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Year 2 - History

Factories in Britain during Victorian times

Queen Victoria: how did Britain change during her lifetime?

Unit Summary

This unit teaches students about life in Britain from 1837-1901. They learn about key events like Victoria's accession, the railways, and the Great Exhibition. The unit explores how her reign defines the period, technological advances, and connections within Britain and globally.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to describe how factories changed Britain during Victorian times, using some paintings from the period as evidence.

Key Notes

  • During Victorian times, Britain changed a lot as people left the countryside to work in new factories in towns.
  • Some people thought these changes were good; this can be seen in William Wyld's painting 'Manchester from Kersal Moor'.
  • He makes the factory chimneys look pretty by putting them next to church spires, and painting golden sunlight on them.
  • But these cities and towns were not nice places to live, with lots of crowding, pollution and poor health.
  • These poor conditions can be seen in Gustave Doré's engraving 'Over London - By Rail'.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • factories: large buildings full of machines where people work making things are called factories
  • chimney: chimneys extend out of the roof of a building, they carry smoke from a fire inside the building and allow it to be released into the sky
  • spire: a spire is a tall, narrow, pointed structure usually on top of a church tower

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Pupils may think that only adults worked at jobs in factories in Victorian times.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.

During Victorian times, Britain changed a lot as people left the countryside to work in new factories in towns. Some people thought these changes were good; this can be seen in William Wyld's painting 'Manchester from Kersal Moor'.

2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'factories'

large buildings full of machines where people work making things are called factories.

3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.

Mistake: Pupils may think that only adults worked at jobs in factories in Victorian times. Correction: In Victorian times, there were no laws stopping children working. Children had to earn money to live, so many of them worked in factories. Since they were young and small, children were useful for getting into tight spaces to clean or fix machines.

More Lessons In This Unit

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