Back to the Future!
As
part of their study of Industrial Britain of the 19th century, Year 9 pupils
paid a visit to see the exhibits at the Museum of Science and Industry in
Manchester. Carefully avoiding the Dr. Who exhibition, we made our way to the
original station of the Liverpool to Manchester railway, built in the 1820s and
opened in 1830. Stephenson’s Rocket locomotive pulled a train out of Liverpool,
knocking down and killing, William Huskisson, a local MP. Clearly, the Health
and Safety regulations had not been issued to the crowd that day!
Although a tour of Underground Manchester, looking at the sewerage and sanitation developments was not the best preparation for lunch, it was very interesting to appreciate all of the things we take for granted today. Scenes of appalling living and working conditions made a distinct impression on us, especially the demonstration of spinning and weaving. The noise of just one or two machines in a confined space was incredible.
A very cold day was completed by a journey home in a bus whose heating system had broken down. We did try to recreate some of the hardship faced by our Victorian ancestors.
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