Manchester

In the early 18th century, Manchester was still famous for its cotton, wool, linen and silk industries. With the coming of the Industrial Revolution, the textile industry also grew vastly, so that by the end of the 18th century Manchester’s population had risen from 10,000 to 70,000.

Possibly one of the most famous events in Manchester’s history was the ‘massacre’ which was nick-named ‘Peterloo’, (as an ironical version of the British victory at Waterloo). Through this name the people were suggesting that the authorities had once again ‘triumphed’, but that this time it was their own people who had been slaughtered. People gathered in St. Peter’s Field to hear speeches by men who wished for political reform. When the authorities sent soldiers to arrest those in charge, the situation got out of hand and the soldiers began to attack the crowd. It was a great outrage to many people at the time.

By the beginning of the 19th century the population had risen to 142,000, partly due to many Irish immigrants. Manchester soon became famous around the world as a manufacturing centre, making wool, silk, cotton and paper among other things. There were also iron foundries.

By the end of the 19th century, Manchester had a population of nearly 200,000, and was officially made a ‘city’. When the Manchester Ship Canal opened, Manchester became a famous inland port.