The British Census

By: Simon Smith

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eBook | 27 May 2021

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A fascinating primer on how censuses have been taken in Britain over the last two centuries, and what they can tell us about the ways in which society has evolved.

The 21 censuses that have been conducted in Britain since 1801, have provided an invaluable insight into Britain's social, political and economic history over the past 200 years. From their original purpose to assess how many men were fit for military duty in the Napoleonic wars, to being a necessary tool for determining government policy, the 10-yearly census return is a fascinating snapshot of the state of the population on a particular moment in each decade.

The growth of Britain's cities; the movement of population away from the countryside; the variety of people's occupations; their way of life; and what religious beliefs they hold are all contained within the census reports. With the imminent publication of the 1921 census results, this will prove a useful introduction, both for those interested in general trends in social history, and those researching family history.

About the Author

Simon Smith taught English at Brighton College for many years and was Second Master. Latterly he has undertaken educational consultancy work to help establish Free Schools in London and he is a governor of two schools, Chairman of the Kemp Town Society and author of a History of St John's, Brighton.