George V

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.

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.

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.

What it cost

Cost of Boots and Daily Labor

A pair of Blucher boots cost one shilling and threepence, while a pair of Clarence boots cost two shillings and a penny. Making one pair of boots was considered roughly equivalent to a day's work for a moderate workman.