Victorian

Industry

Coal played a key role in making Britain the 'workshop of the world'.

When Abraham Darby of Coalbrookdale began to use coal (instead of charcoal) to smelt iron, he brought about a turning point in the history of iron working and other metals.

And harnessing steam as a source of power lead to an extraordinary quickening in the rate of change in the manufacturing industries, and great demand for coal to heat the water.

Irreplaceable energy (coal, and later gas and oil) were now being used instead of replaceable sources (wind, wood, water, horse or man power).

Steam engines made it possible to pump deep mines free of water, and power the lifting gear for both coal and miners.

Plenty of cheap labour ensured coal as the fuel for Victorian industrial triumphs.

Who were these cheap miners?

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