By 1840 Bradford was known for having some of the most smoke-filled air in Britain.

As early as 1803 an act had stated that, "Engine chimneys are to be erected of sufficient height as not to create a nuisance by the emission of smoke.
All owners of engines etc.
are to construct fireplaces thereof in such a manner as most effectually to destroy and consume the smoke arising therefrom."
 However, little was done to enforce the laws.

There was a general feeling that the factories provided work, so should not be pushed too hard to reduce pollution.

An 1841 account said, "The condition of Bradford is dreadful.
Lowmoor iron-forges most extensively spread their suffocating exhalations on the one side ... On the other side, Bowling Iron Hell (for it is one truly) casts a still denser atmosphere and sulphurous stench..."
The Bowling Iron Company was fined on 12 December 1874, but only for £5 with £9.
10s.
costs for ten offences.

The population suffered high levels of respiratory diseases, peaking in 1890 during an influenza epidemic.

The method of paying the men led them into temptation of intemperance and extravagance:
According to H. Hartopp, manager of the Bowling Works,
All our colliers and miners are in our direct employ, without the intervention of contractors.
They appoint one of their number, the head man in the pit, to come to the office every week to receive the money.
It is given to him in sovereigns and silver, perhaps 20l.
or 30l.. There is no need, whatever, that they should go to a public house to divide it, but I believe their practice, too often, is to do so.
I have been anxious to put an end to it, by providing them with a convenient room near the collieries, where practicable; but they are scattered and distant.

The company built St. John's Church, Bowling, at its own expense of ₤5,000.
The church was consecrated on 8 February 1842.

It is built in the Lancet-Gothic style and is 111 by 60 feet (34 by 18 m) in size, with a 130 feet (40 m) spire.

The church was the first to be built in England of iron and stone, with only the rafters made of wood.

In April 1847 St. John's school in Bowling was visited.
The Bowling Iron company had erected the building, but did not contribute much to its expenses.
There were on average 150 children at the school, of whom 12 were factory workers.

Only seven children had reached aged 13.
The schoolroom had poor lighting and ventilation, and there was no mistress to instruct the older children.

In the mines, hurrier-boys would drag carriages along tracks to the miners,
then drag the filled carriages back to the pit shaft and hook them to a chain so they could be pulled up.

An 1843 inquiry into child labor said of Jabez Scott, aged fifteen, a worker at the Bowling Iron Works: "Work is very hard; sleeps well sometimes, sometimes is very ill tired and cannot sleep so weel [sic]."

An 1847 report noted that there was considerable temptation to employ boys in the mines when they were below the legal age, then ten years of age.

"Managers, &c., of mines, complain that the work required of boys in seams of coal not more than 18 inches to two feet thick, is done at a disadvantage, unless they are brought to it from their earliest years."

In 1875 there was an explosion in the Bowling Iron Company's Crosses Pit mine, where 40 men and boys were working.
Four ironstone getters and hurriers were killed, and others injured.
The cause seems to have been accidental ignition of gunpowder being used to break up large pieces of scale that contained the ironstone.

A select committee of the House of Commons in 1877 heard that in West Yorkshire, including the Bowling Iron Works, the colliers employed boys as assistants, rather the boys being employed by the company, although the boys had their names entered and were subject to the colliery rules.
At that time Bowling employed about 2,000 workmen in the collieries, and it was estimated that about two men died each year.
Accident rates were higher in the iron works, despite employment being lower.

Boys were employed in various capacities in the ironworks, suc
By 1840 Bradford was known for having some of the most smoke-filled air in Britain.
As early as 1803 an act had stated that, "Engine chimneys are to be erected of sufficient height as not to create a nuisance by the emission of smoke. All owners of engines etc. are to construct fireplaces thereof in such a manner as most effectually to destroy and consume the smoke arising therefrom."  However, little was done to enforce the laws. 
There was a general feeling that the factories provided work, so should not be pushed too hard to reduce pollution.
An 1841 account said, "The condition of Bradford is dreadful. Lowmoor iron-forges most extensively spread their suffocating exhalations on the one side ... On the other side, Bowling Iron Hell (for it is one truly) casts a still denser atmosphere and sulphurous stench..."
The Bowling Iron Company was fined on 12 December 1874, but only for £5 with £9. 10s. costs for ten offences.
The population suffered high levels of respiratory diseases, peaking in 1890 during an influenza epidemic.
The method of paying the men led them into temptation of intemperance and extravagance:
According to H. Hartopp, manager of the Bowling Works,
All our colliers and miners are in our direct employ, without the intervention of contractors. They appoint one of their number, the head man in the pit, to come to the office every week to receive the money. It is given to him in sovereigns and silver, perhaps 20l. or 30l.. There is no need, whatever, that they should go to a public house to divide it, but I believe their practice, too often, is to do so. I have been anxious to put an end to it, by providing them with a convenient room near the collieries, where practicable; but they are scattered and distant.
The company built St. John's Church, Bowling, at its own expense of ₤5,000. The church was consecrated on 8 February 1842.
It is built in the Lancet-Gothic style and is 111 by 60 feet (34 by 18 m) in size, with a 130 feet (40 m) spire.
The church was the first to be built in England of iron and stone, with only the rafters made of wood.
In April 1847 St. John's school in Bowling was visited. The Bowling Iron company had erected the building, but did not contribute much to its expenses. There were on average 150 children at the school, of whom 12 were factory workers.
Only seven children had reached aged 13. The schoolroom had poor lighting and ventilation, and there was no mistress to instruct the older children.
In the mines, hurrier-boys would drag carriages along tracks to the miners,
then drag the filled carriages back to the pit shaft and hook them to a chain so they could be pulled up.
An 1843 inquiry into child labor said of Jabez Scott, aged fifteen, a worker at the Bowling Iron Works: "Work is very hard; sleeps well sometimes, sometimes is very ill tired and cannot sleep so weel [sic]."
An 1847 report noted that there was considerable temptation to employ boys in the mines when they were below the legal age, then ten years of age.
"Managers, &c., of mines, complain that the work required of boys in seams of coal not more than 18 inches to two feet thick, is done at a disadvantage, unless they are brought to it from their earliest years."
In 1875 there was an explosion in the Bowling Iron Company's Crosses Pit mine, where 40 men and boys were working. Four ironstone getters and hurriers were killed, and others injured. The cause seems to have been accidental ignition of gunpowder being used to break up large pieces of scale that contained the ironstone.
A select committee of the House of Commons in 1877 heard that in West Yorkshire, including the Bowling Iron Works, the colliers employed boys as assistants, rather the boys being employed by the company, although the boys had their names entered and were subject to the colliery rules. At that time Bowling employed about 2,000 workmen in the collieries, and it was estimated that about two men died each year. Accident rates were higher in the iron works, despite employment being lower.
Boys were employed in various capacities in the ironworks, suc
Bowling Iron Works