The Bramley History Community Archive

J.E. & H. Cartledge, were market gardeners for many years but it wasn't until the late 1920's/early 1930's that they commenced growing Mushrooms.

One of the larger growers in the area was a company called Riley & Sons. They owned a considerable amount of land in Bramley.

Before 1929 all mushrooms, other than field grown varieties, came from France where they were extensively grown in the well-ventilated and extensive catacombs of that country.

The French mushrooms were sold in this country for 3/0d (15p in today's money) to 3/6d. The big change, which came about in 1929, saw Government duties being placed on imported mushrooms, which was designed to help our own market gardeners, etc. to be able to produce them at competitive prices.

The duty of 6d (2.1/2p in today's money) per 1 lb, greatly encouraged British growers, at which time the Cartledge's started off in this new and exciting venture. Very soon they became the largest Mushroom growers in Yorkshire. By the late 1930's it is recorded that the price of Mushrooms was 2/0d (10p) so both growers and buyers most certainly benefited from our Government's action.

H.E. & H. Cartledge laid down an area of some 30,000 square feet during the season, when great care was taken to prevent the spread of disease. The Mushrooms were grown on shelves, which themselves were raised from the ground in sheds similar to those used for the cultivation of Rhubarb.

The growing period for each crop was six months. At the end of this time all the removable woodwork and the soil, was sterilized to a temperature of over 200 deg. F. The remaining woodwork was treated with creosote and the floor was disinfected with formaldehyde. The soil contained no weeds; grubs or eggs after it had been sterilized.

The old way of growing Mushrooms had not always proved successful. Old roots, together with manure, were placed in soil, but this method often led to disease and ensuing crop damage.

The newly adopted and modern way in the 1930's, was to blow the spawn from the Mushrooms, place it in bottles with liquid manure, and then heat it in an incubator. The spawn then become ‘spreadable', at which time it was planted out in sections. A good crop could be gained from this method and, no doubt, more and more of the population enjoyed this delicious and nutritional vegetable, and at lower prices than those of some ten years earlier - now that doesn't happen often, does it?

THE GRANCRETA CO. LTD.

In 1936 this company came to Bramley from Halifax, where they set up business in premises at Newlay between the river and the railway lines, which at one time had been owned by Tunstalls, and the Yorkshire Tar Company, respectively.

Grancreta manufactured fertilisers, the raw material for which being decomposed wool, which was obtained from the Halifax area. The wool was allowed to fall into the form of dust and was then mixed with various chemicals. The chemicals would vary according to specific soil requirements. Companies would send their soil samples to Grancreta, who analysed the sample and would then provide the best fertiliser to encourage more growing potential for each type of soil they were sent. This way fertilisers were sent out to various companies in the country, thus enabling their lands to increase both crop volume and also considerably improve product quality.

At one time fertilisers were sent off to the farmers providing both Scottish and Lincolnshire potatoes, and many of the bigger market gardeners, which would have supplied the old Covent Garden Market in London, received their fertilisers from Bramley.

In the days when the Kent Hop Fields were flourishing well, Grancreta more than played their role in this ‘flourish'. Many a beer-drinker had a lot to be thankful for to our Bramley firm!

Certainly before commencement of the Second World War, some three thousand tons of fertiliser per year was despatched to many firms throughout the country. Business was increasing rapidly at that time when the company employed a staff of some thirty men.

2008.