Penelope Stokes has written about Georgian Newbury – an illustrated social history of Newbury from 1714 to 1837 describing the everyday lives of people working in Newbury.

The early Georgian Era had its own distinctive character – refined fashions and manners alongside total brutality, violent sports, squalor, and references to epidemic gin drinking.

Many of the Coaching inns in Newbury were on the route to Bath Spa’s, the clothing industry was declining, turnpikes were improving roads and when canals became the main transport channels the wharf became the main trading centre, being the biggest grain market in South Central- Newbury was changing and becoming culturally aware.

The Napoleonic wars had their influence, as did the emerging Industrial revolution in the North of England, Steam power and this continued until William IV was succeeded by his niece Victoria in 1837.