.. and by 1850, under Queen Victoria, half the country had moved to the cities. Industrial growth and the resulting building boom, and the spread of the railroad combined with a population boom had the character of Britain suddenly changing.
Small towns were overtaken by giant industries. Towns like Crewe which were already on the railroads became “hubs”. “Hubs” met each other to become large joined towns.
By 1870, Britain had grown from 10 million people to 26 million.
Factors of population growth, change in occupation, change in location meant change in culture and economy which would mean – change in fashion.
(Photo: St. James Park, London before industrialization)