In Times Past

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Victorian industrial society was interconnected in ways more complex than what came before or after. Blists Hill's recreation showed dozens of trades—ceramics, photography, woodworking, pharmacy, banking, more—each depending on several others. The overlapping techniques revealed how metalworking skills applied across different crafts, how similar principles showed up everywhere. Transportation systems connected it all: rail, canals, shipping, horse-drawn carts creating a functioning economy. Not just the big innovations, but all the supporting trades that made the system work.

A Web of Trades

August 30, 2025

Started the day with a stroll around Much Wenlock, then spent most of it at Blists Hill—a recreation of a Victorian town.

Locksmith's Shop
It turned out to be an interesting look at middle-class life in Victorian times. Lots of different jobs producing different products using overlapping techniques. Iron work featured heavily, along with assorted retail operations. Skills on display included ceramics, photography, woodworking, gardening, pharmacy, banking, and more.

Transportation was well represented—rail, canals, shipping, horse-drawn carts. You could see how all these systems connected to create a functioning economy. The overlapping techniques were particularly interesting—how the same basic metalworking skills applied to different crafts, or how similar principles showed up in various trades.

I unfortunately ran all my camera batteries down while there. Should have been more careful about power management.

Afterwards we went into Telford because Ian needed the Urgent Treatment Center. He's fine, but needed some immediate care that was hard to get otherwise. I hung out at a pub and then a coffee shop while Ian and Emma were dealing with that. Did get a chance to see Batman while waiting.

The day reinforced something about how interconnected Victorian industrial society was. Not just the big innovations we think about, but all the supporting trades and skills that made the system work. Every specialized job depended on several others, creating a web of economic relationships that was probably more complex than what came before or after.

Images can be found here ... https://beloretrato0.picflow.com/d43bka91mw/g8ftl701to

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