Prince Alfred of Great Britain

At the table

Sixpenny dinner for craftsmen

For an average London craftsman, a typical dinner consisted of bread, beer, and cheese or fatty bacon, often costing sixpence.

What people wore

Two Outfits for Respectability

Working-class individuals typically aimed to own two complete outfits, reserving their best clothing for Sundays and holidays.

Getting around

Travel options depended on personal wealth

Wealthy travelers hired expensive postchaises for speed, while poorer people sometimes paid to sit on baggage in slow carts pulled by carriers.

What it cost

Worker daily wages in the 1770s

In the 1770s, many building laborers and skilled craftsmen in cities like London earned around 2s. 6d. per day.

Music

Music at a Black social club

At a 1773 dance in Southwark, a group of 59 Black servants entertained themselves with music played on violins and French horns. All the performers in this band were Black, and no White people were allowed to attend.

Daily life

Communal Baking for a Small Fee

In smaller communities, people often used a shared bakehouse where they paid a small fee to have their dough baked in a communal oven. Residents would carry their bread loaves to these ovens on boards resting on their shoulders.