Uncovering the Bradford 1904 Exhibition

Uncovering the Bradford 1904 Exhibition is one of the key University of Bradford, School of Archaeological and Forensic Sciences events for Bradford City of Culture 2025.

Through archaeological geophysical prospection, excavation, and community recording we hope to gain a greater understanding of some key aspects of the Exhibition.

Through out the course of the excavation during the Festival of Archaeology, we welcome volunteers to excavate, and to visit the excavation to learn more about the 1904 Exhibition.

There are other cultural activities planned within Lister Park for days during the excavation.

The Bradford 1904 Exhibition

The Exhibition of 1904 was a huge cultural event for Bradford, West Yorkshire.

The exhibition was intended to promote Bradford’s industry, taking up a total of 23 acres in Lister Park, equating to about 70% of the total park area.

The exhibition featured a variety of aspects, including a large temporary industrial exhibition hall, a temporary concert hall, a gravity railway, a water slide, bandstand, and a travelling 'Somali Village', all of which was surrounded by an 'unclimbable fence'.

The temporary buildings were constructed from corrugated iron, wood, and plaster.

With the exhibition running from early May to late October 1904, a over 2 million visitors attended the event.

Following the exhibition, the temporary buildings were dismantled and sold, the exhibits were removed, and the park returned to a leisure landscape with very little indications that such a substantial event ever occurred in the area.

Uncovering the Bradford 1904 Exhibition seeks to identify archaeological remains of two of the main features of the exhibition: the Concert Hall and the Somali Village.

Volunteer excavators

Archaeological Geophysical Prospection provides strong indications for the Concert Hall, and excavation will begin here before moving to the more ephemeral remains of the Somali Village.

We are open to volunteer excavators of all abilities and experience. No previous archaeological experience is necessary. We are also open to participants who may wish to create illustrations, paintings, or drawings of the excavation, park, or take creative inspiration from the 1904 Exhibition (participant provided supplies & art materials).

We are open to youth (under 18) volunteers, but they must be accompanied by a parent / guardian.

Registration is necessary if you wish to volunteer to join the excavation. Please use the link below.