Bradford in the early 19th century

On his death in 1834 the firm became Edward Ripley & Sons Ltd, with his eldest son Edward as senior partner. It eventually became one of the largest piece dyeing firms in the world. Between 1825 and 1830 great improvements were made in dyeing techniques, especially as a result of the introduction of machinery for preventing worsted goods from shrinking and for drying pieces over hot cylinders rather than just leaving the material to hang in the open air.

One of the few dyehouses in Bradford at that time was the firm of George Ripley & Sons of Bowling. George Ripley, trained as a dyer at the Washer Lane Dyeworks in Halifax, set up in partnership with a Mr Walton in the first decade of the century.