Alastair Duff

What people wore

Everyday Clothing for Women

Women typically wore a shift, a petticoat, and a gown with detachable sleeves, while an apron was essential to protect their clothes during daily chores.

Getting around

Dramatic increases in travel speed by rail

Rail travel speeds significantly outperformed earlier coaches, with journeys that took 20 hours by stagecoach in 1830 taking only five hours by train by the early 20th century. For example, in 1872, a 220-mile trip to Scotland via train and carriage took over 9.5 hours, averaging about 23 miles per hour.

At the table

High beer consumption

Beer was the most popular drink for adults, with an average annual consumption of 32.5 gallons per person by 1900. Some working-class families in London drank nearly five pints of beer per week.

Music

Kitchen Parties and Festive Songs

At Christmas time, people enjoyed kitchen dance parties featuring the Polka, the Heel and Toe, and jigs, often ending with step dancing on a farm wagon for prizes. Singing was also ubiquitous at social gatherings, with everyone expected to contribute a song.

Daily life

Lighting was primarily gas or oil

Most homes relied on gas lamps, oil lamps, or candles for light, as electricity remained a rare luxury for most families during this period.

What it cost

Bread prices at the century's end

By the late 19th century, bread prices declined to just above 1 penny per pound, a staple item for a subsistence-level family.