4a Birimingham: a region that has been impacted by structural economic change Flashcards
Where is Birmingham?
A large metropolitan region at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation
Population of Birmingham:
In 2014 – 1.1 million residents
Describe Birmingham’s technological innovation:
- 1730s saw invention of cotton processing machines, pneumatic tyres, electro-plating
- 1775 Boulton and Watt revolutionised steam engines
- 1896 first medical X-ray
- WWII radar development
What proportion of British manufacture exports originate in B’ham?
25%
How did B’ham originate?
During Domesday Survey (1086), B’ham was a poor agricultural manor
First key players to influence change in Birmingham?
The De Bermingham family purchased a royal charter in 1166 – allowed them to hold a market which resulted in trade
Describe Medieval B’ham:
6 streets focused on the parish church and the market
Metal-working was established, supplied by raw materials from Black Country
Describe B’ham in 1500’s:
1563 William Camden – ‘swarming with inhabitants and echoing with the noise of anvils’
Power from watermills
Population in 1700’s?
15,000 – residents migrated form rural areas for employment
Who was a key player in driving industrialisation in 1700s?
Matthew Boulton – entrepreneur and engineer who established first factory in world
‘Soho Manufactory’ employed 700 people
Industries present in 19th century:
Gun, jewellery, button and brass industries
What large companies were established in 19th century?
- Cadbury family set up Bourneville factory and model village on southeast outskirts of city
- Lloyds bank was established in mid-19th century
What transport infrastructure opened in 19th century?
Midland terminus of the London to Birmingham Railway opened in 1838
What industries developed between 1900 to 1950s + examples
1 Engineering industries and small firms supplying parts:
- Austin car plant in 1906 at Longbridge with Dunlop tyre company in 1916 establishing a large factory employing 10,000 people by 1950s
2 Chemical industry
- Bakelite manufactured in B’ham
How did B’ham cope with the Great Depression?
Coped well due to diversity of the metal-working industries
What aided economic growth in first half of the 20th century?
Continuous population growth from natural increase in the city and immigration from rural areas
What industries was majority of employment in 1950s + percentages?
50% metals
12% commerce
2.5% textiles
What was housing like between 1900-1950s?
Large areas of terraced housing squeezed between factories - built for workers so within walking distance of work
What drove urban expansion?
Development of a middle class who could afford to commute Transport innovation included trams, suburban railways, and later buses and railways
What centred on Birmingham’s Central Business District?
A ring pattern of land-use, interrupted by sectors along major arterial routeways
Ethnicity until 1950s?
Overwhelmingly white
What % of men had skilled jobs until 1950s + examples?
60% such as lathe operators and precision engineers
Name two inter-war suburbs:
Northfield and Marston Green – classic areas of semi-detached and detached housing but also included some of largest local authority housing estates in country eg Kingstanding
Name two inner city areas (of 1950s):
Aston and Handsworth – poor quality housing at a high density
Decades of industrial activity left land sites, canals, and rivers highly polluted and air pollution (smoke, sulfur dioxide)