What were Victorian living conditions like?

Life was harsh, working hours were long and the conditions effectively unregulated, poverty was widespread, and as living conditions were so cramped and insanitary not surprisingly life expectancy was low.

How did Victorians go to the toilet?

Chamber pots did not always have to sit below a commode. For ease of use, Victorian women could simply hold the chamber pot in their hands, rest a foot on the top of the chair, and hold the chamber pot underneath the skirts.

What was life like as a poor Victorian?

A poor Victorian family would have lived in a very small house with only a couple of rooms on each floor. The very poorest families had to make do with even less – some houses were home to two, three or even four families. The houses would share toilets and water, which they could get from a pump or a well.

How did poor Victorians wash?

Victorian laundry day: the process Soak the laundry overnight in lye or soap. Each piece would need to be individually set and pushed down in the large wooden tub. Any mending would be done at this point. The next morning, a large copper pot would be filled with water, along with several buckets of water.

How hard was life in the 1800s?

Life for the average person in the 1800’s was hard. Many lived a hand-to-mouth existence, working long hours in often harsh conditions. There was no electricity, running water or central heating.

What did Victorians call poo?

Bermondsey poopmongers The streets of Victorian London were surprisingly free of dog poo. The old ‘muck = brass’ equation found its most revolting solution in the leather trade. The process of tanning required copious amounts of excrement, colloquially known as ‘pure’, which leatherworkers would rub into the hides.

What did Victorians do for fun?

Sporting pastimes, such as cycling, rowing and horseracing were also popular, and large crowds would often attend sailing events like the Henley Regatta and famous horse races such as the Epsom Derby. One of the largest events of the Victorian calendar was the famous Great Exhibition, held in 1851.

What did the Victorians use for toilet paper?

Before that, they used whatever was handy — sticks, leaves, corn cobs, bits of cloth, their hands. Toilet paper more or less as we know it today is a product of Victorian times; it was first issued in boxes (the way facial tissue is today) and somewhat later on the familiar rolls.

What did Victorians eat?

The general Victorian diet consisted of a lot of fish, since meat was still more expensive, local, seasonal vegetables, fruits, and greens like onions, turnips, spinach, broccoli, cabbages, apples, cherries, and parsnips. Nuts were popular and available too and could be sold roasted from food carts.