During the industrial age, working people in the region became attached to their high achieving businesses such as Paxmans, Marconi, Norvic and many others. The Eastern counties fostered many internationally known brands which are still held in respect and awe by former employees. Their products are retained in many collections and museums throughout the region.

The lowest-lying of all England's regions, the east has a rich legacy of water and wind mills, originally for land drainage, corn and fulling cloth but eventually including paper mills, saw mills, and mills for powering barn machinery. By the eighteenth century every possible site for water power had been used. Absence of natural power sources close to where they were most needed meant that steam was adopted early for powering mills, breweries, factories and farms.

Eastern England was the birthplace of the agricultural revolution, which started here even before the dawn of the Industrial Revolution. In the early eighteenth century landowners, such as Edward Coke of Holkham, became aware of productive and intensive agricultural practices in Holland. This was related to the growth in scientific knowledge. Coke, Townsend and others began to apply new methods to tenant farms on their estates. Later, in the Victorian High Farming years there was a second agricultural revolution as portable and later traction engines used steam to raise the productivity of agriculture. The main corn grown in the eastern counties was barley.  The majority of this was turned into malt which was used principally in the brewing of beer. The eastern counties were home to some of England’s largest maltings. The barley grain was spread across the floors to germinate naturally before roasting in a kiln. The process took up a large amount of space. Huge maltings were built in the late nineteenth century at Snape in Suffolk, now world famous as a concert venue, as well as Mistley in Essex and many other riverside locations.

But this is only part of the story. Join with us and explore this rich heritage. Learn of the lives of the outstanding entrepreneurs and inventors in the region and of the commitment and support they received from ordinary working people.

The Industrious East - Celebrating people and their lasting industrial heritage in the regions historic places.