The Impact of Railways on Victorian Cities

by John R. Kellett

The arrival of the railway was one of the most far reaching events in the history of the Victorian city. The present study, based upon detailed case histories of Britain's five largest cities (London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester and Liverpool), shows how the railways gave Victorian cities their compact shape, influenced topography and character of their central districts, and determines the nature of suburban expansion. This book was first published in 1969.

Genres: History

520 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1969

Reviews

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting unpicking of the development of British railways in the cities. The pattern of the railways are placed within the complexity of more 'slowly-developing patterns of landownership', capital, and constraints of law and precedent.

Ultimately it is a 50 year old textbook, but does makes you reflect on how narrow the window was for the influence of railways and lessons for more recent 'revolutionary' urban transport systems.