A breakdown of the book by chapter grouped by theme with link to reviews and podcasts
The peoples of the British Isles gave to the world the foundations on which modern manufacturing economies are built. This is quite an assertion, but history shows that, in the late eighteenth century, a remarkable combination of factors and circumstances combined to give birth to Britain as the first manufacturing nation. Further factors allowed it to remain top manufacturing dog well into the twentieth century whilst other countries were busy playing catch- up. Through two world wars and the surrounding years, British manufacturing remained strong, albeit whilst ceding the lead to the United States.
This book seeks to tell the remarkable story of British manufacturing, using the Great Exhibition of 1851 as a prism. Prince Albert and Sir Henry Cole had conceived as an idea of bringing together exhibits from manufacturers across the world to show to its many millions of visitors the pre-eminence of the British. 1851 was not the start, but rather a pause for a bask in glory.
The book traces back from the exhibits in Hyde Park’s Crystal Palace to identify the factors that gave rise to this pre-eminence, just as the factory system at Cromford Mill. It then follows developments up until the Festival of Britain exactly one century later. Steam power and communication by electric telegraph, both British inventions, predated the Exhibition. After it came the sewing machine and bicycle, motor car and aeroplane, but also electrical power, radio and the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. You can buy How Britain Shaped the Manufacturing World by following this link
The Great Exhibition
On 1 May 1851, Queen Victoria opened an exhibition in Hyde Park to crowds eager to see this display of British invention. It was held in a building made of steel and 30,000 panes of hand blown glass. Inside were machines, exhibits from all around the country, the Empire and wider world. The chapter explores some of the British exhibits, highlighting names that either still exist, or are otherwise important to the story. I include anecdotes of my great grandfather who exhibited and draw on newspaper reports from the time.
The Festival of Britain
The organisers of the exhibition saw the Festival as a great opportunity to demonstrate that the county was not down and out, but filled with energy and creativity which could be the UK’s strength in the future. Words were important; the eight exhibitions would be one continuous interwoven story about the British people and the land they live in and by. It was about Britain rather than the Empire, and about its essence rather than its products. Architecture was prominent given the massive task of re-building, but there was space for heavy industry, science, agriculture and food production and well as the creative arts. View more
Reviews
Follow this LINK to read reviews of the book
Podcasts
Follow the LINK to hear me reading extracts from the book
The early years of manufacturing
Follow the LINK for extracts from the chapters telling the story before the Great Exhibition covering: Trade, Exploration and Shipping, Coal and Metal, Textiles and Steam and Steel.
Post 1851 industry
Follow this LINK for the core developments of British Manufacturing covering: Communication, Armaments, Manufacturing for the Home, The Sewing Machine and Bicycle, The Internal Combustion Engine and Electric Power.
World War
It is impossible to ignore the impact of the world wars on British Manufacturing. Follow the LINK.