Published in 1840, "Michael Armstrong: Factory Boy" was the first industrial novel to be published in Britain, inspired by Frances's visit to Manchester in 1832, where she examined the conditions of children employed in the textile mills. The story of a factory boy who is rescued by a wealthy benefactor at first, but later returns to the mills, illustrates the misery of factory life and suggests that private philanthropy alone will not solve the widespread misery of factory employment. Other socially conscious novels of hers include "The Vicar of Wrexhill" (1837, Richard Bentley, London, 3 volumes), which took on the issue of corruption in the Church of England and evangelical circles. Possibly her greatest work is the "Widow Barnaby" trilogy (1839–1855), which includes the first ever sequel. In particular, Michael Sadleir considers the skilful set-up of "Petticoat Government" , with its cathedral city, clerical psychology and domineering female, as something of a formative influence on her son's elaborate and colourful cast of characters in "Barchester Towers", notably Mrs Proudie.