Textiles, Iron and Steel

From the period between 1815 and 1841, Britain was in the middle of a change as it now referred to an "Industrial Revolution.  But the term of the "Industrial Revolution is debate by some historians.

1.  How extensive were these changes?

During the years of 1815-1841, the economy was experiencing a rapid and sweeping changes but not all the economy saw this happening.  New technological inventions were in seen chemicals, glass and paper.  But the two big industries see a rapid growth rate was the Cotton textiles and Iron production.  The manufacturing of Cotton was seen to be one of the industries to spear-head the "Industrial Revolution".

2.  What was the precise timing of the changes?

There is no specific time as to when changes were happening in the "Industrial Revolution".  The historian, Rostow consider that the late 18th Century as the starting point in the changes of the economic and technological changes.  The fact is that before 1815, there had been numerous technological changes within the Cotton and Iron industry.

This page is split up into different sections, so click on one of the links below to go to your particular point of interest.

Textiles | Iron | Steel

Textiles

Within the textiles industries, there were two manufacturing process - Cotton and Woollen

In the cotton industries, there were three stages in the production of cotton cloth.

• Harvesting of raw cotton (U.S.A supplied it after 1815)

• Spinning of this into thread

• Weaving the thread into cloth

Reasons For Growth

The cotton industry benefited from economic growth in Britain at this time but also:

• No competition - suppliers in India were not able to competing with manufacturers in Britain

• In U.S.A and the West Indies, there were providing plenty of raw cotton

• The fabric was more convenient and versatile compare to the other textile of wool.

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Inventions

Throughout the French Revolution, cotton exports were to increased as much as 30% and by 1815, 40% was British export and contributed 8% to the national income.  Nearly an 100,000 workers were employed in this sector.

As the textiles industry moved into the 'industrial revolution', they became more mechanised as the water frame was introduced in 1869, the change in the industry to a factory-based system from a domestic system.

• The machinery within the industry had now become too big and was very reliant on power sources such as water and steam engines.

• The factory based system was able to produce more quickly and was more cost effective which forced the domestic workers out of work.

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Woollen Textiles

This industry was overtaken by what was happening in the cotton industry, the woollen industry did change during the nineteenth century.  The production of this industry was located in the West Country, East Anglia and the West Riding Of Yorkshire.  Yorkshire was to become a force within the 'industrial revolution' for the supplies of wool and coal.

The woollen industry was slow in changing in comparison towards the cotton industry.  This industry was much older and was clinging to traditional values of years gone by.  After 1815, it still continue be labour intensive but by the end of the nineteenth century, the industry had become mechanised as the power loom became the main use in the factory system.

Iron

The process of Iron and Steel involve many processes:

• Pig Iron - iron ore is smelted along with other ingredients in a blast furnace and then runs off into moulds.

• Cast Iron - the pig iron is re-melted and poured into specific shape moulds (strong but brittle).

• Wrought Iron - pig iron is heated and hammered into the required shape (weaker but flexible).

• Steel - wrought iron blended with carbon (strong but still flexible).

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Reasons For Growth

The iron and steel to continue to expand throughout the 'industrial revolution' which in-turn fuelled the economic growth that Britain was in.  There was also a number other factors that contribute to this industry growth:

• Britain did not have much competition from Europe as they only had small scale production for their industries.

• Britain also had the availability to the raw materials i.e. iron ore, limestone and coal.

• The use of iron and steel was very suitable materials and could be used for many purposes and this material was able to used in heavy and multifaceted machinery.

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Technological Developments

In the eighteenth century, many developments in technology saw the Iron and Steel improve their production.

Between the years of 1760 and iron, pig iron's output rose from 30,000 tonnes a year to 500,000 tonnes.  Iron was used in the production of building steam engines, buildings, bridges and pipes.

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Developments After 1815

There were two main developments in technology between the years of 1815 and 1840:

By 1841, the iron output in Britain had nearly reached 2 million tonnes a year from 500,000 tonnes a year in 1815.

Steel

Production of steel was expanded during the 'industrial revolution' but the industry remained low-scale but it wasn't until 1850 that new techniques help the industry compete on a mass scale.  Steel was becoming an important commodity as this was used to make cutlery and machine parts.  James Naysmth and Joseph Whitworth who had workshops in the 1830s were the leading firms in the engineering industry.

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