VICTORIAN TIMES

This era spans Queen Victoria’s reign over Great Britain, beginning in 1837 until her death in 1901, ultimately 63 years of British history.

Through this time there were political and social reforms, expansions across the globe through the growing British Empire and growth in arts and science.

Urbanisation was also strong during this era, with the majority of the public living in a town or city by 1901. This was because more jobs were available in towns and cities as this was where the factories were.

If you were poor and living in a city at this time, you would have had low wages and lived in cramped and filthy conditions. No clean water supplies were available until after 1848, with houses also having pollution and smoke from factories. Sewage and waste from the Industrial Revolution filled the River Thames, which is the water that these people used to cook and clean with. Many people (not surprisingly) died of diseases such as cholera and typhoid.

In 1874 a new law was put in place ensuring all houses had an inside toilet as they were generally outside previously with little hygiene. During this time medicines started to improve to help prevent diseases and lower death rates, also meaning that the population grew enormously in this time.

If you were rich however, the town house was popular, with servants to cook, clean and do all the household chores for the family. Gas lamps were used in these richer houses compared to the candles used by the poorer people. These town houses were also decorated to the fullest to show off their wealth to others.

The growth in the arts industry meant that there was entertainment for all classes, whether poor or rich. By the 1900s, there were theatres and music halls for live entertainment, while public libraries, museums and art galleries shared the knowledge and creativity of the time as well as the past.

The establishment of Britain’s overseas territories began in the 16th century, a first phase that ended after the loss of American colonies in 1783.

The 19th century marked second phase of Britain’s imperial expansion. By the time Victoria ascended to the throne in 1837, Britain already governed many countries across the globe, but by the end of the century, the British Empire made up nearly one-quarter of the world’s land surface (therefore, more than 25% of Britain’s total population).

The last 20 years of the Victorian era saw the Empire taking over 30% of Africa’s entire population. This rise in the British Empire brought technological advances to other countries and spread the English language, but it was at the expense of the ‘conquered’ lands with often violent seizing of wealth and resources, not to mention brutal treatment of people.

Queen Victoria was crowned in 1837 when she was just 18 years old. Throughout her reign, she maintained the image of the monarchy during times of economic, political and social change.

In 1840, she married her cousin Prince Albert and asserted her authority over him. Albert was not the man of the house, Victoria had all the power. Yet after two years of marriage, the power dynamic shifted with Queen Victoria embracing the submissive role of the wife, relying on Albert for advice on political matters and foreign affairs of the country. They formed an almost dual monarchy.

Queen Victoria never recovered from Albert’s death in 1861. She entered a state of permanent mourning (famously wearing all black until her death 40 years later).