Passing Through

This book examines the profound changes in western Hertfordshire due to the Grand Junction Canal, highlighting its social and economic impacts.

In Passing Through, Fabian Hiscock explores the transformative period in Britain from the last decade of the eighteenth century. This era was marked by significant technological and economic changes, alongside the upheaval caused by wars that reshaped many aspects of daily life. Hiscock focuses on western Hertfordshire, examining the impact of the Grand Junction Canal, a crucial innovation designed to connect the Midlands to London. The author meticulously describes the complex process of constructing the canal while also analyzing its repercussions on the local communities it traversed.

The book delves into the experiences of towns and villages such as Rickmansworth, Watford, Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted, and Tring, investigating whether the canal fulfilled the promises made by its promoters. Hiscock raises essential questions about the canal's influence on trade and transport, as well as its effects on work and domestic life. Were local residents able to reap the benefits of the new trade route, or did it merely pass through their lives with little impact?

Passing Through concludes its study in 1841, coinciding with a significant Census that provides insights into the area's industrial makeup. The book also considers tithe awards and the early economic effects of the London and Birmingham Railway. By merging canal history with a thorough social and economic analysis of a lesser-known region, Hiscock has crafted a well-researched and engaging narrative that appeals to a diverse audience.