Coalbrookdale
About
“Coalbrookdale : An Industrial Revolution Novel”
Journey back in time to the heart of the 18th century, where the world was on the cusp of transformation. In “Coalbrookdale” we delve into the captivating saga of the Bangham family, whose lives intertwine with the pivotal moments that shaped the course of history.
At the centre of this extraordinary tale stands Joseph Bangham, whose life unfolds amidst the backdrop of the Severn Gorge, a place often referred to as the ‘cradle of the Industrial Revolution.’ In a time when the world was transitioning from agrarian traditions to the dawn of industry, Joseph found himself at the very heart of change.
As Joseph toiled within the confines of the Coalbrookdale ironworks, under the watchful eye of the visionary Abraham Darby, the use of coal in iron production was being perfected. These technological advancements heralded the era of mass iron production, igniting the fires of industry and forever altering the course of human civilization.
But within the pages of this gripping historical novel, it’s not just the grand sweep of industrial progress that captivates. The Bangham family’s story reflects the joys and tragedies of ordinary people thrust into extraordinary times. From their humble roots in Banghams Wood, where generations had been coppicing the land, they ventured across the Gorge to Coalbrookdale, trading the rhythms of nature for the relentless demands of the furnace.
In this intricate tapestry of lives, a myriad of characters interact in ways both planned and unforeseen, set against the gritty backdrop of 18th-century England. In an era when a child could face transportation to America or the gallows for poaching a rabbit, survival meant navigating a world fraught with peril and possibility.
As Joseph toiled at the furnace, did he comprehend that he was a silent participant in events destined to reshape the world? The question of whether these changes were ultimately for the better lingers even today, and “Coalbrookdale” offers a fresh perspective on the lives of those who bore witness to the very birth of a new age. Join us on this captivating journey through time, where the legacy of one family is woven into the fabric of history itself.
Praise for this book
5.0 out of 5 stars A fast flowing, poignant historical novel with an extraordinary amount of realism.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 January 2023
Format: AudiobookVerified Purchase
Goodreads Review – David Paterson
I should declare an interest here. I have just finished recording the audiobook version of Coalbrookdale. The project has given me great pleasure. I have never read a novel quite like it, out loud or to myself.
We begin in 1713. For generations the Bangham family have been producing charcoal to fuel the iron furnaces dotted around the Severn Gorge. Living in a squatter's cottage built by grandfather Bangham with his bare hands, they are as rooted to the district as the wood which has come to bear their name. In their close-knit hamlet, never visited by doctor or midwife, the crises of birth and illness are shared with neighbouring families, along with the water pump and the communal hog, spectacularly slaughtered each year.But the days are numbered for this way of life. Abraham Darby, the pioneering ironmaster, has developed a new way of smelting iron, using coal instead of charcoal. Joe Bangham, the forward-looking eldest son, is not sorry. Realising the market for their charcoal is about to shrink, and hoping to make an escape from a life of drudgery and toil on the land, he strides optimistically across the river to apply for a job at Mr Darby's fledgling ironworks. As he approaches the kindly principled Quaker, he little suspects he is enlisting as one of the first industrial proletariats. He will receive scant reward from the company to which he dedicates his life.
Meanwhile other members of the family, as much by marriage as hard work, ascend the social ladder. Brother Will, a hot-headed adventurer, even makes it across the Atlantic to the New World. Mixed fortunes await the three sisters who go into service up at The Hall, whose villainous under-butler is the catalyst for much of the novel's action.
This is "The Bangham Family Story" and (it is no disparagement to say) reads more like a history book than a novel. Adopting a reportage approach free of literary affectation in which concurrent storylines and diverse themes are effortlessly interwoven, Marilyn Freeman (herself a Bangham) chronicles thirty years to 1743 in one smooth sweep. This family is not a patriarchal organisation held together by authority and obligation so much as a network of love and kindness (and occasional jealousy) which, while it loosens over time, survives the early upheavals of the industrial revolution.
Although based on the author's ancestors, it is a work of fiction, elegantly plotted with some good emotional rollercoastering and a grisly climax. But Freeman maintains an extraordinary level of realism by steadfastly keeping her finger on the pulse of family life. When Joe is put on night shifts, for example, she gives due weight to the resulting disruption to the family's mealtimes. The imaginative recreation of the world of these people lost to history reads as if it were all fact meticulously researched.
A river runs through it. Repeatedly crossed and re-crossed at the Buildwas Bridge for weddings and funerals, bustling with an ever-increasing traffic of cargo vessels as the Darby works expand, sometimes glittering in the sun, occasionally a deadly torrent, the River Severn abides as the representative image of this fast-flowing poignant novel.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 April 2022
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
I came across this book whilst trying to find out a bit more about where my family are from. The author also has personal links to the area and uses the story of one family’s transition from working to coppice trees to a life centred around the demands of the furnace to explain the massive changes which took place in 18th century England. She looks at the impact of industrialisation through the eyes of ordinary people and their day to day lives. These personal perspectives made me understand a lot more about the industrial revolution, but also gave me an appreciation of how dramatically life changed for people over three hundred years ago and what that looked and felt like. I’d recommend this book to anyone - regardless of whether you’re interested in history. Its focus on family and personal stories from the past makes it really accessible, easy to relate to and so very readable
Andrew Coupe
5.0 out of 5 stars A step back in time
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 April 2022
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
I have a family connection to Coalbrookdale, as the author does too! This makes for a warmth to the writing that comes across really well. The story is at one and the same time, that of a family, but also our story as a nation/civilisation going from traditional ways of life to the modern world. The author is sensitive to this, and even references the current questions of whether relentless progress is a good thing. If you like your history with a splash of family and drama I would recommend this book wholeheartedly! Get it, read it and head back in time. I can hear those bellows now...