London, Hub of the Industrial Revolution: A Revisionary History, 1775-1825 (review)

Abstract

In the third chapter of this book, David Barnett poses five sets of questions about the role of London in the Industrial Revolution. First, just how important was the city as a contributor to manufacturing, compared to Manchester, Birmingham, and elsewhere? Did it rely disproportionately on particular industries and types of goods, such as luxuries? Were firms small or large, and was London at the forefront of technology--in the use of steam power, for example? Second, how important was the construction boom in the rapidly expanding conurbation, both as an industry itself and in providing spillovers? Third, can a consumer revolution be identified in the composition of output, the expansion of the wholesaling, retailing, and distributive trades, and did London habits show the way for the rest of the country? Fourth, how important was the service economy, and how did it interact with the rest of the economy? And finally, how important was commerce more generally?