The Roots of British Manufacturing and How It Lost its Crown…
From the dawn of the industrial revolution, for over 100 years Britain was the beacon of industrialisation which so many would follow. In the period around the 1760s, streamlined production grew exponentially after the introduction of steam power and the advent of the power of coal. These discoveries combined with a developing nation led to a golden age for British technology as innovation and imagination bloomed. What followed was Britain’s rise as a powerhouse of industry until the 1900s, but considering the force it once was, it is a wonder why Britain has slipped to being only the 8th largest manufacturer today.
Britain’s breakthrough into the industrial scene stemmed from a wealth of scientific talent, inquisitive inventors and craftsmen who were able to bring their ideas to life using steam power. With that came the opportunity for automation and machinery which allowed for production of goods on a grand scale. Textiles in particular were a major beneficiary, as while a garment before would have to be handmade, with the advent of machinery, production time was significantly reduced. Lancashire’s cotton mills were for a long period Britain’s largest export with a common phrase at the time being; “Britain’s bread hangs by Lancashire’s thread”.
The dominance of the industry by Britain would continue throughout the Victorian era until the first world war when it began to loosen its grip and with competitors on the horizon. The period between 1914-1918 signalled the beginning of Britain’s decline on the global stage. Despite lasting for four years, the focus of manufacturers drastically switched to support the war effort, leaving major contracts with countries around the world available for their competitors. The United States was the main beneficiary as by remaining neutral until 1917 saw many US manufacturers picking up what British manufacturers had left behind. The war would reinvigorate the US economy but left Britain reeling for many years to come.
British manufacturing was further crippled in 1929 following the Wall Street Crash which sent ripples across the world and hardly gave room for Britons to regain the ground they had lost during the First World War. Fast forward to 1938 and history repeated itself as manufacturers turned to contribute to the war effort, leaving the country burdened with debts which it is still paying off to this day. To compound matters, Germany made a remarkable recovery following the war, leaving Britain with the image of the ‘sick man of Europe’ as it attempted to switch from Empire to Europe in order to reinvigorate trade expansion.
The manufacturing industry since then has been playing catch up, attempting to reclaim former glories and its crown as the world’s leading industrial scene. Many Prime Ministers and political parties have come and gone with the promise of returning Britain to the top of the tree, but all of these have been ambitious to say the least. Nationalisation during the tenure of Harold Wilson between 1964 and 1970 for the most part failed and financial crises in the ensuing years further aggravated matters. After this inaugural show of political intervention, governments have primarily taken increasing responsibility in reinvigorating the industry as it struggled during the years of Margaret Thatcher (1979-90) before being built back up again by the governments of Tony Blair (1997-07) and Gordon Brown (2007-10).
This brings us back to today, during a period where British manufacturing appears to still be trying to find a new identity and establish itself on the global stage once again. As investment shifts from efficiency into research and quality, British manufacturers are developing a reputation for creative, innovative and imaginative products once again like it had done hundreds of years ago.
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