3.4 INDUSTRIALISATION OF ULSTER, 1825-55
Introduct 18th century – Ireland primarily a rural economy relying on land with
ion few cities
Union benefitted from British industrialisation, evident in Ulster –
Protestant population, close relationship with Britain commercial
partnership
Industries in Ulster primarily textiles – linen, cotton and wool which
relied on Britain’s prime market for export
Benefitted from technological changes which encouraged industrial
growth but threatened traditional industries who struggled to
compete with rapid urbanisation
Industrialisation shaped the identity of modern Ulster
How important were the textile industries in Ulster before 1885?
Textile 1821 – 40% of population worked in manufacturing
industry Textiles most significant in Ulster
1/3 of exports to Britain
Causes
1770-1824 – Irish parliaments imposed protective tariffs to ensure
stable growth
British industrialisation
Technological advances
Proximity to British markets
Significance
Developed a distinct merchant class quick to establish trade routes
with Britain in the 18th century
o Steamships
o Expensive transportation but was quicker efficient trade
system
o Highlighted the internal limitations of Ulster’s transportation
system which often held up steamships due to cargo arriving
late to ports increased demand for investment in the
transportation network
1828+, the Belfast Chamber of Commerce invested in roads,
canals and the rail network in Ulster
o Improved communication
o Promoted industrialisation
o Creating strong internal links helped Ulster become a desired
business location
Woollen Contributed to prosperity pre-1825 due to protective tariffs
industry
Causes of decline
British competition – benefitted from new technologies (e.g.
steam-powered looms) produced in larger quantities at lower
prices vs traditional methods of hand-loom weaving in Ulster
Commercial crisis (1825-26) Britain’s domestic industry was
growing and they protected their own industry not Ulster’s
1838 – Ulster only supplied 14% of wool to the Irish domestic
market
Significance
Ulster dependent on linen industry – resilient as it transitioned to
, 3.4 INDUSTRIALISATION OF ULSTER, 1825-55
steam power
Cotton 1770-1824 protected by 10% import charge encouraging growth of
industry Irish domestic market competitive advantage
1811 – 50,000 worked in cotton manufacturing
Causes of decline
Success faded by 1824, industry in decline after 1825
Mill owners switched to linen due to the invention of wet spinning
higher profit margins
British competition produced cheaply due to use of machinery
Protective tariffs removed in 1824 as Britain sought free trade to
promote their own prosperity and maximise their industrial growth
1825 stock market crash damaged the cotton industry past the
point of recovery
Significance
1830 – 3,000 dependents on the verge of starvation struggling to
find work
Linen prominent
Linen Significant contribution to Irish prosperity
industry 1805-09 13 new mills
Causes of rise
High demand due to quality small farmers weaving to
supplement income and increase production
River Lagan provided the opportunity for wet spinning (1825)
much finer yarn for cloth-making
Best profit margins -1820s cotton 10p/£ vs linen 4 shillings/£
Significance
Cottage industry broad commercial enterprise by the 1820s
Improved agricultural income
Employed 2,000+ in 1820 within the 15 Belfast mills
1715 – Ulster produced 2 million yards of linen, 1790s – 40 million
yards
Belfast regarded as ‘linenopolis’
Belfast population doubled 1831-51
Railways 1825 – linen production centred in the ‘linen triangle’ outside of
Belfast due to cottage industries, important for this area to have
good access to ports and so foreign markets
Need to maximise commercial potential and link distant mills to
the growing industrial hub in Belfast
Ulster had a canal system, but it was slow
Causes
Royal Commission (1838)
o Recommended British gov funded a national railway uniform
service whole nation benefits
o Challenged as some believed private enterprise should manage
the railway
o Failure to compromise, growing reluctance from Britain
Private development – Belfast to Lisburn (1839)
o 1844-45 – 80% of total investment for 1835-50 made
Introduct 18th century – Ireland primarily a rural economy relying on land with
ion few cities
Union benefitted from British industrialisation, evident in Ulster –
Protestant population, close relationship with Britain commercial
partnership
Industries in Ulster primarily textiles – linen, cotton and wool which
relied on Britain’s prime market for export
Benefitted from technological changes which encouraged industrial
growth but threatened traditional industries who struggled to
compete with rapid urbanisation
Industrialisation shaped the identity of modern Ulster
How important were the textile industries in Ulster before 1885?
Textile 1821 – 40% of population worked in manufacturing
industry Textiles most significant in Ulster
1/3 of exports to Britain
Causes
1770-1824 – Irish parliaments imposed protective tariffs to ensure
stable growth
British industrialisation
Technological advances
Proximity to British markets
Significance
Developed a distinct merchant class quick to establish trade routes
with Britain in the 18th century
o Steamships
o Expensive transportation but was quicker efficient trade
system
o Highlighted the internal limitations of Ulster’s transportation
system which often held up steamships due to cargo arriving
late to ports increased demand for investment in the
transportation network
1828+, the Belfast Chamber of Commerce invested in roads,
canals and the rail network in Ulster
o Improved communication
o Promoted industrialisation
o Creating strong internal links helped Ulster become a desired
business location
Woollen Contributed to prosperity pre-1825 due to protective tariffs
industry
Causes of decline
British competition – benefitted from new technologies (e.g.
steam-powered looms) produced in larger quantities at lower
prices vs traditional methods of hand-loom weaving in Ulster
Commercial crisis (1825-26) Britain’s domestic industry was
growing and they protected their own industry not Ulster’s
1838 – Ulster only supplied 14% of wool to the Irish domestic
market
Significance
Ulster dependent on linen industry – resilient as it transitioned to
, 3.4 INDUSTRIALISATION OF ULSTER, 1825-55
steam power
Cotton 1770-1824 protected by 10% import charge encouraging growth of
industry Irish domestic market competitive advantage
1811 – 50,000 worked in cotton manufacturing
Causes of decline
Success faded by 1824, industry in decline after 1825
Mill owners switched to linen due to the invention of wet spinning
higher profit margins
British competition produced cheaply due to use of machinery
Protective tariffs removed in 1824 as Britain sought free trade to
promote their own prosperity and maximise their industrial growth
1825 stock market crash damaged the cotton industry past the
point of recovery
Significance
1830 – 3,000 dependents on the verge of starvation struggling to
find work
Linen prominent
Linen Significant contribution to Irish prosperity
industry 1805-09 13 new mills
Causes of rise
High demand due to quality small farmers weaving to
supplement income and increase production
River Lagan provided the opportunity for wet spinning (1825)
much finer yarn for cloth-making
Best profit margins -1820s cotton 10p/£ vs linen 4 shillings/£
Significance
Cottage industry broad commercial enterprise by the 1820s
Improved agricultural income
Employed 2,000+ in 1820 within the 15 Belfast mills
1715 – Ulster produced 2 million yards of linen, 1790s – 40 million
yards
Belfast regarded as ‘linenopolis’
Belfast population doubled 1831-51
Railways 1825 – linen production centred in the ‘linen triangle’ outside of
Belfast due to cottage industries, important for this area to have
good access to ports and so foreign markets
Need to maximise commercial potential and link distant mills to
the growing industrial hub in Belfast
Ulster had a canal system, but it was slow
Causes
Royal Commission (1838)
o Recommended British gov funded a national railway uniform
service whole nation benefits
o Challenged as some believed private enterprise should manage
the railway
o Failure to compromise, growing reluctance from Britain
Private development – Belfast to Lisburn (1839)
o 1844-45 – 80% of total investment for 1835-50 made
