Author: Clint Curtis

There was, however, an Internet. During Queen Victoria’s reign, a new communications technology was developed that allowed people to communicate almost instantly across great distances, in effect shrinking the world faster and further than ever before. What was called the Victorian Internet? “The Victorian Internet” is all about our world and the invention of the […]

The Victorian Curriculum F–10 learning areas are a clear and deliberate reaffirmation of the importance of a discipline-based approach to learning, where learning areas are regarded as both enduring and dynamic. What are the Victorian Curriculum strands? The curriculum is organised by the three strands of Number and Algebra, Measurement and Geometry, and Statistics and […]

Some prisoners were sentenced to hard labour, they had to do tough physical work. They were made to turn a crank, a heavy metal handle or walk on treadmills hundreds of times a day as punishment. Prisoners could be hurt or have their food taken away for misbehaving. How were people punished in the Victorian […]

Though she had been mother to Queen Victoria, the Duchess of Kent had never herself been Princess of Wales, because her second husband, Edward, Duke of Kent had been George III’s fourth son. Why did Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother not become queen? The title in British usage is purely a courtesy title. While the […]

Here are some more facts about Victorian lessons: The most important lessons were the ‘three Rs’ – reading, writing and arithmetic (maths). Pupils had to chant things (the times-table facts, for example) out loud until they could do it without making a mistake. What did the three R stand for? The principle of reducing waste, […]

Board games such as Snakes and Ladders, Ludo and Draughts were popular indoor games. Outdoors, Victorian children played with toys like hoops, marbles and skipping ropes, with friends in the street, or in the school playground. They played chasing games such as Tag, Blind Man’s Bluff, and played catch with balls. What board games were […]

They still had plenty of ways to amuse themselves though. Most towns like Huddersfield had theatres and music halls, and many of the local churches held social events. Sports were popular – rugby, football, cycling – and the growth of the train network meant that it was much easier for people to travel. What did […]

Sunday schools were set up in the Victorian period to provide basic reading, writing and arithmetic lessons as well as Religious Education. At the time, when many children worked to support their families, Sunday Schools provided the only opportunity for some education. What is the meaning of Sunday school? Sunday school, also called church school, […]

Victorian children used to play football with leather balls similar to this one, which is fastened with lace and sometimes buttons. As leather absorbed water, heading it was very painful! What was a football made of in the 1800s? The first properly made ball was simply a pig or sheep’s bladder, inflated by good old […]

In September 1843 Queen Victoria travelled abroad for the first time, visiting Louis-Philippe, King of the French, at the château d’Eu in Normandy. Did Victoria visit Louis Philippe? Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visited Louis Philippe at the Château d’Eu in Normandy from 2 to 7 September 1843. The castle was the property of the […]