According to Mairead Enright of The University of Birmingham, Birmingham was considered "The City of a Thousand Trades" and was one of the world's first and largest industrial cities. Despite this, women and children in these shops and facotires worked long hours in horrible conditions. This industrial city was one source of inspirtation and had direct links to the Factory Acts of 1830s-40s.
Photo: Industrial Birmingham
Location:Birmingham Women and the Factory Acts – Gender and Legal History in Birmingham and the West Midlands