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Railways, Economy, and Society in the 19th Century
Discover how Victorian railways reshaped Britain — transforming society, work, business, and everyday life — in this dynamic weekly Oxford Lifelong Learning class. Starts 30/09/2026 - 10 weeks
Blog: From Mills to Multinationals
From Mills to Multinationals: The Value of Business History. Business history reveals how companies, people, and ideas shaped modern society — offering essential lessons for today’s leaders, employees, and communities.
Royal Historical Society Blog
Royal Historical Society Blog
What's the value of a History PhD? In my blog for the Royal Historical Society, I offer a business view of the broader skills History PhD's acquire while designing and studying for a doctorate.
Areas of Expertise
Railway History
Berkshire Local History
Victorian Britain
- Railway infrastructure
- Railway equipment manufacturing
- Railway companies
- Impact of the railways on industry and society
Victorian Britain
Berkshire Local History
Victorian Britain
- Victorian business
- Victorian working class
- Victorian leisure
- Victorian medicine and science
Berkshire Local History
Berkshire Local History
Berkshire Local History
- Impact of the arrival of the railways in Berkshire
- Huntley and Palmer
- Berkshire industry
World War One
Industry & Engineering
Berkshire Local History
- Causes of World War I
- Munitions workers
- Military medicine
- Technology developments
- Development of air forces
World War Two
Industry & Engineering
Industry & Engineering
- Origins of World War II
- Munitions workers
- Developments in submarines, aircraft, tanks
- Military medicine
Industry & Engineering
Industry & Engineering
Industry & Engineering
- The Industrial Revolution
- Life in the Victorian factory
- British manufacturing
- Impact of the trade unions and working conditions
About Me
Professional historian Dr Richard Marks offers research, education, consultancy, talks and publications on Britain’s industrial, railway history, aviation history and military history.
He is a regular speaker at family history societies, local history groups and groups such as WI, U3A, Probus, Rotary, Tangent and heritage organisations.
Richard is a lecturer in social and economic history at the University of Oxford. As an author, hIs books include The Influence of Railways on Economic Change, The Wantage Tramway and A History of British Rail Engineering Limited.
Dr Richard Marks, Historian