To build your own Itinerary, click to add an item to your Itinerary basket.
Already saved an Itinerary?
You are here: UK History > Industrial Revolution > Timeline of the significant advances in the Indus
1600
The East India Company is formed.
This company continued to play a vital role in maintaining a trade monopoly for Britain
1709
Abraham Darby leases and successfully uses a furnace. He was able to sell 81 tons of iron goods that year and would become a critical figure in the industry and discovers a method of producing pig iron fuelled by coke rather than charcoal.
1712
Thomas Newcomen invents the first steam engine.
1719
The first silk factory is started by John Lombe.
1733
The Flying Shuttle is invented by John Kay and allows for automatic machine looms.
1750
Cotton cloth starts being produced using raw materials imported from overseas.
1761
The Bridgewater Canal opens – the first of its kind in Britain. It was named after the Duke of Bridgewater who...Read More
1600
The East India Company is formed.
This company continued to play a vital role in maintaining a trade monopoly for Britain
1709
Abraham Darby leases and successfully uses a furnace. He was able to sell 81 tons of iron goods that year and would become a critical figure in the industry and discovers a method of producing pig iron fuelled by coke rather than charcoal.
1712
Thomas Newcomen invents the first steam engine.
1719
The first silk factory is started by John Lombe.
1733
The Flying Shuttle is invented by John Kay and allows for automatic machine looms.
1750
Cotton cloth starts being produced using raw materials imported from overseas.
1761
The Bridgewater Canal opens – the first of its kind in Britain. It was named after the Duke of Bridgewater who commissioned it to help with the running of his coal mines.
1764
The Spinning Jenny is invented
James Watt discovers ways to improve the steam engine.
1769
James Watt granted his first British patent for the new design for his steam engine. He also invents a new unit of measurement: horsepower.
The Water Frame is invented
1774
The Spinning Mule is invented
1779
Richard Arkwright opened his first cotton mill using his waterframe invention
A group of textile workers in Manchester rebel agains the use of machinery – the initial riot of the Luddite Movement.
1784
The ironmaster Henry Cort came up with the idea for a puddling furnace to make iron
1785
The power loom is invented.
1790
Edmund Cartwright produces the Wool Combing Machine
1799
The Combination Act received royal assent in July preventing workers in England collectively bargaining in groups or unions for better pay and working conditions.
1800
The year marked 100 million tons of coal being mined in Britain
1801
Richard Trevithick drove his steam powered locomotive through Camborne in Cornwall.
1803
Cotton becomes Britain’s biggest export, overtaking wool
1804
The first locomotive rail journey takes place
1811
The first large scale Luddite riot takes place in Nottingham
1812
Parliament passes law that makes the destruction of industrial machines punishable by death
1813
14 luddites are hung in Manchester
1815
Humphrey Davy and George Stephenson invent safety lamps for miners
1816
George Stephenson patens the steam engine locomotive
1824
The Combination Act is appealed
1825
The first passenger railway opens with a locomotive carrying passengers on a public line.
1830
George Stephenson creates the first public inter city rail line in the world connecting the great northern cities of Manchester and Liverpool.
1833
The Factory Act is passed to protect children under the age of 9 working in the textile industry. Children aged 13 and over can no longer work more than 69 hours a week.
1834
The Poor Law was passed to create workhouses for the destitute
1839
James Nasmyth invents the steam hammer
1842
A law is passed banning children under the age of 10 and women from working in the mines
1844
Law passed banning children under 8 from working
1847
The working hours of women and children are limited to 10 hours a day.
1848
The impact of city population increase leads to a cholera epidemic across Britain
1850
Britain is producing half the world’s manufactured goods
1851
Half of Britain’s population no longer residing in rural areas
1852
Shipbuilding company, Palmer Brothers and Co opens
The first iron screw collier is launched
1860
The first iron warship, the HMS Warrior is launched
1861 – 62
The Great Lancashire Cotton Famine thanks to the American Civil War
1867
The Factory Act is extended to include all workplaces with more than 50 workers
1868
The TUC (Trade Union Congress) is formed
1870
Forster’s Education Act is passed which enforces compulsory education
1875
Young boys are now prohibited from climbing chimneys to clean them
1912
Great Britain’s industry reaches its peak
1914
WWI breaks out and golden age of British industry comes to an end
© Visit Heritage 2025. All Rights Reserved
We are now retrieving your search results. Please wait, this may take up to 30 seconds
Supporting the Destination
Quality Guarantee
We are now retrieving real time availability results. Please wait, this may take up to 30 seconds.