Social change

Passmore Edwards was born into a time of great change within the UK. He lived throughout the reign of Queen Victoria.

Queen Victoria

The Industrial Revolution was prompting a huge movement of people to the towns and cities, to work in the factories where working conditions were poor and housing conditions equally bad.

By 1851 more than half the population lived in towns and the population was to almost double by 1901, to 30.5 million.

In Cornwall, fluctuations in mining resulted in a steady migration of the Cornish to seek work throughout the world, although money sent home from oversees relieved conditions considerably.

Whilst medical advances had led to many illnesses being diagnosed correctly there was not an accompanying advance in treatment.

With overcrowded families living in poor conditions disease soon spread, with epidemics of Cholera sweeping through the country during 1831-2 and 1848-9..

Whilst many industrialists considered that they had no moral duty to improve the living standards of the poor workers, or indeed, the non-workers, others, in the absence of legislation sought to improve the lot of their fellow man.

By the mid 19th Century such assistance was through two, but not exclusively separate, approaches, through Philanthropy and through self-help, epitomised by the Friendly Societies and by the Cooperative Movement.