now have to walk further to the new platforms than before which takes an extra 2/3 mins. The old station, although dark and dingy could have been refurbished and the convenience of being slightly closer to the central area retained. Then again, that's the problem with viewing the land the old station sat upon as being more valuable for development than having a train station sat upon it. Short sighted, limited ambition and lack of foresight by Bfd., Council, WYPTE & National Rail. Only now are they trying to rectify matters with an extra platform, but the damage was done back in the 1990s, as BFQ is little more than a gloried bus stop situated around the back of some offices.

I wonder if the Victoria Rooms (6.18) had something to do with the Freemasons given the symbol over the door?

Similar story to Blackpool Central Station really, hopefully they'll get a big revamp there soon.

Darren and your viewers not sure if you have seen the BBC News Article this week or the Model Railway KZread Channel, Chandwell. Chandwell use many of the buildings from Bradford especially around Foster Square. He had included a copy of The Midland Hotel sorry Chandwell Royal Scot Hotel and some of the buildings on Cheapside, North Parade, Manor Row, Broad St & Dale St. Take a look if you haven’t already seen it. Ian

The Victoria Rooms is the entrance to Victoria Masonic Lodge which closed in recent years.

I visit this station regularly and remember the old one. The current station is an utter disgrace. You missed the fact that the lift is out of order forcing people to use the ramp up to the City centre which stinks of urine and this unsavoury passageway hardly gives visitors a positive view of Bradford.