Sir Henry Mitchell House - Bradford, UK - People-Named Places on Waymarking.com

Why we renamed a building after Bradfordian Sir Henry Mitchell

You may have noticed that one of our buildings is now called Sir Henry Mitchell House – and you may be forgiven for wondering why.

The former Mercury House in Manchester Road, which now bears Sir Henry’s moniker, is the new home of Bradford Council’s children’s services.

Previously our children’s services were dispersed around the district in separate offices. We decided to bring them all together at 4 Manchester Road, as part of our drive to save money by selling off under-used offices around the district.

But back to Sir Henry Mitchell. What’s his connection with Bradford? Well, born in Esholt, Sir Henry lived from 1824 to 1898 and was a Bradford mill owner and philanthropist, though not quite on the same scale as Sir Titus Salt who built an entire village.

Sir Henry founded Bradford Technical School, now part of Bradford College. He was rewarded by becoming Mayor of Bradford in 1874 and the first Honorary Freeman of the City of Bradford (a ceremonial honour with mediaeval origins which brings no special privileges these days, but is a mark of a city’s gratitude for exceptional services)...

...Henry Mitchell picture credit: Henry Mitchell Vanity Fair 5 July 1890 by Leslie Ward – Published in Vanity Fair, 5 July 1890. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons.

Sir Henry Mitchell (1824 – 27 April 1898) was a Bradford mill owner.

He was born in Esholt, Bradford to manufacturer Matthew Mitchell and started work at 14 years of age in his father's mill. In 1841 he joined William Fison and Co and seven years later moved to A&S Henry and Co as a buyer, becoming a partner in 1852. By that time he was a leading authority on the worsted trade and influential in Bradford politics. He was a philanthropist and governor of the Bradford School Board and Grammar School and Vice President of the Bradford’s Mechanic Institute. He was a Justice of the Peace and elected Mayor of Bradford in 1874.

He founded Bradford Technical School, now part of Bradford College, which was opened by King Edward VII in 1882, who knighted him in 1887 for his services to education. In 1898, just before his death, was made the first Honorary Freeman of the City of Bradford.

On his death he was buried in Undercliffe Cemetery, Bradford. He had married the daughter of the Revd Gordon of Earlston, with whom he had three sons.

Sir Henry Mitchell 1824 - 27 April 1898

Sir Henry Mitchell a Bradford mill owner, was born in Esholt and elected Mayor of Bradford in 1874.

He founded Bradford Technical School, now part of Bradford College which was opened by King Edward VII in 1882, who knighted him in 1887 for his services to education.

In 1898, just before his death, he was made the first Honorary Freeman of the city of Bradford and upon his death was buried in Undercliffe Cemetery.

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