British emigration to America | A House Through Time

Duration: 4'33''

Synopsis

In the late 1880's, thousands of people were passing through Liverpool and emigrating to America. David Olusoga investigates a resident of 62 Falkner Street who worked as an emigrant outfitter, selling emigrants everything they needed to travel to America.

Further Information

More clips from A House Through Time

British railway | A House Through Time

British railway | A House Through Time

BBC Two | 2018 | 3'03''

A 19th century resident of 62 Falkner Street earns his living from the steam train industry.

Cholera | A House Through Time

Cholera | A House Through Time

BBC Two | 2018 | 3'02''

David Olusoga investigates the 1850's Cholera epidemic in Liverpool.

Divorce in Victorian Britain | A House Through Time

Divorce in Victorian Britain | A House Through Time

BBC Two | 2018 | 6'03''

David Olusoga investigates divorce in Victorian Britain, through the case of a resident of 62 Falkner Street who tried to...

S1E2 | A House Through Time

S1E2 | A House Through Time

BBC Two | 2018 | 58'55''

The story of those who lived in one house, from the time it was built until now. David Olusoga follows the residents of the house in Liverpool fr...

British railway | A House Through Time

British railway | A House Through Time

BBC Two | 2018 | 3'03''

A 19th century resident of 62 Falkner Street earns his living from the steam train industry.

Cholera | A House Through Time

Cholera | A House Through Time

BBC Two | 2018 | 3'02''

David Olusoga investigates the 1850's Cholera epidemic in Liverpool.

Divorce in Victorian Britain | A House Through Time

Divorce in Victorian Britain | A House Through Time

BBC Two | 2018 | 6'03''

David Olusoga investigates divorce in Victorian Britain, through the case of a resident of 62 Falkner Street who tried to...

S1E2 | A House Through Time

S1E2 | A House Through Time

BBC Two | 2018 | 58'55''

The story of those who lived in one house, from the time it was built until now. David Olusoga follows the residents of the house in Liverpool fr...

More resources about Empire and colonies

First English traders in West Africa | Black and British: A Forgotten History

First English traders in West Africa | Black and British: A Forgotten History

BBC Two | 2016 | 5'41''

David Olusoga investigates the first English traders in West Africa.

Transportation of Convicts to Australia | Empire with David Olusoga

Transportation of Convicts to Australia | Empire with David Olusoga

BBC Two | 2025 | 9'41''

David explains how Britian sent their problem convicts abroad to the colonies for cheap labour, and many ...

Controversial argument for the benefits of the British Empire | A Timewatch Guide

Controversial argument for the benefits of the British Empire | A Timewatch Guide

BBC Four | 2017 | 3'22''

David Olusoga discusses controversial argument in favour of British colonial rule in India...

Episode 1 | Empire with David Olusoga

Episode 1 | Empire with David Olusoga

BBC Two | 2025 | 59'35''

David Olusoga tells the story of the British Empire, from its origins under Elizabeth I to the establishment of colonies in America, th...

S3E3: The Empire of Good Intentions | A History of Britain by Simon Schama

S3E3: The Empire of Good Intentions | A History of Britain by Simon Schama

BBC Two | 2002 | 59'10''

How the liberal politics and free-market economics of the British Empire unravelled, leading to th...

Shifting historical opinions on the British Empire | A Timewatch Guide

Shifting historical opinions on the British Empire | A Timewatch Guide

BBC Four | 2017 | 5'58''

David Olusoga explains how historical perspectives of the British Empire have shifted through time.

The legacies of slavery | Britain's Forgotten Slave Owners

The legacies of slavery | Britain's Forgotten Slave Owners

BBC Two | 2015 | 6'12''

David Olusoga discusses the legacies of slavery.

01: Adventure and Exploration | Britain and the Sea

01: Adventure and Exploration | Britain and the Sea

BBC One | 2013 | 59'17''

David Dimbleby sails the south west coast of England, exploring maritime art, architecture and history - including the st...

01: Heart of Oak | Empire of the Seas: How the Navy Forged the Modern World

01: Heart of Oak | Empire of the Seas: How the Navy Forged the Modern World

BBC Two | 2010 | 59'33''

Dan Snow charts the role the Royal Navy played in Britain's development. How victory over the Arm...

03: Trade and Romance | Britain and the Sea

03: Trade and Romance | Britain and the Sea

BBC One | 2013 | 59'19''

Documentary that sees David Dimbleby tracing the crucial importance of the sea to Britain's trade and to individual livelihoods o...

1: The Viceory of India | A Passage to Britain

1: The Viceory of India | A Passage to Britain

BBC Two | 2018 | 58'27''

Dr Yasmin Khan tracks down passengers who travelled from Mumbai to Britain in the 1930s on the luxurious P&O liner The Viceroy...

1: Why Britain? | Empire: How Britain Made The Modern World

1: Why Britain? | Empire: How Britain Made The Modern World

Channel 4 | 2003 | 48'27''

In this programme we learn about the origins of the British empire in the 17th century and how its foundations we...

3: The Jewel in the Crown | British History's Biggest Fibs with Lucy Worsley

3: The Jewel in the Crown | British History's Biggest Fibs with Lucy Worsley

BBC Four | 2017 | 59'11''

Lucy explores how British history is a concoction of fibs. She debunks the fibs that surround th...

4: Having a Ball | Andrew Marr's The Making of Modern Britain

4: Having a Ball | Andrew Marr's The Making of Modern Britain

BBC Two | 2009 | 59'12''

In the 1920s, Imperial Britannia slid from view and Britain saw a housing boom and the birth of radio broadcast...

4: Heaven's Breed | Empire: How Britain Made The Modern World

4: Heaven's Breed | Empire: How Britain Made The Modern World

Channel 4 | 2003 | 49'08''

In this programme we discover how a few thousand British people ruled over India, a country of more than 250 mi...

4: The Homecoming | Black and British: A Forgotten History

4: The Homecoming | Black and British: A Forgotten History

BBC Two | 2016 | 59'06''

Historian David Olusoga concludes his series with the three African kings who stood up to empire, an irresistible ...

4: The West: Putting on the Style | How We Built Britain

4: The West: Putting on the Style | How We Built Britain

BBC One | 2007 | 59'21''

David Dimbleby tours Britain to discover the buildings that have made us who we are. He travels west, where he finds...

5: Maxim Force | Empire: How Britain Made The Modern World

5: Maxim Force | Empire: How Britain Made The Modern World

Channel 4 | 2003 | 49'28''

The 'scramble for Africa' by competing European nations during the last years of Queen Victoria's reign is the com...

5: The North: Full Steam Ahead | How We Built Britain

5: The North: Full Steam Ahead | How We Built Britain

BBC One | 2007 | 56'31''

David Dimbleby tours Britain to discover the buildings that have made us who we are. Dimbleby travels north to the powe...

6: Age of Empire | Seven Ages of Britain

6: Age of Empire | Seven Ages of Britain

BBC HD | 2010 | 59'10''

David Dimbleby travels through Britain, America and India, tracing the British Empire from 1750 to 1900.

More from David Olusoga

Social housing development | A House Through Time

Social housing development | A House Through Time

BBC Two | 2020 | 2'28''

A new block of social housing is built next to 10 Guinea Street, in space left from the Blitz.

4: Union and Disunion | Union with David Olusoga

4: Union and Disunion | Union with David Olusoga

BBC Two | 2023 | 59'33''

The 20th century sees partition in Ireland. A sense of national unity emerges in the aftermath of the Second World War, but ...

2: Medical Drugs | Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer

2: Medical Drugs | Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer

BBC Four | 2021 | 53'15''

Documentary series about the effect of medicine on life expectancy. How knowledge gained from the discovery o...

The Unwanted: The Secret Windrush Files

The Unwanted: The Secret Windrush Files

BBC Two | 2019 | 58'55''

How black immigrants who made Britain their home came face to face with the government's 'hostile environment'. David Olusoga exposes...

6: First Contact | Civilisations

6: First Contact | Civilisations

BBC Two | 2018 | 59'07''

David Olusoga shows how art was always on the frontline when distant cultures met.

Kitchener and British Empire Historiography | A Timewatch Guide

Kitchener and British Empire Historiography | A Timewatch Guide

BBC Four | 2017 | 3'35''

David Olusoga explains how perceptions of empire have shifted throughout different generations.

1: First Encounters | Black and British: A Forgotten History

1: First Encounters | Black and British: A Forgotten History

BBC Two | 2016 | 52'49''

Historian David Olusoga explores the enduring relationship between Britain and people whose origins lie in Afric...

The beginnings of the British slave trade | Britain's Forgotten Slave Owners

The beginnings of the British slave trade | Britain's Forgotten Slave Owners

BBC Two | 2015 | 3'23''

David Olusoga investigates the beginnings of the British slave trade in Barbados.

The Indian Corps and trench warfare | The World's War: Forgotten Soldiers of Empire

The Indian Corps and trench warfare | The World's War: Forgotten Soldiers of Empire

BBC Two | 2014 | 4'45''

David Olusoga discusses the Indian corp experiences of industrialised trench warfare.