Clerkenwell

Clerkenwell is located in North Central London, between King’s Cross and London. It includes the sub-district of Finsbury. It is an older parish that has existed since Medieval times and continues to the present. Its name comes from the clerk’s well in Farrington. In the seventeenth century, it developed into a more fashionable part of town with expensive residences. At the time of Oliver Twist, it had made a turn for the worst as a strong criminal element encroached into the neighborhood.

Education Act of 1870

The Education Act of 1870 was  a life changing act for children. Before this Act was established only those who could pay to go to school achieved an education. In almost every case, the upper-class were the ones that recieved such an education. This Education Act, however, opened up the possibilty of recieving an education for many lower and working-class children. It allowed those children access to an education that would not have been available to them otherwise.