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The Lincolnshire town of Scunthorpe, in the north of the county, has been associated with the iron industry since its earliest days as it is situated close to an outcrop of ironstone. At first the iron ore was transported to producers in South Yorkshire but the arrival of the railways in the 19th century during the Industrial Revolution enabled iron production to grow rapidly in the area as coal and coke could be readily brought in. Scunthorpe saw massive expansion in this period, swallowing up neighboring villages and its population growing 10-fold in the second half of the 19th century, as it became the center of steel processing in the country. Although the steel industry defined the town for many years and still dominates the area, the numbers working in the industry have declined. Many people in Scunthorpe have worked in industries related to steel production such as engineering or other local industries, or other typical employment to be found in towns throughout the country and today many work in the service industries, retailing, or food production. Scunthorpe at Work explores the working life of this Lincolnshire town and its people, and the industries that have characterized it. Through a fascinating series of photographs and illustrations, it traces the story of Scunthorpe’s growth as an industrial town. The book will appeal to all those with an interest in the history of Scunthorpe.
