Birmingham

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. 

Which were Birmingham’s biggest factories 100 years ago? | Grapevine ...

Photo: Industrial Birmingham

Location:Birmingham Women and the Factory Acts – Gender and Legal History in Birmingham and the West Midlands

Parent Map

British Literature and Human Rights Kennedy Williams

Coordinates

Latitude: 52.482269400000
Longitude: -1.890007800000

Timeline of Events Associated with Birmingham

Date Event Manage
1830 to 1844

The Factory Acts of the 1830s and 1840s

According to UK Parliament's website, the Factory Acts of the 1830s and 1840s focused on improving safety and reducing working hours. These acts also expanded their coverage, applying to factories that employed 50 or more individuals. These acts also raised the mimum age of employees, to prevent child labor. These laws were crucial for improving working conditions and strengthening enforcement through the factory system, ensuring women and children were treated equally and were working under the protection of their human rights. 

 

Event: Later factory legislation - UK Parliament

Photo: Victorian Era Factories

Victorian Era Factories