The industrial development of South Leeds in the nineteenth
century was mainly due to the introduction of factory-based
production. From villages dominated by clothiers producing
woollen cloth under the 'domestic system', Hunslet and
Holbeck grew into suburbs of the City of Leeds, distinguished by the dominance of factories of all kinds intermixed with acres of "working men's cottages" - back-to-back housing mainly.
New industries replaced older established trades and new
methods were constantly introduced which fostered the further development of industry and a concomitant growth in
the work force and its supporting services.
At the end of the eighteenth century there were already
several recently opened cotton mills south of the river,
but it was as a centre of flax-spinning that the area
developed during the first half of the nineteenth century.
As flax-spinning passed its peak the engineering industry
was expanding until by 1914 it was the major employer of
male labour in the district, with an international market,
for its products. There were other important trades which
developed during the century, chemicals, glass bottle
making, chromo-lithographic printing and brewing, but the
area had become peripheral as far as cloth-finishing,
dyeing and textile manufacture were concerned. The pottery
industry was dead and the expansion of tanning, with its associated boot and shoe-making, was chiefly to the north
of the river.
Industrial development was primarily based on the steam
engine. In this respect Hunslet and Holbeck were most favourably located, with ample supplies of cheap coal and
boiler water, as well as engineering works producing steam
engines and boilers. These positive factors were further
reinforced by the availability of transport facilities of
all kinds and extensive areas of flat land which were
essential for the development of heavy engineering works. There was a significant relationship between the different
trades which encouraged complementary development. Initially
the access to supplies of raw materials and coal, as well as
to markets both near and far, was important in attracting
industry to the area. Within the area there were few specific factors affecting location except the paths of the
water courses and access to the existing transport network.
Industrial development in the out-townships did not follow
that of Leeds itself in detail, both Hunslet and Holbeck
had a character of their own derived from their evolution
as manufacturing areas with associated housing.
By means of a gazetteer of industrial sites, outlining their
history and development during the period under review, the
impact of the individual entrepreneur is recognised and the
varying fortunes of the different businesses is charted as
they moved from one site to another according to their
prosperity.