Sentinel  reader Robert Welbourn, was recently inspired by Roger Clarke's series to e-mail, from his home in America, a fascinating contribution:

Mr Welbourn's great-great grandfather, Joseph Charlesworth (1816-1868), came to Saltaire in around 1855 from Hepworth and can be found in the 1861 census as the grocer at  No.11 Victoria Road (or Victoria Street as it then was).

By 1871, Mr Welbourn tells us, Joseph's widow Ann was the grocer and confectioner at No.1 Victoria Road; their daughter Alice was a milliner living at No. 9 ; and daughter Sally was married to George Bayley, the chemist, dentist and postmaster living at No.11. 

In 1881, their son John had taken over the grocer's at No.1 ; daughters Annie and Ellen were the confectioners next door at No.2 ; daughters Mary, Alice and Elizabeth were drapers and milliners living together at No.9 ; and George Bayley was still the chemist, druggist and dentist at No.12 , by now assisted by apprentice Moorhouse Charlesworth, Joseph's youngest son.

John Charlesworth died in 1911, but the Bradford & District Trade Directory for 1926 continued to list J Charlesworth & Sons as "high class confectioners and caterers" operating at No.2 Victoria Road.

CAN YOU HELP TO FILL THE GAPS?

If you recall more about any of the shops in Victoria Road, you can help the Sentinel to record recent history for future generations. We look forward to hearing from you.