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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.

Daily life

Candlelight and rushlights provided minimal illumination

Without electricity or gas, ordinary people relied on simple tallow candles or rushlights dipped in animal fat, which burned for only about one hour each.

Work

Primary occupations of the era

Agriculture and domestic service were the largest employers, while many children worked as messengers, errand boys, or in cottage industries like lace-making.

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.

At the table

Widespread Adulteration of Basic Foods

Adulteration was widespread, with milk frequently mixed with chalk and water, and butter often colored with added copper.

Getting around

Steamships revolutionized sea travel times

Before the introduction of steamships in 1819, a sea journey from London to Dublin could take over a week, dependent on weather and tides. After steam power was introduced, travel time for the crossing could be reduced to as little as six hours.

What it cost

Shoemaking and prices of boots

A pair of boots could be made in a single day, with Blucher boots costing one shilling and threepence.