Town Hall Talk Boom Time: The Social Impact of the Industrial Revolution

Around 200 years ago the village of Battersea was still considered rural. The population exploded from 16,000 to 168,000 in just 70 years. As part of the Wandsworth Heritage Festival, we will explore the phenomenal social impact of the industrial boom on the lives of the people of Battersea.

Speakers on the night:

Professor Hugh Cunningham is the author of several books including The Children of the Poor: Representations of Childhood since the Seventeenth Century, and The Invention of Childhood. What was the impact of the Industrial Revolution on children in London? And how did adults perceive this? Hugh will explore these questions covering themes of crime, street children, schooling, employment and (what was of great concern) unemployment of children.

Colin Thom is a senior historian with the Survey of London, now part of the research department at the Bartlett School of Architecture (UCL). The Survey's recent volumes on Battersea trace its development from medieval times to the present day. For this talk Colin will be focusing on the transformation of the Battersea area throughout the industrial revolution and the social impact of the drastically changing urban landscape.

Why not book onto a free tour of the building after Town Hall Talks? Find out more information here: https://www.bac.org.uk/content/43175/whats_on/whats_on/events_and_workshops/if_walls_could_talktours

Tickets are free but advance booking is required as places are limited.

Book your place at http://bac.org.uk/townhalltalks