In the news1840
Introduction of the Penny Post
The Uniform Penny Post was introduced in 1840, making mail affordable and leading to a five-fold increase in sent letters.
Harewood House, 21 Aug 1846 – Wetherby, 6 Oct 1929
9 facts3 sources
21 Aug 1846
Born in Harewood House
9 Sep 1882
A son is born
1904–1927
Lord Lieutenant of the West Riding of Yorkshire
6 Oct 1929
Dies in Wetherby, aged 83
He lived through 9 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Harewood House.
General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.
In the news1840
The Uniform Penny Post was introduced in 1840, making mail affordable and leading to a five-fold increase in sent letters.
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.
In Europe1845–1852
Potato blight ruined harvests: a million Irish people died and a million more emigrated, many to America.
Daily life
Limited access to formal education
Formal schooling was not free or compulsory, so many children stayed home to help with domestic tasks or simple industrial work, often attending only Sunday School for structured education.
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
Diverse instruments in nineteenth-century dance bands
In the 1830s, dance bands often featured a diverse range of instruments including violins, cellos, double bass, harps, horns, clarinets, and flageolets. Innovations also included mechanical instruments like the flageolet piano, which could play dance music with the effect of multiple instruments.
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.