The Victorian era was a time of great change in the study of astronomy. In the 18th century and early 19th century, astronomy focussed on recording the positions and movements of stars and planets, and producing star charts to record them. However, as the 19th century progressed, astronomers used new developments in maths, physics, chemistry, and geology to learn more about the universe.
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Fish and chips is a popular and iconic British dish, and is one of the few trades represented at Blists Hill Victorian Town that is still commonly found in modern Britain. But what are its origins in the UK? The answer is: no one really knows. What we do know is that they started as two separate trades, with vendors selling either fried fish or chipped potatoes.
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This is the story of a team of working class men from a small mining community in the East Shropshire Coalfield, whose attempts to retain the Shropshire FA Cup had been, in their eyes, thwarted by the unscrupulous ‘County Townites’ of the Shropshire FA. The story of St. Georges expulsion from the 1886-87 Cup is an extraordinary one.
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Industrial work in the Gorge was often insecure and injury, illness, old age, or death could lead to workers’ families suffering greatly. In a time before the welfare state, financial support was very limited and a fall in wages or being out of work could mean destitution.
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Whilst occupations were a large part of workers’ identities in the Ironbridge Gorge, the small amounts of leisure time they had were also important to them and shaped how they viewed themselves. The hardships they faced at work and at home also meant that the industrial workers of the Gorge used their leisure time to the fullest.
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