Made in Lancashire: A History of Regional Industrialisation

In this book Geoffrey Timmins examines the nature and course of industrialization in Lancashire from Tudor times until the present day. Drawing on the extensive literature relating to the theme, and incorporating new research findings, it analyzes the rise and decline of the county's industrial sector. While the long-term dominance of the textile industry is emphasized, its importance is viewed as part of the wide range of industrial activity that came to characterize the county's economy. The text is divided into four parts, each dealing with a distinct phase of economic change and engaging with key historiographical issues. The first covers the period up to the late 18th century, contributing to the debate on proto-industrialisation. The second concerns the Industrial Revolution era, assessing the degree of economic discontinuity that occurred. The third examines economic change from early Victorian times until the outbreak of World War I, incorporating discussion on the notion of entrepreneurial failure. The final part analyzes the decline of Lancashire's staple industries from World War I, considering how far the county's economy can now be seen as de-industrialization.