Industrial Town Collection

Train crossing Stockport viaduct on the London & North Western Railway, c1845. Note the pollution of the river banks, smoking chimneys and the complete domination of the scene by the viaduct

New Lanark Mills, Scotland, c1815. Robert Owens (1771-1858) model community of cotton mills and housing. Educational facilities were provided, as well as the worlds first day nursery

View of Preston from Penwortham Hill, c. 1821 (oil on canvas)
HMP90737 View of Preston from Penwortham Hill, c.1821 (oil on canvas) by Jenkinson, John (1790-1823); 107x151.5 cm; Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Preston, Lancashire

The Preston By-Election of 1862 (oil on canvas)
HMP86669 The Preston By-Election of 1862 (oil on canvas) by Sherwood, Vladimir Ossipovitch (1832-97); 91.5x118 cm; Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Preston, Lancashire

Harlem Rivers, 1928. Artist: Preston Dickinson
Harlem Rivers, 1928. Museum of Modern Art, New York, USA

Steelworks, 1926. Artist: Edgar & Winifred Ward
Steelworks, 1926. From An Outline of Christianity, The Story of Our Civilisation, volume 5: Christianity Today and Tomorrow, edited by RG Parsons and AS Peake

The Black Country, Staffordshire, 1926. Artist: Edgar & Winifred Ward
The Black Country, Staffordshire, 1926. From An Outline of Christianity, The Story of Our Civilisation, volume 5: Christianity Today and Tomorrow, edited by RG Parsons and AS Peake

Coal and iron production, 1926. Artist: Edgar & Winifred Ward
Coal and iron production, 1926. From An Outline of Christianity, The Story of Our Civilisation, volume 5: Christianity Today and Tomorrow, edited by RG Parsons and AS Peake

A mining centre, 1926. Artist: Edgar & Winifred Ward
A mining centre, 1926. From An Outline of Christianity, The Story of Our Civilisation, volume 5: Christianity Today and Tomorrow, edited by RG Parsons and AS Peake

Titus Salt, British woolstapler and industrialist, c1880. Salt (1803-1876) discovered a method of blending alpaca wool with cotton and silk

Birmingham viewed from the south showing smoking chimneys, c1860. A small manufacturing town until the 18th century, Birmingham was one of the most important centres of the Industrial Revolution in

Steam train crossing bridge high above rooftops of industrial town

A Slum (engraving)
XND76042 A Slum (engraving) by Ferrier, C.A. (19th century); Private Collection; English, out of copyright

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From the bustling train crossing Stockport viaduct to the historic New Lanark Mills in Scotland, industrial towns have shaped our world. The view of Preston from Penwortham Hill captures the essence of a thriving community in the 19th century, while The Preston By-Election painting takes us back to a politically charged era. Harlem Rivers by Preston Dickinson showcases the urban landscape's evolution in 1928, while Edgar & Winifred Ward's Steelworks and The Black Country paintings depict the raw power of industry during that time. Coal and iron production were vital components of these towns' economies, as depicted by Ward's masterful brushstrokes. These mining centers were not just places of labor but also hubs for innovation and progress. Titus Salt, an influential woolstapler and industrialist, left an indelible mark on British history with his visionary approach to manufacturing. Birmingham viewed from the south reveals a city defined by its smoking chimneys—a testament to its industrial might in the mid-19th century. As we reflect on these images capturing different aspects of industrial towns throughout history, we are reminded of their significance in shaping societies and propelling humanity forward.