The Letchworth Settlement:  User Groups

In 1837, when Victoria ascended the throne, most of her subjects lived in rural areas and even city dwellers mostly lived within walking distance of farms and fields. The Government did very little beyond defending the kingdom and administering justice. By the time of Victoria's death in 1901 that
world had been transformed. Most of the population lived in cities and the Industrial Revolution had ensured that Britain's economy was based on industry and commerce rather than agriculture. These changes had posed severe challenges in housing, education, health and many other social factors. Some of those challenges had been taken up by government at the behest of determined citizens. Others were confronted by the citizens themselves. This programme will examine the lives of some of the men (and
particularly women) who met those challenges:
People covered will include: Robert Stephenson, Isambard Brunel, Sir Edward Watkin, Prince Albert, George Peabody, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, Florence Nightingale, Henrietta Barnett, Josephine Butler, Octavia Hill, Beatrix Potter and many others.