British agriculture went through major changes in its structure, techniques and output from the mid-eighteenth century onwards. New Technologies shows the new implements and machines introduced into farming during this period. We concentrate on the Victorian period, but also include some developments in the eighteenth century to complement our partner project New Landscapes.
Trace the course of change through the advertising of the manufacturers. You can follow developments through the timeline or by searching the list of manufacturers.
The timeline shows the course of development of new technologies in agriculture,
some of the major manufacturers and events.
Please select a section below.
Farm implements before industrialization
The rise of agricultural engineering
The steam age in farming
Mechanizing the harvest
Enter the tractor
About 300 firms of the nineteenth century have been included in this project. Search the manufacturers' list to see an overview of their literature that has been digitised.
The industrial revolution produced a large number of engineering
firms catering for the demands of developing agriculture. There were thousands
of them. Most were small and short-lived. Some grew to be major businesses
employing thousands, and a few have successors still in business. View the manufacturers' list >>
The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) is based at Reading University, Berkshire.
This project is sponsored by the New Opportunities Fund (NOF).
