Building Britain, 1700-1840: Industrial ‘Revolution’ or ‘Evolution’?

In the short span between the accession of George III (1760) and the death of his son William IV (1837) the face of England changed dramatically. Roads, railways, rivers and canals sprung up across the land and country hamlets became populous towns. Factories replaced farms and chimney stacks dwarfed church spires. Technological innovations drove rapid economic growth. The structure of British society changed forever, with mass migration from country to towns and cities. The popular idea is that these developments were rapid and ‘revolutionary’. Yet, there were significant economic and social changes in this period. Were the industrial developments in the eighteenth century a result of changes dating back to Tudor England? This module examines the processes and social effects of England’s Industrial Revolution. In doing so, the module explores the accuracy of the term ‘revolution’. Leeds and West Yorkshire are important areas in the broader history of England’s industrial past. You will have the opportunity to visit the National Coal Mining Museum and the Leeds Industrial Museum. The module also includes a field trip to the city of Liverpool.