Industrial Britain

c.1750-1900

Britain changed more during this era than at any other time. People moved from the countryside to the new towns and cities. The way people worked changed, as did they way they lived - not always for the better.

Britain became the world's biggest superpower with the huge increase in industrial production, and imperial expansion.

The working class started to act together to demand changes and improvements in their conditions. The French Revolution was a shock to the establishment, and they tried to tread a fine line between keeping the working class controlled and keeping them contented.

The tread wheel at Pentonville Prison in 1895.

The prison punishment above had no useful purpose - they convicts are not generating electricity! The prisoners walked for ten minutes then rested for five. Why? So that they would get so fed up that they would not re-offend! Other useless jobs included oakum picking, turning the crank and shot drill.

see more on the PRISONS page....

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Timeline Industrial

How have these changed? Crime, Protest, Punishment and Policing.

What happened in?

Early-Modern

c.1500-1750

Kett's Rebellion, Pilgrimage of Grace, Gunpowder Plot, Vagabonds, Poaching, Smuggling, Highwaymen, Witchcraft, Corporal Punishment, Bloody Code........more

Industrial Britain

c.1750-1900

Theft and robbery, Poverty, Police, Transportation, Prisons, Luddites, Swing Riots, Chartism, Prison Reformers, Dock Strike........more

Twentieth Century

c.1900-2000

Suffrage Movement, Conscientious Objectors, General Strike, Hanging, Youth Detention, Fingerprinting, DNA, Surveillance, Drug Crime, Hooliganism, Community Service, Race Crime.........more

Who were?

Robert Aske, Matthew Hopkins, Jonathan Wild, Dick Turpin, John Howard, Elizabeth Fry, Derek Bentley........more

Click to enlarge this detailed map showing

the changes to Britain during this era

Industrial Britain -

What was it like?

Take a stroll around this

picture gallery to get

a feel for the place...

Enter Gallery