Who would have thought turnips and clover were the secret to growing population and wealth? Fyling Hall’s Year 9s are finding out why!

The 18th century was a fascinating century. Most know less about it than they do the 16th, 17th and 19th centuries. The changes in agriculture, and the growth of manufacturing and trade, with new goods, foods, and fabrics, like tea, coffee, cocoa, sugar, tobacco and cotton, meant the Georgian era was a time of growing prosperity for many. New ideas circulated and Britain’s colonies expanded.

Following their highly successful visit to a fully restored Georgian townhouse last summer, to examine primary evidence at first hand, pupils have studied how the changes in farming lead to the continued growth of the population and to the start of modern Britain as we know it today. Turnips and clover were true signs of prosperity!