The Celebrated Black Dyke Mills Band

AUTHOR : David Hirst

At the time of Queen Victoria’s accession in 1837, the precursor to what was to become the Black Dike Mills Band existed as a hybrid brass and reed ensemble based in a local public house.

By the time she died in 1901, it had become the pre-eminent brass band of the era – and beyond. 

In the 63 years of her reign its fortunes mirrored that of Britain’s ascent to becoming the world’s leading mercantile power; the products of John Foster & Sons of Queensbury sold across every part of the pink coloured outposts of Empire after winning Gold Medals at the 1851 Great Exhibition at Crystal Palace.

Philanthropy

The wealth it had created allowed the band’s owners to indulge in a form of civil philanthropy - the vestiges of which still dominate the village’s landscape today. The crowning glory was to be the Black Dike Mills Band.

Formed in 1855, its history has been documented before – some more successful than others. None though has explored its formative metamorphosis in such detail as David Hirst.

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