English File 4thE - Pre Intermediate - Video Listening - 4C The history of the weekend

The History of the Weekend

Presenter Karen explains how Manchester helped shape the British weekend.

From the six-day working week

In the 19th century, many people moved from the countryside to industrial cities such as Manchester. Work in factories and cotton mills was demanding and sometimes dangerous. Until 1843, workers typically worked Monday through Saturday and rested on Sunday.

In the 1840s, Robert Lowes and his colleagues campaigned for factory workers to have Saturday afternoons off. They argued that this would:

• Benefit businesses: Workers would have time to shop, since shops were closed on Sundays.
• Support religion: Less exhausted workers would be more likely to attend church on Sundays.
• Help the economy: Rested, healthier workers would be more effective during the working week.

In 1843, many Manchester factory owners agreed to close at 2 p.m. on Saturdays. By the 1870s, workers had a standard one-and-a-half-day weekend. The extra free time encouraged leisure activities, including sport. Manchester football clubs Newton Heath and St. Mark’s were founded during this period; they later became Manchester United and Manchester City, respectively.

The modern weekend

By the 1960s, the weekend had expanded to two days. Sunday shopping became more common after the law changed in the 1990s. However, shop assistants may still have to work at weekends, often without extra pay.

A possible future

The video considers a four-day working week and a three-day weekend as a possible future change. This arrangement is presented as potentially beneficial for the economy, employment, and family life. Karen says that 71% of British workers think the country would be happier with a three-day weekend.

Speakers and sources featured

• Karen: The presenter and only speaking voice heard.
• Historical people and organizations: Robert Lowes and his colleagues, Manchester factory owners, and the football clubs Newton Heath and St. Mark’s.
• Other references: The Manchester Museum of Science and Industry, where Karen visits, and Sir Ian McKellen, who is mentioned in connection with Robert Lowes.
• The video cites the figure that 71% of British workers support the idea of a three-day weekend, but does not name the source of the statistic.