When William Blake evoked the “dark satanic mills,” he ignited a centuries-long debate about the true face of industrial Britain. Were cities really cloaked in smog, factories riddled with danger, and slums overflowing with hardship? Did mill owners exploit their workforceor is the truth more nuanced?
This discussion pulls back the soot-covered curtain to reveal the working conditions inside Victorian factories, dissecting the sometimes fraught relationships between labourers and industrialists and tracing the rise of trade unions from embattled beginnings to hard-won victories. Step into the noise, the Victorian factory awaits.
All tickets must be booked in advance. In aid of Living Weaving Heritage at the Mill
Please note tea and coffee will be available for donation. Doors open at 6.30 pm.
About Dr Marks
Dr Richard Marks is a historian, author, and educator whose work bridges the worlds of scholarship, storytelling, and public engagement. With a deep-rooted expertise in manufacturing and social history, the Industrial Revolution, Victorian Britain, railway history, and military history, Richard’s research brings fresh insight to pivotal chapters of Britain’s past.
A published author of several acclaimed history books—with more in the works, including a heritage travel guide series—he combines academic rigour with narrative flair. His professional background in technology and business lends a distinctive edge to his historical perspective, enriching his work as a consulting historian for major museum exhibitions across the UK.
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