Category: Victoria

nine children. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert married in 1840 and, over the next eighteen years, had nine children. During a period of high infant mortality, even among the upper classes, the queen was fortunate to suffer no miscarriages or stillbirths, and all her children survived into adulthood. Which of Queen Victoria’s children died before […]

Life was hard for working people during Queen Victoria’s reign. The changeover to an industrial society meant that new types and methods of work were created and, for the first time, massive numbers of people went to work in factories and mills. Other workers were employed in mines and workshops. What were jobs like in […]

1 May 1876. Queen Victoria was given the title “Empress of India” (or Kaisar-i-Hind) from 1 May 1876 under Royal Titles Act 1876. When did Queen Victoria assumed the title Kaiser a hind? Queen Victoria opened Parliament in person, the first time since the death of Prince Albert, to announce the change in royal title. […]

The harsh system of the workhouse became synonymous with the Victorian era, an institution which became known for its terrible conditions, forced child labour, long hours, malnutrition, beatings and neglect. What were working conditions like in Victorian times? Work given to Victorian children was usually menial and boring, and the conditions in which work was […]

These sinks consisted of a wooden cabinet with an unattached bowl or basin placed on top. The basin was filled with water from a pitcher or bucket just prior to use, then emptied outside after use. Basins usually were made of painted ceramic for personal grooming or metal for food preparation. What were old sinks […]

Metal screws and even screwdrivers have been around since at least the 16th century AD, so they were hardly an “invention” of the Victorian era. That said, screw technology became extremely common during the Victorian era due to advances in machining techniques. What furniture did the Victorians have? Victorian furniture was usually made from Walnut […]

DOLLY: a dolly was used every washday, and it would have been put in a big metal or wooden tub and twisted to turn the clothes and get the dirt out. MANGLE: clothes would have been pushed through the space between the two rollers to squeeze all the water out so that they dried quicker. […]

If you were a girl-child during the Victorian era, you probably had a doll. With a sweet, cherubic face that doll was seen not only as the reinforcement of innocence, but also a model in which to practice social interactions and gender norms. What is a Victorian era doll? The doll would often be dressed […]

Families went to the seaside because the bracing air was believed to be healthy. Nobody went to sun- bathe, this was not fashionable and in Victorian times most people went to the beach fully clothed. Sea – bathing!! During the Victorian period sea- bathing was believed to be good for you. What did Victorians do […]

Ice-cream became very popular in the 19th century and was a welcome cool treat on summer beaches, as the Victorians developed icehouses (essentially deep wells) to store ice and keep it cool. Was there ice cream in the Victorian era? Frozen Desserts Both cream and water ices tended to be served as part of the […]