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OLD MANCHESTER & THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

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                                  An old lady newspaper seller Old Manchester & the Industrial Revolution Report by Don Hale. Manchester, like so many other major cities throughout the country was completely transformed by the Industrial Revolution. It led to the rapid construction of canals, railways, housing, and scores of factories - many were built close to rivers and made extensive use of waterpower.   The city soon became a magnet for people seeking accommodation and work. And part of this labour force included many Irish immigrants, who started to arrive in great numbers from about 1852, followed by the Italians in1865, and numerous other foreign workers. The unprecedented growth of cotton mills and the increasing demand for additional labour continued to swell the population of Manchester.  In 1811, the regions census figures showed a population of 79,459; and by 1838 it had more than doubled to 181,708. It continued to increase, reaching 303,382 just thirteen years later i