Pictures from a steelworks no longer in existence where I taught English Language for 2 years twenty years ago
The 18th century in England is noted for the world's first industrial revolution. Many of the materials which were used to transform Thomas's Kemp's wooden farmhouse into a Marine Pavilion fit for an extravagant Prince were the products of the industrial revolution.
Many British discoveries such as John Kay's flying shuttle (1733), James Hargreaves's "Spinning Jenny" (1764), Richard Arkwright's water-powered spinning machine (1769) and Edmund Cartwright's power loom (1785) allowed the mass production of cheap clothing from cotton and wool, of which Britain had a plentiful supply.
However, some of the most exciting developments involved the use of steam power and equipment for manufacturing iron. Some of the important discoveries which helped launch the world's first industrial revolution were:
New methods of manufacturing iron allowed the first iron bridge to be built over the River Severn in 1779 and the Stockton to Darlington railway to be opened in 1825.
The industrial revolution also gave birth to new chemicals, which were used in the transformation of Marine Pavilion to the Royal Pavilion. Click on the picture at the top of the page to see an interesting web site on art, chemicals and colour used in the Royal Pavilion.
It is not surprising that George, Prince of Wales, got into such heavy debt. There were so many new things available for him to buy.
The revolution, which worried the British aristocracy, came on 14th July 1789, the day which marks the storming of the Bastille (one of Paris's most secure prisons) and the French revolution. In January 1793, the French King (Louis XVI) was executed. His wife (Queen Marie Antoinette) was also executed in October 1793, shortly after England's Prince of Wales and the Duke of Marlborough had finished playing about with the river Wellsbourne in Brighton's Old Steine.
By October 1793, France had declared war on Britain and Holland, and was already at war with Austria, Prussia and Spain.
Revolutionary fever was in the air. By 1795, there were riots in many English towns when William Pitt raised taxes to pay for the war. Moreover, there was one more person to worry about - a French commander who was proving himself on the battle-field against Britain's allies. His name was Napoleon Bonaparte.