Across the Gap

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An account of how, in the wake of The Industrial Revolution, a little known corner of rural England was transformed into an area of dense industrial activity. The arrival of the alkali trade in Widnes, and the subsequent explosion in population, changed the social structure of the area and created great divisions in society. The indigenous communities, who had lived and worked in time honoured rural occupations for generations, were swallowed up by a growing workforce of migrant workers from all corners of Britain and Ireland. As a consequence, the social fabric of the area was irrevocably altered and the devastating effect of industry on the landscape and environment created huge problems. This book allows us to see how a new unskilled workforce struggled to adapt to factory disciplines and routines, as well as a new urban way of living.