ABSTRACT
The previous chapter, by Anthony Phillips, examined one part of the British Isles —Staffordshire-where agricultural production made substantial advances during the nineteenth century. In the early part of the century most of the British population was rural, and much of it employed in agriculture. By the end of the century this had changed: most of the population was now urban. The centre of gravity thus shifted away from landowners, and towards industrialists and (eventually) industrial workers.
