Acknowledgements

This work would not have been possible without the help of a number of people. First, I’d like to thank the Royal Historical Society’s New Perspectives series, particularly the lead editors, Elizabeth Hurren and Heather Shore, and my mentor, Catherine Clarke, for supporting the project from its inception. I’d like to thank Matthew Kelly for his incredibly detailed and helpful feedback at the workshop stage of this project. I’d also like to thank Emma Gallon at University of London Press for her support throughout the project, and the copy-editing teams at University of London Press and Westchester Publishing Services for all their hard work.

This project would not have happened without PhD funding, for which I’m extremely grateful to the Arts and Humanities Research Council and to the Heritage Consortium. Further funding to do extra research to turn my thesis into a manuscript was provided by the Royal Historical Society, the Economic History Society and Leeds Beckett University, to whom I’m very grateful. I’m also grateful to the Marc Fitch Fund for providing funding for image rights.

My appreciation goes to the archivists of the West Yorkshire Archives Service, Leeds branch, where I completed the majority of my archival research. I’d also like to thank the staff of Leeds Central Library and the Leeds Library, as well as the archivists and staff of the British Library, the Library of Birmingham, Liverpool Record Office, the National Archives, North Yorkshire County Record Office and Otley Museum. Special mention goes to the volunteers of Washburn Heritage Centre, particularly Janet Fox and Sally Robinson, for their help and support with the project from the outset.

I’m grateful to the professional associations I have been able to make over the years that have helped to develop this work. My colleagues in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Leeds Beckett University have, in the space of around ten years, morphed from teachers to friends, and have continuously provided support and encouragement. Special thanks go to Shane Ewen, who has been guiding me for nearly thirteen years and without whom this project would not exist. I’d also like to thank colleagues at the University of Huddersfield, especially Rob Ellis for his support and expertise during my PhD thesis.

I’m grateful for the feedback and discussions that have helped to shape this book, as well as inspire ideas, at the various conferences I have attended and presented work at. Special mention goes to the attendees of the Urban History Group, which has provided an accommodating and sociable atmosphere for many years, and the editorial team of Urban History. In particular I’d like to thank Tom Hulme, who was very supportive in the early stages of this book.

I would not have been able to complete this book without the support of friends, both professional and personal. As well as colleagues past and present at the University of Leeds Library service, special thanks go to Aaron Andrews, Olly Bowling, Dan Broadbent, Chris Burgess, Mark Butterfield, Chris Hatton, Maddie Hewitson, Michael Hewitson, Matt Joy, Miranda Lickert, Simon Lickert, Sabina Peck, Rob Piggott, Elliot Reay, Michael Reeve, Simon Sandison, and Tosh Warwick.

Finally, I would like to thank my parents, Daniel and Di McTominey, my sister Nicole, and Ariadne Deverson-Pavlidou for their support and encouragement that has helped me reach this point.