1840s–1850s

Workshop of the world: free trade, the Crystal Palace and Brunel

Story 5 of 8

During the Victorian Age, the long reign of Queen Victoria, Britain was still a great trading nation. The government began to push for free trade and got rid of many taxes on imports. One example was the repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846. These laws had kept cheap foreign grain out of the country. After the reforms, raw materials could be imported more cheaply, which helped British industry grow.

In 1847 a new law said women and children could work no more than 10 hours a day. Housing for workers began to improve, and so did conditions in factories. Transport got better too, so it was easier to move goods and people around the country.

In the 19th century Britain led the world in industry, producing more than half of all the world's iron, coal and cotton cloth. It also became a centre for financial services such as insurance and banking.

The Great Exhibition of 1851

In 1851 the Great Exhibition opened in the Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London. On show was everything from enormous machines to things made by hand. Countries from every part of the world took part, but most of the objects on show were made in Britain.

Colour print: the Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, a long glass building with a high arched roof, with people walking and carriages in front — The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, seen from the north-east during the Great Exhibition of 1851. Over six million visits were made to the exhibition. The exhibition made a profit, which paid for the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum in South Kensington. The building itself was moved to south London, where it burned down in 1936, but the area kept its name, and so does the football club Crystal Palace FC. Dickinson Brothers, *Dickinsons' Comprehensive Pictures of the Great Exhibition of 1851*, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Brunel: the engineer of railways, bridges and ships

Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806–1859) came from Portsmouth, England. As an engineer he built tunnels, bridges, railways and ships. He was in charge of building the Great Western Railway, whose trains ran from Paddington Station in London to Wales, the West Midlands and the south-west of England. You can still cross many of his bridges today, such as the Clifton Suspension Bridge over the Avon Gorge.

Brunel's father was an engineer from France. Brunel designed the Clifton bridge when he was young, but work stopped for years when the money ran out, and it was only finished in 1864, five years after his death. In 2002, when the BBC asked the public to vote for the "100 Greatest Britons", Brunel came second, behind Churchill.

Black-and-white photo: Brunel in a top hat with a cigar in his mouth, standing in front of huge iron chains — Brunel in 1857, in front of the launching chains of his giant steamship, the SS Great Eastern. It is one of the most famous portrait photographs ever taken. Photo: Robert Howlett, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Key facts

Queen Victoria came to the throne in 1837, aged 18, and reigned until 1901, almost 64 years. The middle classes grew in importance, and reformers improved life for the poor.
The Empire covered all of India, Australia and large parts of Africa: the largest empire in history, with over 400 million people.
1853–1913: up to 13 million British people emigrated. 1870–1914: about 120,000 Russian and Polish Jews fled persecution and settled in Britain (London's East End, Manchester, Leeds). People from India, Africa and the rest of the Empire also came to live, work and study.
Free trade: the Corn Laws were repealed in 1846. In 1847 women and children were limited to 10 hours of work a day.
Over half of the world's iron, coal and cotton cloth was made in Britain, and Britain was a centre for insurance and banking.
The Great Exhibition, 1851: in the Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, a huge building of iron and glass; most exhibits were made in Britain.
Brunel (1806–1859): engineer from Portsmouth; built tunnels, bridges, railways and ships. He built the Great Western Railway (Britain's first major railway), running from London's Paddington Station to Wales, the West Midlands and the south-west of England. Many of his bridges are still in use.

Quiz

In 1847, a new law set a maximum working day for women and children. How long was it?

Quiz

Which TWO statements about free trade in the Victorian period are correct?

Quiz

Which engineer was responsible for building the Great Western Railway?

Quiz

Where was the Great Exhibition of 1851 held?

Era contents: 1800 – 1900