8. Hardy and Dorset

• In 1840, when Hardy was born, agriculture was the most important industry and made up 20% of the labour force. By 1900, it was less than 10%.
• Great shift away from agrarian society due to industrialisation and urbanisation: access to railroads meant farmers could live in the city where they found better paying employment, higher standard of living, and increased education.
• Hardy described a farmer's job as 'one of great hardship'
• Dorset was the poorest and least industrialised county - many labourers lived in squalor and didn't have the money to improve their condition.
• 1873 public outcry led to the Agricultural Children's Act which banned child labour.
• Joseph Arch's National Union organised in 1872 to combat low wages, poor living conditions, and the oppression from landowners. Increased the average wage by 20-30%
• Between 1851-1861, Dorset had a 76% natural increase in migration. Most who left the countryside were young girls.
• Hardy didn't like the changing Dorset landscape and equated the city with a lack of tradition and historical importance