In the news1860
Petroleum lamps replaced candles for lighting
Starting in 1860, petroleum lamps replaced candles and tallow lights in German households, significantly improving home lighting.
Twickenham, 28 Sep 1865 – Le Chesnay, 25 Oct 1951
11 facts3 sources
28 Sep 1865
Born in Twickenham
1887–1889
3 children are born
1899–1913
Grand Mistress of the Order of Saint Isabel
1899–1908
Consort of Portugal
1939–1951
Grand Mistress of the Order of Saint Isabel
25 Oct 1951
Dies in Le Chesnay, aged 86
She lived through 10 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Twickenham.
General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.
In the news1860
Starting in 1860, petroleum lamps replaced candles and tallow lights in German households, significantly improving home lighting.
Getting around
Faster and cheaper travel by rail
A journey from London to Liverpool by coach once took twenty-two hours and cost £4 inside, whereas by the mid-nineteenth century, the same journey by train could be completed in just six hours for £2 5s.
At the table
Economic meat for ordinary families
Meat was expensive, so poorer families relied on economical cuts like sheep's head or offal such as liver, heart, and intestines. A sheep's head could be purchased for about 3d.
In Europe · 1859–1871Italy is unified. Garibaldi, Cavour and Victor Emmanuel joined the Italian states into one kingdom, with Rome its capital from 1871.
What people wore
Steel Crinolines Reduced Skirt Weight
The steel-framed cage crinoline, introduced in 1856, allowed women to achieve voluminous skirt shapes without the heavy burden of multiple petticoats.
Music
Widespread Use of Concertinas and Accordions
In rural Norfolk around 1890, it was common for households to own a worn-out concertina or a broken-down accordion. These portable instruments became essential for entertainment in homes, pubs, and at village festivals throughout the mid-to-late nineteenth century.
Daily life
Water Collection and Coal Ranges
Many working-class homes lacked running water, requiring families to collect it from a shared street pump and use an outdoor privy. Inside, cooking was done on a coal-burning range, which often included a boiler for heating water.