The use of GIS and documentary sources to map, analyse and understand urban and industrial change in 19th century Dudley

Ramsey, Eleanor Jane (2012). The use of GIS and documentary sources to map, analyse and understand urban and industrial change in 19th century Dudley. University of Birmingham. M.Phil.

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Abstract

ABSTRACT
The 19th century was a time of intense change in Britain, especially in terms of booming population, and industrial output. The urban landscape of the country was particularly affected and Dudley, in the heart of the Black Country, is a good example of an industrial town that underwent severe transformation during this dramatic period.
Due to its urban nature archaeology of this period, however, is a finite and ever decreasing resource. This research aims to utilise documentary sources to enhance our understanding of the changes to the urban and industrial environment, and to fill in gaps in our knowledge of its nature and distribution. This was achieved by identifying appropriate censuses and trade directories, transforming them into a digital resource, identifying the spatial component of the data (streets and suburbs), generating a series of attributes regarding buildings, population and trades, and mapping them in a GIS project.
The research demonstrates that the changes that occurred within the urbanised area of Dudley involved both outward growth and change in character to established streets within the town itself. The research also generated a GIS project for dissemination, to aid in future research of the area and this period.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Masters by Research > M.Phil.)

Award Type:

Masters by Research > M.Phil.

Supervisor(s):