Birmingham and it"s Early Evolution
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation.
Birmingham was the powerhouse of the Industrial Revolution in England and became known as "the workshop of the world". Although its industrial importance has declined, it has since developed as a major commercial centre, probably second only to London, and named as the second best place in the United Kingdom to locate a business.
During the Middle Ages, Birmingham was simply a small town specializing in metal work. Although the area was rich in iron and coal, a poor transport system undermined its growth potential. For some two hundred years craftsman had been attracted to the area, with small workshops producing a range of metal goods. Following the development of the canal system in the late 18th century, Birmingham became one of the most important trade centres in Britain, with its production of jewellery, pins, buttons, screws, buckles, toys and most importantly guns. By 1790, Birmingham's population had reached some 90,000.
In the late 18th century, three of the most influential figures in the Industrial Revolution worked in the town, Mathew Boulton, James Watt and Joseph Priestly. Together with other leading industrialists and scientists they met regularly to discuss philosophical and scientific matters.
By 1830, Birmingham was exporting over one thousand tons of goods every week to London, via the canal network. However, in 1833 the London & Birmingham Railway Company appointed Robert Stephenson as the chief engineer of a project that would dramatically reduce the cost and time of transporting such goods.
The Birmingham to London railway line took approximately five years to build, with the employment of 20,000 men and at a cost of 5,500,000 which calculated to 50,000 per mile of track. The line, which opened in stages, was eventually completed on 17 September 1838. The line ran from Curzon Street Station in Birmingham to London's Euston Station. As the Grand Junction Railway had been completed the year before, the four major cities in England, Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham and London were now accessible by rail.
The development of the rail system encouraged trade and industry to the Birmingham area and by 1841 the population had grown to 142,000 and some 20 years later had quickly risen to 296,000.
Low standard working class houses were quickly built as the population increased. However, a report by local doctors which was published in 1836 indicated that the working population of Birmingham lived in 2,030 courts containing 12,254 tenements, with each court providing a wash house, an ash pit communal toilet and pig sties, with the report pointing out the health dangers associated with this type of housing. However, the tradition of court development was not ended until the Birmingham Improvement Act of 1876.
Following the election of the pioneering mayor, Joseph Chamberlin, in 1873, Birmingham eventually became the best run city in Britain.
Birmingham was the powerhouse of the Industrial Revolution in England and became known as "the workshop of the world". Although its industrial importance has declined, it has since developed as a major commercial centre, probably second only to London, and named as the second best place in the United Kingdom to locate a business.
During the Middle Ages, Birmingham was simply a small town specializing in metal work. Although the area was rich in iron and coal, a poor transport system undermined its growth potential. For some two hundred years craftsman had been attracted to the area, with small workshops producing a range of metal goods. Following the development of the canal system in the late 18th century, Birmingham became one of the most important trade centres in Britain, with its production of jewellery, pins, buttons, screws, buckles, toys and most importantly guns. By 1790, Birmingham's population had reached some 90,000.
In the late 18th century, three of the most influential figures in the Industrial Revolution worked in the town, Mathew Boulton, James Watt and Joseph Priestly. Together with other leading industrialists and scientists they met regularly to discuss philosophical and scientific matters.
By 1830, Birmingham was exporting over one thousand tons of goods every week to London, via the canal network. However, in 1833 the London & Birmingham Railway Company appointed Robert Stephenson as the chief engineer of a project that would dramatically reduce the cost and time of transporting such goods.
The Birmingham to London railway line took approximately five years to build, with the employment of 20,000 men and at a cost of 5,500,000 which calculated to 50,000 per mile of track. The line, which opened in stages, was eventually completed on 17 September 1838. The line ran from Curzon Street Station in Birmingham to London's Euston Station. As the Grand Junction Railway had been completed the year before, the four major cities in England, Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham and London were now accessible by rail.
The development of the rail system encouraged trade and industry to the Birmingham area and by 1841 the population had grown to 142,000 and some 20 years later had quickly risen to 296,000.
Low standard working class houses were quickly built as the population increased. However, a report by local doctors which was published in 1836 indicated that the working population of Birmingham lived in 2,030 courts containing 12,254 tenements, with each court providing a wash house, an ash pit communal toilet and pig sties, with the report pointing out the health dangers associated with this type of housing. However, the tradition of court development was not ended until the Birmingham Improvement Act of 1876.
Following the election of the pioneering mayor, Joseph Chamberlin, in 1873, Birmingham eventually became the best run city in Britain.
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