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The Wrecks after the Great Storm of 1880, Scarborough |
Yorkshire has always been famous for its beautiful dale landscapes, but during the 19th century it underwent a period of radical change, as did the rest of the country, as the industrial revolution transformed society in Britain. Yorkshire began to be known instead for skylines of collieries and factories, and rapidly growing towns and cities.
Many more workers were needed as industry developed, and urban centres in Yorkshire saw a massive influx of working class inhabitants during the 19th century, leading to slums and poor living conditions.
The largest county in England, Yorkshire was particularly well-placed to take advantage of the swift advances in technology made throughout the 1800’s. Bordering the North Sea, it had several active ports, and most importantly an unusual variety and richness of natural resources.
Mines were built to harvest the rich seams of coal — ‘black gold’ — lead, copper and iron ore. Steel was manufactured in Sheffield, and the city had many factories producing cutlery that was sold globally. A strong woollen trade that had begun in medieval times strengthened with the use of new machinery, which allowed for the production of finer cloths, and centred around Bradford, Halifax and Leeds. Valuable cargoes that had previously been sent around the country via the canal system was now more easily transported by the railways, which arrived in Yorkshire in the early 1800’s. The county’s rich timber resources were used throughout England and locally for purposes such as shipbuilding. Yorkshire products were exported all over Europe from Hull, which became a vibrant North Sea fishery and trades centre. |
