Life in the Victorian Life in the Victorian AgeAge

A Window into the Christmas A Window into the Christmas Carol by Charles DickensCarol by Charles Dickens

Welcome to the Victorian Welcome to the Victorian AgeAge

The Victorian age in British history is The Victorian age in British history is named after Queen Victoria, who was named after Queen Victoria, who was Britain's queen from 1837 until 1901. Britain's queen from 1837 until 1901.

Queen Victoria was born on May 24Queen Victoria was born on May 24thth, , 1819.1819.

There were big differences in homes, There were big differences in homes, schools, toys and entertainments. schools, toys and entertainments.

No TV, no computers, no central No TV, no computers, no central heating, no cars (until the last few heating, no cars (until the last few years of Victoria's reign). No air travel - years of Victoria's reign). No air travel - unless you went up in a balloon! Many unless you went up in a balloon! Many children went to work, not to school. children went to work, not to school.

Families in the 1800sFamilies in the 1800s

In Victorian times, many families had 10 or In Victorian times, many families had 10 or more children.more children.

Sadly, many children died as babies, or from Sadly, many children died as babies, or from diseases such as small pox and diphtheria.diseases such as small pox and diphtheria.

Rich FamiliesRich Families Rich families had large houses, with a special Rich families had large houses, with a special

room for children called the nursery. room for children called the nursery. In the nursery younger children ate, played In the nursery younger children ate, played

and slept.and slept. Some rich children saw their parents only in Some rich children saw their parents only in

the morning and evening, and were looked the morning and evening, and were looked after mostly by their nanny and by other after mostly by their nanny and by other servants. servants.

Most Victorians thought children should be Most Victorians thought children should be 'seen and not heard'.'seen and not heard'.

Rich FamiliesRich Families

In a Victorian town, it was easy to tell In a Victorian town, it was easy to tell who was rich and who was poor.who was rich and who was poor.

Children from richer homes were well Children from richer homes were well fed, wore warm clothes and had fed, wore warm clothes and had shoes on their feet. shoes on their feet.

They did not work, but went to school They did not work, but went to school or had lessons at home.or had lessons at home.

ClothingClothing

Victorian children were usually Victorian children were usually dressed like miniature adults. Boy dressed like miniature adults. Boy babies often wore skirts - later a boy babies often wore skirts - later a boy might wear a sailor suit.might wear a sailor suit.

For parties, lots of little Victorian girls For parties, lots of little Victorian girls wore red cloaks - perhaps because wore red cloaks - perhaps because Little Red Riding Hood was a favorite Little Red Riding Hood was a favorite nursery story.nursery story.

Poor FamiliesPoor Families

Poor children looked thin and hungry, Poor children looked thin and hungry, wore ragged clothes, and some had wore ragged clothes, and some had no shoes. no shoes.

Poor children had to work. Poor children had to work. They were lucky if they went to They were lucky if they went to

school.school. Some poor children wore second-Some poor children wore second-

hand boots or shoes, nicknamed hand boots or shoes, nicknamed 'translators'.'translators'.

Poor FamiliesPoor Families

Poor people often ate a poor diet. They had Poor people often ate a poor diet. They had to buy cheap tea with blackberry leaves to buy cheap tea with blackberry leaves added, sugar mixed with sand, and milk added, sugar mixed with sand, and milk thickened with powdered chalk, meat once a thickened with powdered chalk, meat once a week was a treat.week was a treat.

Many poor children lived in tiny Many poor children lived in tiny country cottages or in city country cottages or in city slums

Victorian VehiclesVictorian Vehicles

There were millions of horses in Victorian There were millions of horses in Victorian Britain. Horse-drawn vehicles jammed the Britain. Horse-drawn vehicles jammed the streets, like cars and trucks today.streets, like cars and trucks today.

Water CartOmnibus Cart

Elite Carriage of the RichElite Carriage of the Rich

What Jobs did the Children What Jobs did the Children DoDo

Children worked on farms, in homes as Children worked on farms, in homes as servants, and in factories.servants, and in factories.

Children often did jobs that required small Children often did jobs that required small size and nimble fingers. size and nimble fingers.

But they also pushed heavy coal trucks along But they also pushed heavy coal trucks along tunnels in coal mines.tunnels in coal mines.

Boy jobs vs. Girl JobsBoy jobs vs. Girl Jobs BBoys went to sea, as boy-sailors, and oys went to sea, as boy-sailors, and

girls went 'into service' as housemaids.girls went 'into service' as housemaids. Girl flower-sellers also sold Girl flower-sellers also sold oranges oranges (when the (when the

fruit was available, not all-year- round like fruit was available, not all-year- round like today) They kept fresh longer than flowers.today) They kept fresh longer than flowers.

Children worked on city streets, selling Children worked on city streets, selling things such as flowers, matches and things such as flowers, matches and ribbons. ribbons.

Crossing boys swept the roads clean of Crossing boys swept the roads clean of horse-dung and rubbish left by the horse-dung and rubbish left by the horses that pulled carts and carriages.horses that pulled carts and carriages.

The British EmpireThe British Empire Britain ruled the Britain ruled the British Empire. . Victoria was Empress of India as well as Victoria was Empress of India as well as

Queen of Britain, Canada (the biggest Queen of Britain, Canada (the biggest country in the Empire) and small countries country in the Empire) and small countries such as Jamaica. such as Jamaica.

Trade with the Empire helped make Britain Trade with the Empire helped make Britain rich. Some British children emigrated with rich. Some British children emigrated with their families to new homes in Australia, New their families to new homes in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada. Children Zealand, South Africa and Canada. Children were taught about the Empire in school.were taught about the Empire in school.

In Victorian classrooms, children could easily In Victorian classrooms, children could easily find the countries of the Empire on a map find the countries of the Empire on a map because they were colored pink or red.because they were colored pink or red.

December 2, 2009December 2, 2009

The Industrial RevolutionThe Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution was the era of The Industrial Revolution was the era of rapid and great change in industry and rapid and great change in industry and manufacturing with the growth of manufacturing with the growth of factories, beginning in the late 1700s. factories, beginning in the late 1700s.

The Industrial Revolution changed The Industrial Revolution changed Britain from a land of small towns, Britain from a land of small towns, villages and farms into a land of cities, villages and farms into a land of cities, large towns and factories. The large towns and factories. The population grew from 16 million in 1801 population grew from 16 million in 1801 to over 41 million by 1901. Cities grew to over 41 million by 1901. Cities grew fast, as people moved from the fast, as people moved from the countryside to work in factories.countryside to work in factories.

Work in the Victorian AgeWork in the Victorian Age

Men, women and children worked in Men, women and children worked in factories, and in coal mines. factories, and in coal mines.

Factory and mine owners became rich, Factory and mine owners became rich, but most factory and mine workers but most factory and mine workers were poor.were poor.

They were paid low wages, and lived in They were paid low wages, and lived in unhealthy, overcrowded slums.unhealthy, overcrowded slums.

Slum was Slum was an area of bad housing, with an area of bad housing, with poor hygiene and sanitationpoor hygiene and sanitation

Victorian SlumVictorian Slum

FactoriesFactories

Britain was the first country in the Britain was the first country in the world to have lots of world to have lots of factoriesfactories. .

Factory machines made all kinds of Factory machines made all kinds of things. things.

Machines did jobs, such as spinning, Machines did jobs, such as spinning, previously been done by families at previously been done by families at home.home.

Most of the factories were Most of the factories were located in North of Englandlocated in North of England

Most factory workers live in proximity to the Most factory workers live in proximity to the factories they worked in living in small factories they worked in living in small houses near the factories.houses near the factories.

The different types of factories, industries, The different types of factories, industries, and mines that you could find during the and mines that you could find during the Industrial Revolution in London were cotton Industrial Revolution in London were cotton mills, carpet mills, iron works, coal mines, mills, carpet mills, iron works, coal mines, and slate minesand slate mines

Different types of factories, industries, and mines

Many children worked in factories in Britain's fast-growing industrial towns. This is Bradford, Yorkshire, in 1873

A Typical day in a Victorian A Typical day in a Victorian factories factories

Factories were noisy. People had to shout above the rattle and hiss of machinery.

They breathed air full of dust, oil and soot.

Iron and steel workers got so hot that workers dripped with sweat.

Flames and sparks lit up the sky darkened by smoke from factory chimneys

Midlands in EnglandMidlands in England

The area of the Midlands in The area of the Midlands in England, around Birmingham, England, around Birmingham, was so smoky from iron works was so smoky from iron works and factories that people called and factories that people called it “Black Country”.it “Black Country”.

The city of Manchester, about 1870. With so The city of Manchester, about 1870. With so many mills and factories, the air was polluted many mills and factories, the air was polluted

by smoke and dirt.by smoke and dirt.

Why Children WorkedWhy Children Worked Many Victorian children were poor and Many Victorian children were poor and

worked to help their families. worked to help their families. Few people thought this strange or cruel. Few people thought this strange or cruel. Families got no money unless they Families got no money unless they

worked, and most people thought work worked, and most people thought work was good for children.was good for children.

Many of these jobs were at first done by Many of these jobs were at first done by children, because children were cheap - children, because children were cheap - a child was paid less than adults (just a a child was paid less than adults (just a few pennies for a week's work).few pennies for a week's work).

Mill-worker childrenMill-worker children Mill-worker children ate porridge Mill-worker children ate porridge

and onions for breakfast and and onions for breakfast and oatcakes with milk for dinner. They oatcakes with milk for dinner. They also had to eat standing up. also had to eat standing up.

Standing for so long at a machine Standing for so long at a machine affected growing children's bones. affected growing children's bones. It made some boys 'knocked-It made some boys 'knocked-kneed'. kneed'.

Factory work was dangerous for Factory work was dangerous for small girls because they had to small girls because they had to crawl under the machines and could crawl under the machines and could get their hair or limbs caught.get their hair or limbs caught.

Children Children Working a Working a Cotton MillCotton Mill

Children line up to be paid for their work.

Start of Child Labor LawsStart of Child Labor Laws

People called People called reformersreformers, such as Lord , such as Lord Shaftesbury (1801-1885), argued in Shaftesbury (1801-1885), argued in Parliament for laws to stop child-Parliament for laws to stop child-work.work.

Inspectors, called Commissioners, Inspectors, called Commissioners, went into factories and mines. They went into factories and mines. They talked to working children to find out talked to working children to find out the facts. These are three of the new the facts. These are three of the new laws passed by Parliament.laws passed by Parliament.

New LawsNew Laws

1841 Mines Act - No child under the 1841 Mines Act - No child under the age of 10 to work underground in a age of 10 to work underground in a coal mine.coal mine.

1847 Ten Hour Act - No child to work 1847 Ten Hour Act - No child to work more than 10 hours in a day.more than 10 hours in a day.

1874 Factory Act - No child under the 1874 Factory Act - No child under the age of 10 to be employed in a factory.age of 10 to be employed in a factory.

Coal MinesCoal Mines Most of the energy we use today comes Most of the energy we use today comes

in the form of electricity or oil.in the form of electricity or oil. In Victorian times, energy came from In Victorian times, energy came from

water-power (waterwheels), from water-power (waterwheels), from horses and above all from burning horses and above all from burning coal.coal.

Coal was as important to Victorians as Coal was as important to Victorians as oil is to us today. oil is to us today.

In just 40 years the amount of coal dug from In just 40 years the amount of coal dug from British mines rose from 16 million tons (1830) British mines rose from 16 million tons (1830) to over 121 million tonsto over 121 million tons

What was Coal used for?What was Coal used for?

Steam engines burned coal.Steam engines burned coal. Steam enginesSteam engines drove factory drove factory

machines, locomotives pulling trains machines, locomotives pulling trains and steamships. and steamships.

All this coal had to be dug from coal All this coal had to be dug from coal mines. Britain had a lot of coal, deep mines. Britain had a lot of coal, deep in rocks beneath the ground. .in rocks beneath the ground. .

Steam Railway StationSteam Railway Station

What did a Coal Mine look What did a Coal Mine look like?like?

Most coal was dug from deep mines. Most coal was dug from deep mines. A long vertical A long vertical shaftshaft was dug down was dug down from the surface.from the surface.

Leading off from it were side Leading off from it were side tunnels.tunnels.

Miners rode in a lift, worked by a Miners rode in a lift, worked by a steam engine. steam engine.

In the tunnels, they hacked at the In the tunnels, they hacked at the coal with picks and shovels.coal with picks and shovels.

Why was it dangerousWhy was it dangerous

Coal mines were dark, dirty and Coal mines were dark, dirty and dangerous. dangerous.

The only light came from candles and The only light came from candles and oil lamps. oil lamps.

Gas in the mine could choke miners, Gas in the mine could choke miners, or explode. or explode.

Tunnels could flood or collapse. Tunnels could flood or collapse. Accidents killed many miners.Accidents killed many miners.

Canaries in a Coal Mine?Canaries in a Coal Mine?

Some miners took canary birds in Some miners took canary birds in cages down the mine. If it breathed cages down the mine. If it breathed in dangerous gas, the canary passed in dangerous gas, the canary passed out (fainted), and the miners hurried out (fainted), and the miners hurried to safety.to safety.

Who ran the Coal MineWho ran the Coal Mine Coal mines were owned by the person Coal mines were owned by the person

on whose land they were dug.on whose land they were dug. The mine owners sold their coal to the The mine owners sold their coal to the

factories. factories. Some mine owners were very rich, but Some mine owners were very rich, but

they paid miners low wages. they paid miners low wages. They did not care about health and They did not care about health and

safety, so at first they let small children safety, so at first they let small children and women work underground.and women work underground.

Laws passed to protect Laws passed to protect MinersMiners

The Parliament was the law-making The Parliament was the law-making body made up of elected members of body made up of elected members of Parliament and non-elected Lords.Parliament and non-elected Lords.

In 1842, In 1842, ParliamentParliament stopped women stopped women and children under 10 years old from and children under 10 years old from working underground. working underground.

In 1860 the age limit for boy-miners In 1860 the age limit for boy-miners was raised to 12, and in 1900 to 13.was raised to 12, and in 1900 to 13.

Children Working in the Coal Children Working in the Coal MineMine

Some children pushed trucks of coal Some children pushed trucks of coal along mine tunnels. They were called along mine tunnels. They were called 'putters'.'putters'.

'Trappers' opened and shut wooden 'Trappers' opened and shut wooden doors to let air through the tunnels. A doors to let air through the tunnels. A trapper boy sat in the dark, with just trapper boy sat in the dark, with just a small candle, and no-one to talk to.a small candle, and no-one to talk to.

A boy pushing the cart and A boy pushing the cart and a Trappera Trapper

Working Conditions in MinesWorking Conditions in Mines

Some children started work at 2 in Some children started work at 2 in the morning and stayed below the morning and stayed below ground for 18 hours.ground for 18 hours.

Children working on the surface, Children working on the surface, sorting coal, at least saw daylight sorting coal, at least saw daylight and breathed fresh air.and breathed fresh air.

A girl pulling a cart through A girl pulling a cart through the minesthe mines

EntertainmentEntertainment

Victorians made their own Victorians made their own entertainment at homeentertainment at home

They enjoyed singing, and a rich They enjoyed singing, and a rich family would sing around the piano.family would sing around the piano.

While poorer families enjoyed tunes While poorer families enjoyed tunes on a pipe or a fiddle. on a pipe or a fiddle.

Families played card games and Families played card games and board games, and acted out board games, and acted out charades. charades.

Birthday PartiesBirthday Parties

At birthday parties, a special treat At birthday parties, a special treat was a was a magic lanternmagic lantern show. An oil or show. An oil or gas lamp sent a beam of light gas lamp sent a beam of light through a glass lens and onto a through a glass lens and onto a screen, to show enlarged images, screen, to show enlarged images, perhaps of wild animals or a story perhaps of wild animals or a story told in pictures.told in pictures.

Fun and GamesFun and Games

In street games, children shared toys In street games, children shared toys like hoops, marbles and skipping like hoops, marbles and skipping ropes, with friends in the street, or in ropes, with friends in the street, or in the school playground. the school playground.

They played chasing games such as They played chasing games such as tag and played catch with balls. If tag and played catch with balls. If they hadn't got a proper ball, they they hadn't got a proper ball, they made balls from old rags, and bats made balls from old rags, and bats from pieces of wood. from pieces of wood.

Street GamesStreet Games

They also played They also played hopscotchhopscotch. Victorian . Victorian children were able to play out in the street children were able to play out in the street as there was less traffic than today. There as there was less traffic than today. There were no cars until the 1880s. were no cars until the 1880s.

They crowded around street musicians, They crowded around street musicians, wheeling a wheeling a barrel organbarrel organ, which played tunes , which played tunes when the handle was turned.Sometimes when the handle was turned.Sometimes barrel organ players had a monkey with barrel organ players had a monkey with them.them.

More Street GamesMore Street Games

Children played outdoor chasing games Children played outdoor chasing games such as tag (which had lots of other such as tag (which had lots of other names, such as touch or tig), names, such as touch or tig),

Other games like Tom Tiddler's Ground, Other games like Tom Tiddler's Ground, where one player (Tom) tries to catch where one player (Tom) tries to catch anyone trespassing on his or her ground, anyone trespassing on his or her ground, shown by a line. shown by a line.

They also played a version of musical They also played a version of musical chairs, using cushions or old rags to sit on. chairs, using cushions or old rags to sit on.

More GamesMore Games

At Easter, children played 'Egg-At Easter, children played 'Egg-Shackling'. Shackling'.

In this game, everyone put an egg In this game, everyone put an egg with their name on in a basket or with their name on in a basket or sieve, which was shaken until the sieve, which was shaken until the eggs broke. The last egg left eggs broke. The last egg left unbroken won.unbroken won.

BooksBooks Victorian children were often given Victorian children were often given

books with improving books with improving moralmoral lessons, lessons, about characters with names like Lazy about characters with names like Lazy Lawrence and Simple Susan. Lawrence and Simple Susan.

A favorite story was Charles Kingsley's A favorite story was Charles Kingsley's The Water Babies about a badly treated The Water Babies about a badly treated chimney-boy. chimney-boy.

There were lots of books written There were lots of books written specially for children, such as Treasure specially for children, such as Treasure Island (about pirates) by R L Stevenson Island (about pirates) by R L Stevenson and Black Beauty (about a horse) by and Black Beauty (about a horse) by Anna Sewell. Anna Sewell.

Perhaps the most Perhaps the most famous Victorian famous Victorian children's book is children's book is Alice's Adventures Alice's Adventures in Wonderland in Wonderland (1865) written by (1865) written by Lewis Carroll.Lewis Carroll.