V is for Victorians and what they did for us

So, whatever did the Victorians do for us in Loughborough?

Queen Victoria reigned from 1837 until 1901, a period of 63 years, and a time which saw huge changes in the lives and fortunes of not only the well-to-do, but also the poor, across the country.

New research suggests that the industrial revolution was beginning to happen almost a hundred years earlier than was initially thought, so around 1650, but surely, until the nineteenth century, Loughborough was still essentially a farming and agricultural economy? True, we also had butchers, bakers, and tallow chandler makers, and a wide variety of other trades that were essential to life.

However, factory working began to be introduced, and industry began to come to Loughborough in the mid-late seventeen hundreds particularly. I’m thinking here of framework knitting factories, dyeworks like Atherstones, and other trades allied to the hosiery industry. In the early nineteenth century, we see lacemaking, more dyeworks (like Clarke’s, Calverts, Heafford, Hepworth, Rossell, and Toone), brickmakers like the Tuckers, and George Hodson, and the Taylors bellfounders all finding their way to Loughborough. Later in the century, these were joined by hosiers Morley, and Cartwright and Warner, dyers like Godkin & Sons, Claypoole, Diggle and Hardy, and more. And by now there were no less than eight needle-making factories in town, and Messengers were producing glasshouses and conservatories for places across the country. We also saw the rise of ironmakers like Edwin Cooke, and John Jones, and boiler makers like the Coltman family. Towards the end of Queen Victoria’s reign, we also saw the Falcon Works become The Brush, and Herbert Morris moved their factory to Loughborough, and the last new railway in the UK was opened.

So, the Victorian era gave us a lot of engineering and heavy industry in Loughborough, and many were family firms that grew, and remained in the same family for generations. Owners of the family business needed somewhere to live, as did the workers in those factories. Thus, the Victorian era saw a huge increase in the housing available in Loughborough, ranging from the large impressive, country-house-like properties, like Field House, the Grove and so on, to detached residences like those on Ashby Road, and semi-detached properties, for example on Forest Road. Housing for the Victorian workers came in the form of redbrick, terraced properties, like those on Station Street, Paget Street, Leopold Street, and Oxford Street, and on Ratcliffe Road, Queen’s Road, and so on. Houses for the group of people in between the wealthy owners and the workers are probably like those found on Storer Road, Herrick Road, Middleton Place, and similar areas. Many streets bear names that remind us of this Victorian era, from the obvious Victoria Street, Albert Street, and streets named after Victoria and Albert’s offspring. And many houses, and groups of houses include name stones that indicate a connection to the era.  

The Victorian era also gave us things designed to keep us healthy in both body and spirit. So, Queen’s Park was created, with the swimming baths in the park providing a cleaner environment than the baths on Moor Lane near the canal.

To be honest, there is a huge deal more we could say about what the Victorians did for us, but that’s enough for one blogpost! Besides, a very kind person has just given me a copy of BBC History Today which seems to include some interesting stories from Victorian times, and, as if that weren't enough, an article about Muncaster Castle - (Part 2 of Alan's story is also worth a read!)

 

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This blogpost is one in a series of posts in the ‘April A-Z Blogging Challenge’

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Posted by lynneaboutloughborough

With apologies for typos which are all mine!

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