James Duff, 5th Earl Fife

What people wore

Everyday attire of working men

Working men typically wore a shirt, waistcoat, heavy wool coat, handkerchief, stockings, and a hat, with breeches being common until trousers gained popularity after 1800.

Getting around

Steamships revolutionized sea travel times

Before the introduction of steamships in 1819, a sea journey from London to Dublin could take over a week, dependent on weather and tides. After steam power was introduced, travel time for the crossing could be reduced to as little as six hours.

At the table

Tea Becomes a Staple Drink

By the early 19th century, tea had moved down the social scale and became a staple drink, often served with bread, which was frequently the only meal for the poor.

Music

Singing in daily life

Ordinary people sang while working, such as at the plough tail or loom, and often had a small range of songs with one or two party pieces for special occasions.

Daily life

Cooking and Baking Habits

In some households, families without a private oven sent their bread and cake mixes to a local bakery, marking them with their initials to identify them. Cooking ranges heated by coal were used, with water heated in kettles hung over the fire or in boilers behind the coal fire.

What it cost

Cost of a loaf of bread

A four-pound loaf of wheaten bread typically cost between six and ten pence during this period.