Irish famine caused by failure of potato crop 1847 Work on the General Railway Station commenced. 1848 Chester and Holyhead railway opened as far as Bangor. Shrewsbury-Chester railway opened throughout. The General Station opened on 1st August. First Public Health Act in Britain.
First settlers arrive in New Zealand.
Gold rush in California- which becomes a US state the following year. The Maypole in Handbridge was removed. Overleigh Cemetery was opened. The suburb of Queen's Park was developed to a design by James Harrison and a suspension bridge, by James Dredge of Bath, was erected to connect it with the city, at a cost of 850. US imports sparrows from Germany as defence against caterpillars.