A micro-scale study of residential stability and locality in nineteenth-century Lancaster

This thesis argues that research on residential mobility within individual nineteenth- ... Abstract 11 .1 analysis that has been undertaken on intra-urban mobility has in the main concentrated on large Victorian cities, which it is argued, has led to a restricted view ofthe • processes ofchange in past urban societies. With this in mind, the research examines at the micro-scale the processes ofchange within nineteenth-century Lancaster, a small industrial town in the north-west of . England, between 1850-1890. A range ofstructural and agency related differentials were identified which impacted upon stability rates within Lancaster. However, although factors such as housing, socio-economic structure, occupation and life course were found to contribute to some ofthe differences in persistence rates when comparing individual locales, they provide an inconclusive explanation when analysing variations in overall stability across the full period. It was found that occupational changes within nineteenth-century Lancaster encouraged disruption ofpre-existing family networks. The greatest surprise was the total lack ofcoherence within Lancaster's society, especially within the lower socioeconomic groups. This scale ofdisruption within community life has not been demonstrated within research undertaken in other nineteenth-century urban centres. Thus, it is suggested that Lancaster's economic history was the most important influence on the low stability rates that have been recorded, although it has been h~d to provide a conclusive causal link. Individual mobility histories were also analysed to understand some ofthe motivational factors underpinning mobility decisions. Personal characteristics were found to be important in structuring the decision making process in areas relating to cost, size and business considerations. Overall this thesis contributes to the understanding of stability and mobility during the nineteenth century, and demonstrates that it cannot be understood fully without reference to individual motivational concerns.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo