John Campbell, 9th Duke of Argyll

Getting around

Walking was the common mode of travel

For everyday travel, most people relied on walking, typically covering about 3 miles per hour and rarely exceeding 20 miles in a single day.

At the table

Bread Consumed Half of Family Income

Bread was the single largest food expense for ordinary families, accounting for over half of their total income in the 1830s and 1840s.

What people wore

Everyday Men's Fashion Colors

During this period, men's clothing was typically divided into dress and undress; the latter, or everyday wear, often featured frock coats in brown or green colors with black velvet collars.

Music

Everyday singing and festival traditions

People sang at work and leisure, often drawing from well-known ballads or popular songs like The Mistletoe Bough. At festivals, groups such as mummers and pace-eggers performed dances and songs while wearing masks or fantastic costumes to request alms, often rewarded with eggs and strong beer.

Daily life

Cooking over inefficient open fires

Before iron ranges became common in the 1820s and 1830s, many families cooked over open fires, which were highly inefficient as most heat escaped up the chimney.