Life in Victorian Harbury – £6.50

The Warwickshire village of Harbury was once described as ‘a no thoroughfare’ when the roads to and from the village were badly neglected. It has also had the titles of ‘poor village‘ and ‘Hungry Harbury’, the latter due to the land being unproductive and the people so needy.

However, during the Victorian era, Harbury was ‘put firmly on the map’ when it was decided that the Great Western Railway Line would pass close by necessitating the excavation of the deepest railway cutting in Europe at the time. Harbury was to experience the influx of hundreds of navvies who came to dig out the spoil by hand, causing much upheaval in this tranquil village.

This book looks at the everyday life of the inhabitants during these times, painting a picture of an agricultural village and how it coped with changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution, changes in farming methods, faster communication links and ultimately a better standard of living. There are thirteen chapters ranging from Work and Play to the iconic windmill, still standing tall in the centre of the village today. Religion, Law and Order, Health, Shopping, and Education are all considered; together with many public houses, serving the navvies thirst, along-side the main employment at that time Farming and Agriculture.

For a village where not much has happened, ‘Victorian Times’ certainly had an impact on Harbury and its people and one which has left its mark for future generations.

‘Life in Victorian Harbury’ (108 pages) was written by Bill Timson from the Harbury Heritage Centre (www.harburyheritage.org.uk) and is available from there or from the Southam Heritage Collection, or online via this link , postage is £2.50