Agnes Duff, Countess Fife

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.

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

Steam ships slashed river travel times

Before steam packets, a boat trip from Gainsborough to Hull could take four to seven days; by 1833, a steam packet could travel the 104-mile return journey in a single day.

What it cost

Costs of food and shoes

Butcher's meat typically cost between 5d and 7d per pound, while a pair of boots could cost as little as 1s 3d to 2s 1d. Bread prices varied, but a quartern loaf was often around 8d to 9d outside London.

Music

Festival rewards

Festival participants like pace-eggers often went from house to house singing and dancing, hoping to be rewarded with items such as eggs and strong beer.

Daily life

School Discipline and Enrollment Statistics

Discipline in early schools included harsh punishments such as putting a sluggard in a basket and hoisting it up to the ceiling by a rope. In 1818, about 605,704 children out of two million were enrolled in schools across the country.