| Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the | | | | Robert Stephenson as the chief engineer of a |
| West Midlands and lies at the heart of the West | | | | project that would dramatically reduce the cost and |
| Midlands conurbation. | | | | time of transporting such goods. |
| Birmingham was the powerhouse of the Industrial | | | | The Birmingham to London railway line took |
| Revolution in England and became known as "the | | | | approximately five years to build, with the |
| workshop of the world". Although its industrial | | | | employment of 20,000 men and at a cost of |
| importance has declined, it has since developed as a | | | | £5,500,000 which calculated to £50,000 per mile of |
| major commercial centre, probably second only to | | | | track. The line, which opened in stages, was |
| London, and named as the second best place in the | | | | eventually completed on 17 September 1838. The line |
| United Kingdom to locate a business. | | | | ran from Curzon Street Station in Birmingham to |
| During the Middle Ages, Birmingham was simply a | | | | London's Euston Station. As the Grand Junction |
| small town specializing in metal work. Although the | | | | Railway had been completed the year before, the |
| area was rich in iron and coal, a poor transport | | | | four major cities in England, Liverpool, Manchester, |
| system undermined its growth potential. For some | | | | Birmingham and London were now accessible by rail. |
| two hundred years craftsman had been attracted to | | | | The development of the rail system encouraged |
| the area, with small workshops producing a range of | | | | trade and industry to the Birmingham area and by |
| metal goods. Following the development of the canal | | | | 1841 the population had grown to 142,000 and some |
| system in the late 18th century, Birmingham became | | | | 20 years later had quickly risen to 296,000. |
| one of the most important trade centres in Britain, | | | | Low standard working class houses were quickly built |
| with its production of jewellery, pins, buttons, | | | | as the population increased. However, a report by |
| screws, buckles, toys and most importantly guns. By | | | | local doctors which was published in 1836 indicated |
| 1790, Birmingham's population had reached some | | | | that the working population of Birmingham lived in |
| 90,000. | | | | 2,030 courts containing 12,254 tenements, with each |
| In the late 18th century, three of the most influential | | | | court providing a wash house, an ash pit communal |
| figures in the Industrial Revolution worked in the | | | | toilet and pig sties, with the report pointing out the |
| town, Mathew Boulton, James Watt and Joseph | | | | health dangers associated with this type of housing. |
| Priestly. Together with other leading industrialists and | | | | However, the tradition of court development was |
| scientists they met regularly to discuss philosophical | | | | not ended until the Birmingham Improvement Act of |
| and scientific matters. | | | | 1876. |
| By 1830, Birmingham was exporting over one | | | | Following the election of the pioneering mayor, |
| thousand tons of goods every week to London, via | | | | Joseph Chamberlin, in 1873, Birmingham eventually |
| the canal network. However, in 1833 the London | | | | became the best run city in Britain. |
| & Birmingham Railway Company appointed | | | | |